Poll: Black Actors in Traditionally White Roles

Results of 693 votes:

1. 1.
   

   Bernie Casey in Never Say Never Again (1983)

    

   Never Say Never Again (1983) - Bernie Casey as Felix Leiter (previously played by Jack Lord and others)
2. 2.
   

   Samuel L. Jackson in The Avengers (2012)

    

   The Avengers (2012) - Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (previously played by David Hasselhoff)
3. 3.
   

   Ludacris in Max Payne (2008)

    

   Max Payne (2008) - Chris Bridges as Jim Bravura (Bravura has been portrayed as white in the original video game)
4. 4.
   

   Pam Grier in Jackie Brown (1997)

    

   Jackie Brown (1997) - Pam Grier as Jackie Brown (in the original Elmore Leonard novel, the character was named Jackie Burke and was a blond)
5. 5.
   

   #11

    

   I Am Legend (2007) - Will Smith as Robert Neville (previously played by Charlton Heston)
6. 6.
   

   "Batman" Eartha Kitt 1967 ABC

    

   Batman (1966) (1966) - Eartha Kitt as Catwoman (previously played by Julie Newmar)
7. 7.
   

   Laurence Fishburne in Hannibal (2013)

    

   Hannibal (2013) - Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford (previously played by Scott Glenn and others)
8. 8.
   

   Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

    

   The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - Morgan Freeman as Red (in the original Stephen King story, Red was described as a white Irishman)
9. 9.
   

   Billy Dee Williams in Batman (1989)

    

   Batman (1989) (1989) - Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent (in the original comic books Dent was a white man)
10. 10.
    

    Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis in Annie (2014)

     

    Annie (2014) - Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks (previously played by Albert Finney) and Quvenzhané Wallis as Annie (previously played by Aileen Quinn)
11. 11.
    

    Michael Clarke Duncan in Daredevil (2003)

     

    Daredevil (2003) - Michael Clarke Duncan as The Kingpin (in the original comic books he was white)
12. 12.
    

    Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott, Adepero Oduye, and Dola Rashad in Steel Magnolias (2012)

     

    Steel Magnolias (2012) - Adepero Oduye as Annelle (previously played by Daryl Hannah), Phylicia Rashad as Clairee (previously played by Olympia Dukakis), Jill Scott as Truvy (previously played by Doll…
13. 13.
    

    Ford Prefect (Mos Def).

     

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) - Yasiin Bey as Ford Prefect (in Douglas Adams' original book he is described as having ginger hair leading many to believe Prefect is white)
14. 14.
    

    Michael B. Jordan in Fantastic Four (2015)

     

    Fantastic Four (2015) - Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm (previously played by Chris Evans)
15. 15.
    

    Whitney Houston and Brandy Norwood in Cinderella (1997)

     

    Cinderella (1997) - Brandy Norwood as Cinderella (previously played by Ilene Woods) and Whitney Houston as Fairy Godmother (previously played by Verna Felton)
16. 16.
    

    Jaden Smith in The Karate Kid (2010)

     

    The Karate Kid (2010) - Jaden Smith as Dre Parker (previously played by Ralph Macchio)
17. 17.
    

    #17

     

    Men in Black (1997) - Will Smith as Jay (in the original comic books Jay was a white man)
18. 18.
    

    Idris Elba in Thor (2011)

     

    Thor (2011) - Idris Elba as Heimdall (previously played by JB Blanc)
19. 19.
    

    Denzel Washington in The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

     

    The Manchurian Candidate (2004) - Denzel Washington as Marco (previously played by Frank Sinatra) and Kimberly Elise as Rosie (previously played by Janet Leigh)
20. 20.
    

    Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock in Death at a Funeral (2010)

     

    Death at a Funeral (2010) - Martin Lawrence as Ryan (previously played by Rupert Graves) and Chris Rock as Aaron (previously played by Matthew Macfadyen) and most of the rest of the cast
21. 21.
    

    #15

     

    The Manchurian Candidate (2004) - Denzel Washington as Marco (previously played by Frank Sinatra) and Kimberly Elise as Rosie (previously played by Janet Leigh)
22. 22.
    

    Angel Coulby in Merlin (2008)

     

    Merlin (2008) - Angel Coulby as Gwen (previously played by Vanessa Redgrave and others) and some of the rest of the cast
23. 23.
    

    Naomie Harris in Skyfall (2012)

     

    Skyfall (2012) - Naomie Harris as Moneypenny (previously played by Lois Maxwell and others)
24. 24.
    

    Will Smith as Jim West

     

    Wild Wild West (1999) - Will Smith as James West (previously played by Robert Conrad)