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African Americans Who Became Successful Later In Life

African Americans Who Became Successful Later In Life

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Some say that the key to success is never giving up, and these stars are proof. Instead of giving up when they still hadn’t seen success by the age of 30, these stars persisted and it paid off big time. Here are some African Americans who became successful later in life.

showbiz411.com
showbiz411.com

Oprah

It may feel like Oprah has been on the air since she was a kid but in fact, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” first premiered when Oprah was 32 years old. Even then it took several years to gain popularity.

Source: Imdb.com

peteryang.com
peteryang.com

Samuel Jackson

Samuel Jackson was still working as a social worker very close to the time he had his breakthrough acting role in the movie “Pulp Fiction.” At that point, the actor was 45 years old.

Source: Backstage.com

theurbandaily.com
theurbandaily.com

Morgan Freeman

Freeman has acted since childhood, but he was nearly 40 when he became a household name, through his roles in “Another World” and “The Electric Company.”

Source: Backstage.com

theatermania.com
theatermania.com

 

Norm Lewis

Somehow this handsome face didn’t earn much recognition until Norm Lewis landed a role in the Broadway production of “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” in 2011. Shortly after he was nominated for a Tony Award. Lewis is 50.

Source: Backstage.com

mediaoutrage.wordpress.com
mediaoutrage.wordpress.com

Phylicia Rashad

Rashad had an on-again, off-again career on Broadway, but it was her role as the lovable Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” that finally earned her fame, at which point the actress was 35 years old.

Source: Backstage.com

executivespeakers.com
executivespeakers.com

George Foreman

Foreman had recognition as a fighter in the ’70s when he fought Muhammed Ali, but he became even more famous when he emerged from retirement at age of 45 to become the oldest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing.

Source: AccessAtlanta.com

chicandcurvy.com
chicandcurvy.com

Nene Leakes

Leakes got a big break when she was chosen as one of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Following that she had some appearances on “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Celebrity Apprentice.” But it wasn’t until her mid-40s that Leakes landed her recurring roles on “Glee” and “The New Normal.”

Source: Wikipedia.org

kickstarter.com
kickstarter.com

Whoopi Goldberg

Goldberg was a mortician (that’s right—she put make up on dead people!) before she landed her breakthrough role in the movie “The Color Purple” in 1985. She was in her 30s at the time.

Source: TheBiographyChannel.co.uk

ebony.com
ebony.com

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier took on several theater and movie roles before he finally was nominated for best actor in his role in “The Defiant Ones,” at which point the actor was in his 30s.

Source: Imdb.com

mayocommunications.com
mayocommunications.com

 Viola Davis

Davis appeared in several well known films and shows including “Eat Pray Love” and “The United States of Tara” but it wasn’t until her role in “The Help” that she became a well known actress. When “The Help” was released Davis was in her mid forties.