When untraditional beauty presents itself, no one can help but stare. I’ve certainly been there several times while putting together today’s list.
I mean, a black actor with blue eyes? Now that’s a mesmerizing combination of dark and light that easily leaves spectators in awe.
How many black celebrities with blue eyes who’ve been in movies can you name though?
In this article, I’m helping you update your knowledge! Below are 15 names rocking these unique features, from well-known superstars to rising talents in show business.
1. James Earl Jones
One of the most outstanding and versatile actors in the American film and theater industry, James Earl Jones was born on the 17th of January in 1931.
Along with his amazing acting performances, he’s widely recognized for possessing a distinctly deep voice that earned him global fame as the voice of characters in internationally renowned movies. These include the Star Wars franchise as Darth Vader and The Lion King as Mufasa.
The actor’s acting career started in Michigan at the Ramsdell Theatre. By the 1960s, he had starred in various Shakespearean works where he played King Lear, Othello, Hamlet’s Claudius, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Oberon.
In addition to his Broadway performances, James Earl Jones had his film debut in 1964 in Dr.Strangelove, he then moved on to make a great collection of movies such as Conan the Barbarian, Field of Dreams, and Coming to America (1 & 2).
Over his rich career, the actor received two Emmys, a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and two Tonys. He also took home the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and the Academy Honorary Award.
In 2017, Harvard granted James Earl Jones an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree. He even has a Broadway theater named after him (since 2022).
Appearance-wise, James Earl Jones has dark, tanned skin and warm blue eyes. His heritage consists of African-American parents with Native American and Irish ancestry.
2. Michael Ealy
Born on the 3rd of August in 1973, Micheal Ealy is an American actor and producer and a graduate of the University of Maryland where he majored in English.
The actor’s birth name is Micheal David Brown and he’s well-known for his charming looks in addition to his talented performances. You don’t need more than a second to notice his handsome features with intriguing blue eyes against dark skin.
Some of Micheal Ealy’s roles are in movies such as 2 Fast 2 Furious, Barbershop, Think Like a Man, Takers, About Last Time, The Perfect Guy, Think Like a Man Too, The Intruder, Fatale, and The Devil You Know.
He also appeared as a guest, recurring, and main cast in several TV shows including Law & Order, ER, Sleeper Cell, Californication, Secrets and Lies, Stumptown, The Woman in the House, and The Afterparty.
Micheal Ealy is married to Khatira Rafiqzada, an Afghan-American actress and entrepreneur. Together, they have two children; a son and a daughter.
3. Robert Ri’chard
Born on the 7th of January 1983, Robert Andrew Ri’chard is a black American actor with multiple roles in film and TV productions. His rugged, boyish looks are only made more attractive with his captivating blue orbs.
A descendant of Louisiana Creoles, Robert has been active in his career since 1993. He starred in Cousin Skeeter (a Nickelodeon children’s sitcom) and appeared in movies such as Light It Up, House of Wax, and Coach Carter.
His arsenal of TV shows includes Touched by an Angel, Boston Public, CSI: Miami, NCIS, CSI: NY, The Jamie Foxx Show, My Wife and Kids, and most notably, One on One as Arnaz Ballard.
4. Jesse Williams
Born on the 5th of August, Jesse Wesley Williams comes from African-American and Swedish-American parents.
He grew up in Chicago and graduated from Temple University with a major in both Film and Media Arts and African-American Studies.
Jesse Williams is a talented actor, but he’s also a producer and director. He’s widely recognized as the character Dr. Jackson Avery in the TV mega drama hit Grey’s Anatomy, with appearances in other movies such as The Butler, Snake and Mongoose, The Cabin in the Woods, and Two Distant Strangers.
Gaming enthusiasts probably also know his face from the blockbuster game Detroit: Become Human as the protagonist Markus was motion-captured and voiced by Jesse.
5. Chris Williams
Born on the 2nd of November in 1967, Chris Williams is a charismatic American comedian, actor, and voice actor.
His tanned skin is paired with a bright blue pair of eyes that make him a main addition to today’s list. His great-grandfather is William A. Fields; an African-American legislator who was once a slave.
