This is a list of Black creatives who have been nominated for a Tony Award for outstanding achievement in Broadway theatre.

While some American people of African ancestry prefer "Black," and others prefer "African American"; "African American" is considered a less appropriate umbrella term for people of African ancestry worldwide because it obscures other ethnicities or national origins. Thus, "Black" is a more inclusive umbrella term.

Facts and figures

Multiple nominations

As of 2025 ceremony:

  • George C. Wolfe – 24
  • Audra McDonald – 11
  • LaChanze – 10
  • Paul Tazewell – 10
  • August Wilson – 9
  • Stephen Byrd – 7
  • Rashad V. Chambers – 7
  • Kenny Leon – 7
  • Harold Wheeler – 7
  • Dede Ayite – 6
  • Lloyd Richards – 6
  • Ron Simons – 6
  • Camille A. Brown – 5
  • Gregory Hines – 5
  • Alia Jones – 5
  • Bill T. Jones – 5
  • Debra Martin Chase – 5
  • Donald McKayle – 5
  • Diane Scott Carter – 5
  • Emilio Sosa – 5
  • Brandon Victor Dixon – 4
  • Savion Glover – 4
  • David Alan Grier – 4
  • Allen Lee Hughes – 4
  • Toni-Leslie James – 4
  • James Earl Jones – 4
  • Brian Stokes Mitchell – 4
  • Brian Moreland - 4
  • Mbongeni Ngema – 4
  • Condola Rashad – 4
  • Phylicia Rashad – 4
  • Stew – 4
  • Daryl Waters – 4
  • Kara Young – 4
  • Hilton Battle – 3
  • Vinnette Carroll – 3
  • Viola Davis – 3
  • André De Shields – 3
  • Irene Gandy - 3
  • Micki Grant – 3
  • Jeremy O. Harris – 3
  • Joshua Henry – 3
  • Geoffrey Holder – 3
  • Henry LeTang – 3
  • Lynn Nottage – 3
  • Leslie Odom, Jr. – 3
  • Wendell Pierce – 3
  • Tonya Pinkins – 3
  • Gilbert Price – 3
  • Lamar Richardson – 3
  • Ruben Santiago-Hudson – 3
  • Melvin Van Peebles – 3
  • Courtney B. Vance – 3
  • Saheem Ali – 2
  • Mary Alice – 2
  • Debbie Allen – 2
  • Gretha Boston – 2
  • Charles Brown – 2
  • RuPaul Charles – 2
  • Chuck Cooper – 2
  • Jordan E. Cooper – 2
  • Cleavant Derricks – 2
  • Colman Domingo – 2
  • Ann Duquesnay – 2
  • Charles S. Dutton – 2
  • Justin Ellington – 2
  • Cynthia Erivo – 2
  • George Faison – 2
  • Laurence Fishburne – 2
  • K. Todd Freeman – 2
  • Whoopi Goldberg – 2
  • Corey Hawkins – 2
  • Luther Henderson – 2
  • Stephen McKinley Henderson – 2
  • Jon Michael Hill – 2
  • Linda Hopkins – 2
  • James Monroe Iglehart – 2
  • Ernestine Jackson – 2
  • LaTanya Richardson Jackson - 3
  • Michael R. Jackson – 2
  • Samuel L. Jackson - 2
  • Branden Jacobs-Jenkins - 2
  • Nikki M. James – 2
  • Quincy Jones – 2
  • Joaquina Kalukango – 2
  • John Kani – 2
  • Eartha Kitt – 2
  • John Legend – 2
  • Adriane Lenox – 2
  • Claudia McNeil – 2
  • S. Epatha Merkerson – 2
  • Patina Miller – 2
  • Zakes Mokae – 2
  • Dominique Morisseau - 2
  • Sahr Ngaujah – 2
  • Winston Ntshona – 2
  • Sophie Okonedo – 2
  • Jeremy Pope – 2
  • Billy Porter – 2
  • Josephine Premice – 2
  • Vivian Reed – 2
  • Roger Robinson – 2
  • Anika Noni Rose – 2
  • Diana Sands – 2
  • Anna Deavere Smith – 2
  • Ron Taylor – 2
  • Lynne Thigpen – 2
  • Tamara Tunie – 2
  • Leslie Uggams – 2
  • Ben Vereen – 2
  • Adrienne Warren – 2
  • Kerry Washington – 2
  • Denzel Washington – 2
  • Jason Michael Webb – 2
  • Lillias White – 2
  • Dick Anthony Williams – 2
  • Billy Wilson – 2
  • Oprah Winfrey – 2
  • Jeffrey Wright – 2
  • Samuel E. Wright – 2

Multiple wins

As of 2025 ceremony:

  • Audra McDonald – 6
  • LaChanze – 5
  • George C. Wolfe – 5
  • Debra Martin Chase – 4
  • Ron Simons – 4
  • Hinton Battle – 3
  • Rashad V. Chambers – 3
  • James Earl Jones – 3
  • Viola Davis – 2
  • Geoffrey Holder – 2
  • Branden Jacobs-Jenkins - 2
  • Bill T. Jones – 2
  • Billy Porter – 2
  • Phylicia Rashad – 2
  • Paul Tazewell – 2
  • Kara Young – 2

