Emmys history: Few black nominees, even fewer black winners
It's 2015 and for the first time the Emmys nominated two black women for lead actress in a drama. Although it may provide some relief to the #EmmysSoWhite camp, long-tail data show that black actors and actresses (perhaps unsurprisingly) have a long way to go.
Since 1966*, only 48 out of 1,001 nominees for lead actor and actress in a drama or comedy were black. Four black actors have won an Emmy as a lead actor in a comedy or drama. Isabel Sanford is the only black woman to win as lead actress in a comedy for "The Jeffersons." No black actress has won for dramatic lead.
Nominees and winners in drama or comedy
Black Emmy winners
Other nominees
and winners
1966*
Bill Cosby wins lead
actor in a drama. First
for a black person.
1970
Black nominees
1975
Isabel Sanford is the first
black woman to win lead
actress in a comedy.
1980
Robert Guillaume is the first
black man nominated for
lead actor in a comedy.
James Earl Jones wins
lead actor in a drama
for “Gabriel’s Fire.”
Andre Braugher wins lead
actor in a drama for “Homi
cide: Life on the Street.”
2000
2005
2010
For the first time, two black
women are nominees for lead
actress in a drama.
2015
*The Emmy ceremonies began in 1949 but did not have
genre-specific acting categories before 1966
Nominees and winners in drama or comedy
Black Emmy winners
Other nominees
and winners
1966*
Bill Cosby wins lead actor in a drama.
His 1966 nom. is the first for a black person.
Black nominees
1970
1975
1980
Isabel Sanford is the first black woman
to win lead actress in a comedy.
Robert Guillaume is the first black
man nominated for lead actor in a comedy.
James Earl Jones wins lead actor
in a drama for “Gabriel’s Fire.”
Andre Braugher wins lead actor in a
drama for “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
2000
2005
2010
2015
For the first time, two black women
are nominees for lead actress in a drama.
*The Emmy ceremonies began in 1949 but did not have
genre-specific acting categories before 1966
Nominees and winners in drama or comedy
Black Emmy winners
Other nominees
and winners
1966*
Bill Cosby wins lead actor in a drama
for three consecutive years for “I Spy.” His 1966
nomination is the first for a black person.
1970
Black nominees
1975
1980
Isabel Sanford is the first black woman
to win lead actress in a comedy.
Robert Guillaume is the first black
man nominated for lead actor in a comedy.
James Earl Jones wins lead actor
in a drama for “Gabriel’s Fire.”
Andre Braugher wins lead actor in a
drama for “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
2000
2005
2010
2015
For the first time, two black women (Viola Davis and Taraji P.
Henson) are nominees for lead actress in a drama.
*The Emmy ceremonies began in 1949 but did not have genre-specific acting categories before 1966
Nominees and winners in drama or comedy
Black Emmy winners
Other nominees
and winners
1966*
Bill Cosby wins lead actor in a drama
for three consecutive years for “I Spy.” His 1966
nomination is the first for a black person.
1970
Black nominees
1975
1980
Isabel Sanford is the first black woman
to win lead actress in a comedy.
Robert Guillaume is the first black
man nominated for lead actor in a comedy.
James Earl Jones wins lead actor
in a drama for “Gabriel’s Fire.”
Andre Braugher wins lead actor in a
drama for “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
2000
2005
2010
2015
For the first time, two black women (Viola Davis and Taraji P.
Henson) are nominees for lead actress in a drama.
*The Emmy ceremonies began in 1949 but did not have genre-specific acting categories before 1966
Nominees and winners in drama or comedy
Black Emmy winners
Other nominees
and winners
1966*
Bill Cosby wins lead actor in a drama
for three consecutive years for “I Spy.” His 1966
nomination is the first for a black person.
Black nominees
1970
1975
1980
Isabel Sanford is the first black woman
to win lead actress in a comedy.
Robert Guillaume is the first black
man nominated for lead actor in a comedy.
James Earl Jones wins lead actor
in a drama for “Gabriel’s Fire.”
Andre Braugher wins lead actor in a
drama for “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
2000
2005
2010
2015
For the first time, two black women (Viola Davis and Taraji P.
Henson) are nominees for lead actress in a drama.
*The Emmy ceremonies began in 1949 but did not have genre-specific acting categories before 1966
Sources: Emmys.com, Times reporting
Kyle Kim @latimesgraphics
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