The 98th Academy Awards delivered an unforgettable night of cinematic triumphs, but few moments were as electrifying as Michael B. Jordan taking the Dolby Theatre stage to accept the Oscar for Best Actor. Winning for his gripping dual role as twin brothers in Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic Sinners, Jordan delivered a deeply emotional speech that acknowledged the titans of the industry who paved the way for his success. With this monumental victory, he officially becomes only the sixth Black man in the Academy’s nearly 100-year history to take home the coveted Best Actor statuette.
As we celebrate this incredible milestone for the Creed, Black Panther, and now Sinners star, let’s take a look back at the legendary performers he now joins in the Oscar history books.
Michael B. Jordan, winner of the Best Actor Award for “Sinners”, poses in the press room during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Brianna Bryson/Getty Images)
The Best Actor Brotherhood
- Sidney Poitier (Lilies of the Field): Poitier shattered the ultimate glass ceiling in 1963 when he became the very first Black actor to win the leading man prize. His charismatic and understated performance as a traveling handyman who helps a group of nuns build a chapel in the Arizona desert remains one of the most iconic turns of the 1960s.
- Denzel Washington (Training Day): Nearly 40 years after Poitier’s historic win, Washington took home the 2001 trophy for his magnetic, terrifyingly unpredictable performance as corrupt LAPD narcotics officer Alonzo Harris. His chilling “King Kong ain’t got nothin’ on me” monologue instantly became part of cinematic lore.
- Jamie Foxx (Ray): Foxx completely transformed himself to embody the legendary musician Ray Charles in 2004. He perfectly captured the singer’s mannerisms, musical genius, and deeply personal demons, securing a near-unanimous victory during that year’s awards season.
- Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland): In 2006, Whitaker delivered a towering, mesmerizing portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. His ability to pivot seamlessly from charmingly eccentric to monstrously cruel made this one of the most defining and intense performances of the decade.
- Will Smith (King Richard): Securing his long-awaited Oscar in 2021, Smith won for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the fiercely dedicated and famously unorthodox father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams.
- Michael B. Jordan (Sinners): The newest member of the club, Jordan earned his place in history at the 2026 ceremony. Reuniting with his frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler, Jordan anchored the massive horror-epic with the kind of intense, deeply emotional acting that the Academy simply couldn’t ignore.