Book of a Musical

Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result
1972 Melvin Van Peebles Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death Nominated
1973 Don't Play Us Cheap Nominated
Micki Grant Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope Nominated
1977 Vinnette Carroll Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Nominated
1992 Clarke Peters Five Guys Named Moe Nominated
George C. Wolfe Jelly's Last Jam Nominated
1996 Reg E. Gaines Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk Nominated
1999 Ron Taylor, Lita Gaithers, Charles Bevel It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues Nominated
2000 George C. Wolfe The Wild Party Nominated
2008 Stew Passing Strange Won
2010 Bill T. Jones Fela! Nominated
2016 George C. Wolfe Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Nominated
2019 Dominique Morisseau Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations Nominated
2020 Katori Hall Tina - The Tina Turner Musical Nominated
2022 Lynn Nottage MJ Nominated
Christina Anderson Paradise Square Nominated
Michael R. Jackson A Strange Loop Won
2023 Sharon Washington New York, New York Nominated
Amber Ruffin Some Like It Hot Nominated

Choreography

Tony Award for Best Choreography
Year Nominee Show Result
1965 Donald McKayle Golden Boy Nominated
1970 Louis Johnson Purlie Nominated
1974 Donald McKayle Raisin Nominated
1975 Doctor Jazz Nominated
George Faison The Wiz Won
1976 Billy Wilson Bubbling Brown Sugar Nominated
1977 Talley Beatty Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Nominated
1979 Henry LeTang and Billy Wilson Eubie! Nominated
1981 Henry LeTang and Donald McKayle Sophisticated Ladies Nominated
1983 George Faison Porgy and Bess Nominated
1988 Ndaba Mhlongo and Mbongeni Ngema Sarafina! Nominated
1989 Cholly Atkins, Henry LeTang, Frankie Manning, and Fayard Nicholas Black and Blue Won
1992 Hope Clarke, Ted L. Levy, and Gregory Hines Jelly's Last Jam Nominated
1996 Savion Glover Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Won
2006 Donald Byrd The Color Purple Nominated
2007 Bill T. Jones Spring Awakening Won
2010 Fela! Won
2016 Savion Glover Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Nominated
2019 Camille A. Brown Choir Boy Nominated
2022 for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
Bill T. Jones Paradise Square Nominated
2024 Camille A. Brown Hell's Kitchen Nominated
2025 Gypsy Nominated

Costume Design

Tony Award for Best Costume Design
Year Nominee Show Result
1975 Geoffrey Holder The Wiz Won
1978 Timbuktu! Nominated
1991 Judy Dearing Once on This Island Nominated
1992 Toni-Leslie James Jelly's Last Jam Nominated
1996 Paul Tazewell Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Nominated

Costume Design of a Musical

Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result
2006 Paul Tazewell The Color Purple Nominated
2008 In the Heights Nominated
2010 Memphis Nominated
2012 Emilio Sosa The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Nominated
2016 Paul Tazewell Hamilton Won
2019 Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations Nominated
2022 Toni-Leslie James Paradise Square Nominated
Paul Tazewell MJ Nominated
2024 Dede Ayite Hell's Kitchen Nominated
Paul Tazewell Suffs Nominated
2025 Dede Ayite Buena Vista Social Club Nominated
Paul Tazewell Death Becomes Her Won

Costume Design of a Play

Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
2012 Paul Tazewell A Streetcar Named Desire Nominated
2017 Toni-Leslie James August Wilson's Jitney Nominated
2019 Bernhardt/Hamlet Nominated
2020 Dede Ayite Slave Play Nominated
A Soldier's Play Nominated
2022 Sarafina Bush for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
Emilio Sosa Trouble in Mind Nominated
2023 Dominique Fawn Hill Fat Ham Nominated
Emilio Sosa Ain't No Mo' Nominated
Good Night, Oscar Nominated
2024 Dede Ayite Appropriate Nominated
Jaja's African Hair Braiding Won
Emilio Sosa Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Nominated

Direction of a Musical

Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result
1972 Gilbert Moses Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death Nominated
1973 Vinnette Carroll Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope Nominated
1974 Donald McKayle Raisin Nominated
1975 Geoffrey Holder The Wiz Won
1977 Vinnette Carroll Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Nominated
1988 Mbongeni Ngema Sarafina! Nominated
1992 George C. Wolfe Jelly's Last Jam Nominated
1996 Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Won
2004 Caroline, or Change Nominated
2010 Bill T. Jones Fela! Nominated
2016 George C. Wolfe Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Nominated
2025 Saheem Ali Buena Vista Social Club Nominated

