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Who Was The Best? 20 Actors Who Played Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we celebrate his memory on his birthday weekend check out the 16 actors who played Martin Luther King, Jr. and comment which you thought was the best.

Updated Jan 15, 2024

Happy Martin Luther King Weekend!

His legacy has been remembered through the decades since his work for civil rights and well after his passing. It has been remembered through his actual speeches, stories told, music, TV shows, and movies. As we celebrate his memory on his birthday weekend check out the 19 actors who played Martin Luther King, Jr. and comment which you thought was the best.

Kelvin Harrison Jr.

The young actor would portray MLK for the Genius: MLK/X mini series starring opposite Aaron Pierre as Malcolm X.

Aml Ameen

The British actor portrayed King Jr. for the 2023 biopic, Rustin. In the film he would portray the late leader and his friendship with Bayard Rustin.

Actors Who Played Martin Luther King, Jr

Courtney B. Vance

In 2000, Vance played King in the TV miniseries Parting the Water.

Actors Who Played Martin Luther King, Jr

James Earl Jones

Jones played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1982 TV miniseries “Freedom to Speak.”

 

Robert Guillaume

Guillaume starred as Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1984 independent film “Prince Jack.”

 

Jason Bernard

Bernard played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1987 televised play “The Meeting.”

Jaleel White

White voiced the young Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1999 animated film Our Friend Martin.

Jordan Peele

Peele portrayed King Jr. in a few skits for his hit sketch comedy show Key & Peele

Jaleel White

White voiced the young Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1999 animated film Our Friend Martin.

 

Levar Burton

Burton voiced the role of King in Our Friend Martin and briefly played him in the 2001 film “Ali.”

 

Dexter Scott King

Dexter King, son of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., portrayed his father in the 2002 CBS TV movie “The Rosa Parks Story” and voiced him in the film Our Friend Martin.

 

Clifton Powell

Powell played Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1999 TV movie Selma, Lord, Selma.

 

Jeffrey Wright

Wright played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2001 TV movie “Boycott.”

 

Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson played Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 2011 Broadway hit ‘The Mountaintop’.

READ: Congrats Cynthia Erivo! 12 Black Actresses to Receive an Oscar Nomination in the Best Actress in a Lead Role Category Ever

Actors Who Played Martin Luther King, Jr

Malik Yoba

Yoba portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2013 Lifetime TV movie Betty and Coretta.

 

Paul Winfield

Winfield portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1978 TV miniseries “King.”

 

Nelsan Ellis

The late Nelsan Ellis played MLK Jr. in the 2013 film “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.”

 

David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 film “Selma.”

Anthony Mackie

Mackie played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2016 HBO film “All the Way.”

 

Actors Who Played Martin Luther King, Jr

Raymond St. Jacques

Jacques played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1977 film “The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover.”

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