Direction of a Play

Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
1960 Lloyd Richards A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
1987 Mbongeni Ngema Asinamali! Nominated
Lloyd Richards Fences Won
1988 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Nominated
1990 The Piano Lesson Nominated
1993 George C. Wolfe Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Won
1994 Angels in America: Perestroika Nominated
1996 Lloyd Richards Seven Guitars Nominated
2001 Marion McClinton King Hedley II Nominated
2010 Kenny Leon Fences Nominated
2011 George C. Wolfe The Normal Heart Nominated
2013 George C. Wolfe Lucky Guy Nominated
2014 Kenny Leon A Raisin in the Sun Won
2016 Liesl Tommy Eclipsed Nominated
2017 Ruben Santiago-Hudson August Wilson's Jitney Nominated
2018 George C. Wolfe Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh Nominated
2019 Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus Nominated
2020 Kenny Leon A Soldier's Play Nominated
Robert O'Hara Slave Play Nominated
2022 Lileana Blain-Cruz The Skin of Our Teeth Nominated
Camille A. Brown for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
2023 Saheem Ali Fat Ham Nominated
Stevie Walker-Webb Ain't No Mo' Nominated
2024 Kenny Leon Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Nominated
Whitney White Jaja's African Hair Braiding Nominated

Excellence in Theatre Education Award

Excellence in Theatre Education
Year Nominee School Result
2015 Corey Mitchell Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, N.C. Won
2016 Marilyn McCormick Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI Won
2022 Roshunda Jones-Koumba G. W. Carver Magnet High School in Houston, Texas Won
2024 CJay Philip Dance & BMore in Baltimore, MD Won
2025 Gary Edwin Robinson Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Won

Lighting Design

Tony Award for Best Lighting Design
Year Nominee Show Result
1983 Allen Lee Hughes K2 Nominated
1985 Strange Interlude Nominated
1991 Once on This Island Nominated

Lighting Design in a Play

Tony Award for Best Lighting Design in a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
2020 Allen Lee Hughes A Soldier's Play Nominated

Musical

Tony Award for Best Musical
Year Nominee Show Result
1975 Ken Harper (as producer) The Wiz Won
1996 George C. Wolfe (as producer) Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Nominated
2000 The Wild Party Nominated
2002 Whoopi Goldberg (as producer) Thoroughly Modern Millie Won
2004 George C. Wolfe (as producer) Caroline, or Change Nominated
2006 Oprah Winfrey (as producer), Quincy Jones (as producer) The Color Purple Nominated
2007 Tamara Tunie (as producer) Spring Awakening Won
2010 Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter (as producer), Will Smith (as producer), Jada Pinkett Smith (as producer) Fela! Nominated
2011 Whoopi Goldberg (as producer) Sister Act Nominated
2014 Wynton Marsalis (as producer) After Midnight Nominated
Ron Simons (as producer) A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder Won
2019 Stephen Byrd (as producer), Rashad V. Chambers (as producer), Alia Jones (as producer), Ron Simons (as producer) Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations Nominated
2020 Tina Turner (as producer) Tina - The Tina Turner Musical Nominated
2022 Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) MJ Nominated
Sheila C. Johnson (as producer) Paradise Square Nominated
RuPaul Charles (as producer), Debra Martin Chase (as producer), Don Cheadle (as producer), Robyn Coles, Bridgid Coulter Cheadle (as producer), Jennifer Hudson (as producer), Billy Porter (as producer), Cody Renard Richard (as producer), Tre’ Scott (as producer), Zach Stafford (as producer), Paul Oakley Stovall (as producer) A Strange Loop Won
2023 LaChanze (as producer) Kimberly Akimbo Won
Ron Simons (as producer), Lamar Richardson (as producer), Christen James (as producer), Dale Mott (as producer), Gregory Carroll (as producer) New York, New York Nominated
Mariah Carey (as producer), Kenny Leon (as producer) Some Like It Hot Nominated
2024 LaChanze (as producer), Debra Martin Chase (as producer) The Outsiders Won
Diane Scott Carter (as producer) Suffs Nominated
2025 LaChanze (as producer) Buena Vista Social Club Nominated
Debra Martin Chase (as producer) Death Becomes Her Nominated

Orchestrations

Tony Award for Best Orchestrations
Year Nominee Show Result
1997 Luther Henderson Play On! Nominated
Harold Wheeler The Life Nominated
1999 Little Me Nominated
2000 Swing! Nominated
2001 The Full Monty Nominated
2003 Hairspray Nominated
2005 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Nominated
2008 Stew Passing Strange Nominated
2010 Daryl Waters Memphis Won
2016 Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Nominated
2019 Harold Wheeler Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations Nominated
2022 Jason Michael Webb MJ Nominated
2023 Daryl Waters New York, New York Nominated
Bryan Carter Some Like It Hot Won
2024 Adam Blackstone Hell's Kitchen Nominated

Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Year Nominee Show Result
1972 Melvin Van Peebles Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death Nominated
1973 Micki Grant Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope Nominated
1975 Charlie Smalls The Wiz Won
1976 Scott Joplin Treemonisha Nominated
1978 Micki Grant Working Nominated
1979 Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Andy Razaf, F. E. Miller, and Jim Europe Eubie! Nominated
1988 Mbongeni Ngema and Hugh Masekela Sarafina! Nominated
1992 Luther Henderson, Jelly Roll Morton Jelly's Last Jam Nominated
1996 Ann Duquesnay, Reg E. Gaines, Zane Mark, Daryl Waters, George C. Wolfe Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Nominated
2006 Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell The Color Purple Nominated
2008 Stew Passing Strange Nominated
2010 Branford Marsalis Fences Nominated
2018 Yolanda Adams, John Legend, T.I., Domani & Lil' C SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical Nominated
2020 Jason Michael Webb The Rose Tattoo Nominated
2022 Masi Asare Paradise Square Nominated
Michael R. Jackson A Strange Loop Nominated
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result Milestone
1954 Harry Belafonte John Murray Anderson's Almanac Won First African-American male winner
1958 Ossie Davis Jamaica Nominated
1967 Leon Bibb A Hand Is on the Gate Nominated
1972 Ben Vereen Jesus Christ Superstar Nominated
1973 Avon Long Don't Play Us Cheap Nominated
Gilbert Price Lost in the Stars Nominated
1974 Ralph Carter Raisin Nominated
1975 Ted Ross The Wiz Won
Gilbert Price The Night That Made America Famous Nominated
1977 Larry Marshall Porgy and Bess Nominated
1979 Gregory Hines Eubie! Nominated
1981 Hinton Battle Sophisticated Ladies Won
1982 Cleavant Derricks Dreamgirls Won
Obba Babatundé Nominated
David Alan Grier The First Nominated
1984 Hinton Battle The Tap Dance Kid Won With this win, first African-American to win 2 Tonys.
Samuel E. Wright Nominated
1985 Ron Richardson Big River Won
1989 Bunny Briggs Black and Blue Nominated
Savion Glover Nominated
1991 Hinton Battle Miss Saigon Won With this win, first African-American to win 3 Tonys.
Gregg Burge Oh, Kay! Nominated
1992 Keith David Jelly's Last Jam Nominated
1995 Michel Bell Show Boat Nominated
Victor Trent Cook Smokey Joe's Café Nominated
1997 Chuck Cooper The Life Won
André De Shields Play On! Nominated
1998 Samuel E. Wright The Lion King Nominated
1999 Desmond Richardson Fosse Nominated
Ron Taylor It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues Nominated
2001 André De Shields The Full Monty Nominated
2003 Corey Reynolds Hairspray Nominated
2004 Michael McElroy Big River Nominated
2006 Brandon Victor Dixon The Color Purple Nominated
2008 Daniel Breaker Passing Strange Nominated
2011 Colman Domingo The Scottsboro Boys Nominated
Forrest McClendon Nominated
2012 David Alan Grier The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Nominated
Phillip Boykin Nominated
2013 Charl Brown Motown: The Musical Nominated
2014 Joshua Henry Violet Nominated
James Monroe Iglehart Aladdin Won
2016 Daveed Diggs Hamilton Won
Christopher Jackson Nominated
Brandon Victor Dixon Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Nominated
2019 André De Shields Hadestown Won
Jeremy Pope Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations Nominated
Ephraim Sykes Nominated
2020 Sahr Ngaujah Moulin Rouge! The Musical Nominated
Daniel J. Watts Tina - The Tina Turner Musical Nominated
2022 Sidney DuPont Paradise Square Nominated
Jared Grimes Funny Girl Nominated
John-Andrew Morrison A Strange Loop Nominated
2023 Justin Cooley Kimberly Akimbo Nominated
Jordan Donica Lerner & Loewe's Camelot Nominated
Alex Newell Shucked Won
2024 Joshua Boone The Outsiders Nominated
Sky Lakota-Lynch Nominated
Brandon Victor Dixon Hell's Kitchen Nominated
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
1962 Godfrey M. Cambridge Purlie Victorious Nominated
1963 Frank Silvera The Lady of the Camellias Nominated
1965 Clarence Williams III Slow Dance on the Killing Ground Nominated
1974 Douglas Turner Ward The River Niger Nominated
Dick Anthony Williams What the Wine-Sellers Buy Nominated
1975 Black Picture Show Nominated
1978 Morgan Freeman The Mighty Gents Nominated
1980 Earle Hyman The Lady from Dubuque Nominated
1982 Zakes Mokae Master Harold...and the Boys Won
1985 Charles S. Dutton Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Nominated
1987 Frankie R. Faison Fences Nominated
Courtney B. Vance Nominated
1988 Delroy Lindo Joe Turner's Come and Gone Nominated
1992 Laurence Fishburne Two Trains Running Won
Roscoe Lee Browne Nominated
1993 Zakes Mokae The Song of Jacob Zulu Nominated
1994 Jeffrey Wright Angels in America: Perestroika Won
1996 Ruben Santiago-Hudson Seven Guitars Won
Roger Robinson Nominated
2001 Charles Brown King Hedley II Nominated
2003 Thomas Jefferson Byrd Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Nominated
Daniel Sunjata Take Me Out Nominated
2007 Anthony Chisholm Radio Golf Nominated
John Earl Jelks Nominated
2009 Roger Robinson Joe Turner's Come and Gone Won
2010 David Alan Grier Race Nominated
Stephen McKinley Henderson Fences Nominated
Jon Michael Hill Superior Donuts Nominated
2013 Courtney B. Vance Lucky Guy Won
2015 K. Todd Freeman Airline Highway Nominated
2017 John Douglas Thompson August Wilson's Jitney Nominated
2018 Brian Tyree Henry Lobby Hero Nominated
2020[1] Ato Blankson-Wood Slave Play Nominated
David Alan Grier A Soldier's Play Won
2022 Chuck Cooper Trouble in Mind Nominated
Ron Cephas Jones Clyde's Nominated
Jesse Williams Take Me Out Nominated
2023 Jordan E. Cooper Ain't No Mo' Nominated
Samuel L. Jackson August Wilson's The Piano Lesson Nominated
2025 Glenn Davis Purpose Nominated

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result
1965 Sammy Davis Golden Boy Nominated
1968 Robert Hooks Hallelujah, Baby! Nominated
1970 Cleavon Little Purlie Won
1972 Clifton Davis Two Gentlemen of Verona Nominated
1973 Brock Peters Lost in the Stars Nominated
Ben Vereen Pippin Won
1974 Joe Morton Raisin Nominated
1977 Robert Guillaume Guys and Dolls Nominated
1978 Gilbert Price Timbuktu! Nominated
1980 Gregory Hines Comin' Uptown Nominated
1981 Sophisticated Ladies Nominated
1982 Ben Harney Dreamgirls Won
1983 Al Green Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Nominated
Michael V. Smartt Porgy and Bess Nominated
1986 Cleavant Derricks Big Deal Nominated
Maurice Hines Uptown...It's Hot! Nominated
1992 Gregory Hines Jelly's Last Jam Won
1996 Savion Glover Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Nominated
1998 Brian Stokes Mitchell Ragtime Nominated
2000 Kiss Me, Kate Won
2003 Man of La Mancha Nominated
2008 Stew Passing Strange Nominated
2010 Sahr Ngaujah Fela! Nominated
2011 Joshua Henry The Scottsboro Boys Nominated
2012 Norm Lewis The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Nominated
2013 Billy Porter Kinky Boots Won
2016 Leslie Odom Jr. Hamilton Won
2018 Joshua Henry Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel Nominated
2019 Derrick Baskin Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations Nominated
2022 Myles Frost MJ Won
Jaquel Spivey A Strange Loop Nominated
2023 J. Harrison Ghee Some Like It Hot Won
2024 Dorian Harewood The Notebook Nominated
2025 James Monroe Iglehart A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical Nominated

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
1960 Sidney Poitier A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
1969 James Earl Jones The Great White Hope Won
1975 John Kani and Winston Ntshona Sizwe Banzi is Dead / The Island Won
1976 Moses Gunn The Poison Tree Nominated
1980 Charles Brown Home Nominated
1984 Calvin Levels Open Admissions Nominated
1987 James Earl Jones Fences Won
1990 Charles S. Dutton The Piano Lesson Nominated
1991 Courtney B. Vance Six Degrees of Separation Nominated
1993 K. Todd Freeman The Song of Jacob Zulu Nominated
2001 Brian Stokes Mitchell King Hedley II Nominated
2002 Jeffrey Wright Topdog/Underdog Nominated
2005 James Earl Jones On Golden Pond Nominated
2008 Laurence Fishburne Thurgood Nominated
2010 Denzel Washington Fences Won
2012 James Earl Jones Gore Vidal's The Best Man Nominated
2017 Corey Hawkins John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation Nominated
2018 Denzel Washington Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh Nominated
2019 Jeremy Pope Choir Boy Nominated
2020 Blair Underwood A Soldier's Play Nominated
2022 Adrian Lester The Lehman Trilogy Nominated
Ruben Santiago-Hudson Lackawanna Blues Nominated
2023 Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog Nominated
Corey Hawkins Nominated
Stephen McKinley Henderson Between Riverside and Crazy Nominated
Wendell Pierce Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Nominated
2024 William Jackson Harper Uncle Vanya Nominated
Leslie Odom Jr. Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Nominated
2025 Jon Michael Hill Purpose Nominated
Harry Lennix Nominated
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result Milestone
1950 Juanita Hall South Pacific Won First African-American Tony winner.

First African-American Tony female winner.
1958 Josephine Premice Jamaica Nominated
1967 A Hand Is on the Gate Nominated
1968 Lillian Hayman Hallelujah, Baby! Won
1970 Melba Moore Purlie Won
1972 Linda Hopkins Inner City Won
Beatrice Winde Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death Nominated
1974 Ernestine Jackson Raisin Nominated
1975 Dee Dee Bridgewater The Wiz Won
1977 Delores Hall Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Won
1978 Nell Carter Ain't Misbehavin' Won
Charlayne Woodard Nominated
1980 Debbie Allen West Side Story Nominated
1981 Phyllis Hyman Sophisticated Ladies Nominated
Lynne Thigpen Tintypes Nominated
1983 Karla Burns Show Boat Nominated
1984 Martine Allard The Tap Dance Kid Nominated
1985 Leilani Jones Grind Won
1986 Elisabeth Welch Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood Nominated
1988 Leleti Khumalo Sarafina Nominated
1991 LaChanze Once on This Island Nominated
1992 Tonya Pinkins Jelly's Last Jam Won
Vivian Reed The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club Nominated
1994 Audra McDonald Carousel Won
1995 Gretha Boston Show Boat Won
Brenda Braxton Smokey Joe's Café Nominated
B.J. Crosby Nominated
1996 Ann Duquesnay Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Won
1997 Lillias White The Life Won
1998 Audra McDonald Ragtime Won With this win, first African-American to win twice in this category.
Tsidii Le Loka The Lion King Nominated
1999 Gretha Boston It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues Nominated
Valerie Pettiford Fosse Nominated
2000 Eartha Kitt The Wild Party Nominated
2004 Anika Noni Rose Caroline, or Change Won
2006 Felicia P. Fields The Color Purple Nominated
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes Nominated
2008 De'Adre Aziza Passing Strange Nominated
2010 Karine Plantadit Come Fly Away Nominated
Lillias White Fela! Nominated
2011 Nikki M. James The Book of Mormon Won
2012 Da'Vine Joy Randolph Ghost the Musical Nominated
2014 Adriane Lenox After Midnight Nominated
2016 Danielle Brooks The Color Purple Nominated
Renée Elise Goldsberry Hamilton Won
Adrienne Warren Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed Nominated
2018 Ariana DeBose Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Nominated
2019 Lilli Cooper Tootsie Nominated
Amber Gray Hadestown Nominated
2020 Celia Rose Gooding Jagged Little Pill Nominated
Myra Lucretia Taylor Tina - The Tina Turner Musical Nominated
2022 Jeannette Bayardelle Girl from the North Country Nominated
L Morgan Lee A Strange Loop Nominated First transgender actor to be nominated for a Tony.
2023 NaTasha Yvette Williams Some Like It Hot Nominated
2024 Amber Iman Lempicka Nominated
Nikki M. James Suffs Nominated
Kecia Lewis Hell's Kitchen Won
2025 Natalie Venetia Belcon Buena Vista Social Club Won
Joy Woods Gypsy Nominated
Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Year Nominee Show Result Milestone
1964 Diana Sands Blues for Mister Charlie Nominated
1973 Maya Angelou Look Away Nominated
1974 Roxie Roker The River Niger Nominated
1977 Trazana Beverley For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf Won
1978 Starletta DuPois The Mighty Gents Nominated
1985 Theresa Merritt Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Nominated
1987 Mary Alice Fences Won
1988 L. Scott Caldwell Joe Turner's Come and Gone Won
Kimberleigh Aarn Nominated
Kimberly Scott Nominated
1990 S. Epatha Merkerson The Piano Lesson Nominated
1992 Cynthia Martells Two Trains Running Nominated
1996 Audra McDonald Master Class Won With this win, first African-American to win in both musical and play categories.
Viola Davis Seven Guitars Nominated
Michele Shay Nominated
1997 Lynne Thigpen An American Daughter Won
2001 Viola Davis King Hedley II Won
2004 Audra McDonald A Raisin in the Sun Won With this win, first African American to win 4 Tonys.
With this win, first African-American to win twice in this category
Sanaa Lathan Nominated
2005 Adriane Lenox Doubt Won
2012 Condola Rashad Stick Fly Nominated
2013 Shalita Grant Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Nominated
Condola Rashad The Trip to Bountiful Nominated
2014 Sophie Okonedo A Raisin in the Sun Won
Anika Noni Rose Nominated
2016 Pascale Armand Eclipsed Nominated
Saycon Sengbloh Nominated
2017 Condola Rashad A Doll's House, Part 2 Nominated
Michelle Wilson Sweat Nominated
2018 Noma Dumezweni Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two Nominated
2020 Chalia La Tour Slave Play Nominated
2022 Uzo Aduba Clyde's Nominated
Kenita R. Miller for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
Phylicia Rashad Skeleton Crew Won
Kara Young Clyde's Nominated
2023 Nikki Crawford Fat Ham Nominated
Crystal Lucas-Perry Ain't No Mo' Nominated
Kara Young Cost of Living Nominated
2024 Quincy Tyler Bernstine Doubt: A Parable Nominated
Juliana Canfield Stereophonic Nominated
Kara Young Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Won
2025 Purpose Won

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result Milestone
1958 Lena Horne Jamaica Nominated
1962 Diahann Carroll No Strings Won First African-American winner in a lead role.
1964 Carol Channing Hello, Dolly! Won Channing is German-American and African-American.
1968 Leslie Uggams Hallelujah, Baby! Won
1972 Jonelle Allen Two Gentlemen of Verona Nominated
1974 Virginia Capers Raisin Won
1975 Lola Falana Doctor Jazz Nominated
1976 Vivian Reed Bubbling Brown Sugar Nominated
1977 Clamma Dale Porgy and Bess Nominated
Ernestine Jackson Guys and Dolls Nominated
1978 Eartha Kitt Timbuktu! Nominated
1982 Jennifer Holliday Dreamgirls Won
Sheryl Lee Ralph Nominated
1983 Lonette McKee Show Boat Nominated
1984 Rhetta Hughes Amen Corner Nominated
1986 Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Nominated
1989 Ruth Brown Black and Blue Won
Linda Hopkins Nominated
1997 Pamela Isaacs The Life Nominated
Tonya Pinkins Play On! Nominated
2000 Heather Headley Aida Won
Audra McDonald Marie Christine Nominated
2002 Vanessa L. Williams Into the Woods Nominated
2004 Tonya Pinkins Caroline, or Change Nominated
2006 LaChanze The Color Purple Won
2007 Audra McDonald 110 in the Shade Nominated
2010 Montego Glover Memphis Nominated
2011 Patina Miller Sister Act Nominated
2012 Audra McDonald The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Won With this win, first African-American to win 5 Tonys.
2013 Patina Miller Pippin Won
Valisia LeKae Motown: The Musical Nominated
2016 Cynthia Erivo The Color Purple Won
2017 Denée Benton Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Nominated
2018 Hailey Kilgore Once on This Island Nominated
LaChanze Summer: The Donna Summer Musical Nominated
2020[1] Adrienne Warren Tina - The Tina Turner Musical Won
2022 Sharon D. Clarke Caroline, or Change Nominated
Joaquina Kalukango Paradise Square Won
2023 Lorna Courtney & Juliet Nominated
2024 Maleah Joi Moon Hell's Kitchen Won
2025 Audra McDonald Gypsy Nominated

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
1960 Claudia McNeil A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
1963 Tiger Tiger Burning Bright Nominated
1965 Beah Richards The Amen Corner Nominated
Diana Sands The Owl and the Pussycat Nominated
1994 Anna Deavere Smith Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 Nominated
1995 Mary Alice Having Our Say Nominated
2001 Leslie Uggams King Hedley II Nominated
2004 Phylicia Rashad A Raisin in the Sun Won
2005 Gem of the Ocean Nominated
2008 S. Epatha Merkerson Come Back, Little Sheba Nominated
2010 Viola Davis Fences Won
2013 Cicely Tyson The Trip to Bountiful Won
2014 LaTanya Richardson Jackson A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
Audra McDonald Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill Won
2016 Lupita Nyong'o Eclipsed Nominated
Sophie Okonedo Arthur Miller's The Crucible Nominated
2018 Condola Rashad Saint Joan Nominated
Lauren Ridloff Children of a Lesser God Nominated
2020 Joaquina Kalukango Slave Play Nominated
Audra McDonald Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune Nominated
2022 Gabby Beans The Skin of Our Teeth Nominated
LaChanze Trouble in Mind Nominated
Ruth Negga Macbeth Nominated
2023 Audra McDonald Ohio State Murders Nominated
2025 LaTanya Richardson Jackson Purpose Nominated

Play

Tony Award for Best Play
Year Nominee Show Result
1960 Lorraine Hansberry (as playwright) A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
1974 Joseph A. Walker (as playwright) The River Niger Won
1975 John Kani and Winston Ntshona (as playwright) Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island Nominated
1976 Leslie Lee (as playwright) The First Breeze of Summer Nominated
1977 Ntozake Shange (as playwright) For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf Nominated
1980 Samm-Art Williams (as playwright) Home Nominated
1985 August Wilson (as playwright) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Nominated
1987 Fences Won
1988 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Nominated
1990 August Wilson (as playwright), Lloyd Richards (as producer) The Piano Lesson Nominated
1992 August Wilson (as playwright) Two Trains Running Nominated
1993 Tug Yourgrau (as playwright) The Song of Jacob Zulu Nominated
1994 George C. Wolfe (as producer) Angels in America: Perestroika Won
Anna Deavere Smith (as playwright), George C. Wolfe (as producer) Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 Nominated
1995 Camille Cosby (as producer) Having Our Say Nominated
1996 August Wilson (as playwright) Seven Guitars Nominated
1998 George C. Wolfe (as producer) Golden Child Nominated
2000 The Ride Down Mt. Morgan Nominated
2001 August Wilson (as playwright) King Hedley II Nominated
2002 Suzan-Lori Parks (as playwright), George C. Wolfe (as producer) Topdog/Underdog Nominated
2003 George C. Wolfe (as producer) Take Me Out Won
2005 August Wilson (as playwright) Gem of the Ocean Nominated
2007 August Wilson (as playwright), Wendell Pierce (as producer), Tamara Tunie (as producer) Radio Golf Nominated
2012 Wendell Pierce (as producer) Clybourne Park Won
2013 Ron Simons (as producer) Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Won
2016 Danai Gurira (as playwright), Stephen C. Byrd (as producer), Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer), Alani LaLa Anthony (as producer) Eclipsed Nominated
2017 Lynn Nottage (as playwright) Sweat Nominated
2019 Tarell Alvin McCraney (as playwright) Choir Boy Nominated
2020 Rashad V. Chambers (as producer) The Inheritance Won
Jeremy O. Harris (as playwright and producer) Slave Play Nominated
Brian Moreland (as producer) Sea Wall/A Life Nominated
The Sound Inside Nominated
2022 Lynn Nottage (as playwright) Clyde's Nominated
Dominique Morisseau (as playwright) Skeleton Crew Nominated
2023 Jordan E. Cooper (as playwright), RuPaul Charles (as producer), Lee Daniels (as producer), Jeremy O. Harris (as producer), C. J. Uzomah (as producer), Lena Waithe (as producer) Ain't No Mo' Nominated
James Ijames (as playwright), Rashad V. Chambers (as producer), Colman Domingo (as producer), Cynthia Erivo (as producer) Fat Ham Nominated
2024 Jocelyn Bioh (as playwright), LaChanze (as producer), Taraji P. Henson (as producer) Jaja's African Hair Braiding Nominated
2025 Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (as playwright), Rashad V. Chambers (as producer), Debra Martin Chase (as producer), LaChanze (as producer) Purpose Won

Regional Theatre Tony Award

Regional Theatre Tony Award
Year Nominee Result
1999 Crossroads Theatre Won

Revival of a Musical

Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical
Year Nominee Show Result
2012 Irene Gandy (as producer), Ron Simons (as producer) The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Won
2014 Brandon Victor Dixon (as producer) Hedwig and the Angry Inch Won
2016 Oprah Winfrey (as producer), Quincy Jones (as producer) The Color Purple Won
2022 Rashad V. Chambers (as producer) Caroline, or Change Nominated
2023 Diane Scott Carter (as producer) Parade Won
2024 Stephen C Byrd (as producer) Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Nominated
Lamar Richardson (as producer) Merrily We Roll Along Won
2025 Lamar Richardson (as producer), Diane Scott Carter (as producer), Kerry Washington (as producer) Gypsy Nominated

Revival of a Play

Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
2004 Susan Batson (as producer) A Raisin in the Sun Nominated
2013 Kevin Liles (as producer), Stephen C. Byrd (as producer), Alia M. Jones (as producer) The Trip to Bountiful Nominated
2017 Mike Jackson (as producer), John Legend (as producer), Ron Simons (as producer) August Wilson's Jitney Won
2018 Stephen C. Byrd (as producer), Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer) Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh Nominated
2020[1] Charles Fuller (as playwright) A Soldier's Play Won
Rashad V. Chambers (as producer) Betrayal Nominated
2022 Brian Moreland (as producer) American Buffalo Nominated
Ron Simons (as producer) for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
2023 Kandi Burruss (as producer), Alia Jones-Harvey (as producer), Brian Anthony Moreland (as producer), Diane Scott Carter (as producer), Todd Tucker (as producer) August Wilson's The Piano Lesson Nominated
Jeremy O. Harris (as producer), Diane Scott Carter (as producer) The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window Nominated
Rashad V. Chambers (as producer), Debra Martin Chase (as producer), LaChanze (as producer) Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog Won
2024 Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (as playwright) Appropriate Won
Leslie Odom, Jr. (as producer), Irene Gandy (as producer), Kenny Leon (as producer), Nicolette Robinson (as producer), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (as producer), Samuel L. Jackson (as producer), Phylicia Rashad (as producer), Nnamdi Asomugha (as producer), Kerry Washington (as producer) Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Nominated
2025 Stephen C. Byrd (as producer) Romeo + Juliet Nominated
Irene Gandy (as producer), Kenny Leon (as producer) Thornton Wilder's Our Town Nominated

Sound Design of a Play

Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play
Year Nominee Show Result
2022 Justin Ellington for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Nominated
Mikaal Sulaiman Macbeth Nominated
2023 Taylor Williams Ain't No Mo' Nominated
2024 Justin Ellington Jaja's African Hair Braiding Nominated

Special Theatrical Event

Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event
Year Nominee Show Result
2002 George C. Wolfe (as producer) Elaine Stritch at Liberty Won

Special Tony Awards

Special Tony Award
Year Nominee Show Result
1968 Pearl Bailey Won
1977 Diana Ross Won
1981 Lena Horne Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music Won
2006 Sarah Jones Bridge & Tunnel Won
2016 Brian Stokes Mitchell Won
2017 James Earl Jones Won
2019 Harold Wheeler Won
Jason Michael Webb Choir Boy Won
2020[1] Irene Gandy Won
Beverly Jenkins Won
The Broadway Advocacy Coalition Won
2023 Lisa Dawn Cave Won
2024 Nikiya Mathis Jaja's African Hair Braiding Won
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack Won
Billy Porter Won
George C. Wolfe Won

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ruff, Rivea (September 27, 2021). "All The Black & Excellent Winners at the 74th Annual Tony Awards". Essence.

Sources