Active since 1992, Chris appeared in dozens of TV shows including JAG, Martin, Hype, Listen Up, Monk, CSI: Miami, 2 Broke Girls, Bones, Silicon Valley, Upload, and The Upshaws.
His list of films is just as versatile, working in movies such as Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Scary Movie 4, Look, The Confidant, Urban Decay, Sex Ed, and Hollywood Stargirl.
6. Gary Dourdan
Born as Gary Robert Durdin on the 11th of December 1966, Gary Dourdan is a professional American actor. One of his most prominent roles is the character Warrick Brown in the hit TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
His compelling performances coupled with the killer combo of vibrant blue eyes and dark skin only pushed his popularity further since his debut back in 1991.
The father of two (a boy and a girl) appeared in a variety of movies such as Malcolm X, Perfect Stranger, Reversion, and Redemption Day. His roles on TV include The Office, First Wives Club, Glee, and Beggars and Choosers.
Gary Dourdan, unfortunately, had a few run-ins with the law. He was previously arrested for drug possession and felony battery.
7. Ronnie Cash
An attractive American model and actor, Ronnie Cash is widely praised for his charismatic presence and unique features of blue eyes and brown skin.
Born and raised in California, Ronnies is dedicated to making it in the entertainment industry. To date, he worked on four movies: Ain’t So Session (2009), Radio America (2015), The Park (2017), and Muzo (2018).
Although his acting and writing career is still budding, the talented young man is highly sought after by modeling agencies.
8. Mark Smith (Rhino)
Mark Smith, or Mark Rhino Smith, was born on the 30th of September 1969 in London, England. He’s a British bodybuilder and actor who’s known for his sharp, commanding features.
Rocking dark skin and deep blue eyes, Mark is a mixture of Ghanaian, Jamaican, and Cherokee Indian with some Caucasian in the formula.
His casting in the British TV show Gladiators lasted four years since it started airing in 1995. He then went on to become an actor and producer in Los Angeles, California.
Other performances include appearances in Nickolodean’s Renford Rejects, EastEnders, Trial & Retribution, Sinchronicity, Yardie, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Batman Begins, and The Last Ship.
He also worked on Criminal Minds, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Blue, Zootopia, Robin Hood, The Enforcer, Argo, and The Harder They Fall.
9. Willy Monfret
Born on the 3rd of October 1982 in Paris, France, Willy Monfret is a French actor, DJ, and model with striking blue eyes and dark skin.
His acting jobs include a leading role in the 2013 short film Love Bug. He also featured in multiple music videos for Nicki Minaj songs such as Grand Piano, The Crying Game, and Right Thru Me.
As a model, he worked with globally acclaimed brands such as Ralph Lauren. His music career involves collaborations with A-list DJs and artists including WizKid and Cedric Gervais.
Monfret even performed at Fashion Week and the Olympics among several other distinguished events.
10. Anthony White
A gifted artist of color, Anthony white is a caramel-skinned musician and model with alluring blue eyes and a fit physique. He chose “Universoulant” as his professional name, which gives you a clue about his mindset.
The young artist has a strong desire to express himself in a way that resonates with everybody, no matter their race or gender.
Anthony is not an actor –yet– but there are rumors of an upcoming acting debut although the artist didn’t confirm them.
11. Gerald Kelly
Born in The Bronx, New York on the 8th of December 1968, Gerald Kelly is an American comedian and actor with a thriving career. He’s dubbed the King of Comedy in New York and his shows all over the world continue to sell out to this day.
A glimpse at Kelly’s face and you’ll immediately notice the stark contrast between his light blue-green eyes and his ebony skin. The artist has been married since 2002 and has three children; two sons and a daughter.
His comedy appearances include America’s Got Talent, Def Comedy Jam. and Last Comic Standing. As for movies, he had roles in Budz House, Death of a Dynasty, Tons of Love, and The Other Brother.
12. Terrence Dashon Howard
Born on the 11th of March in 1969, Terrence Dashon Howard is an accomplished American actor. Growing up in Chicago, he had a rocky childhood as he suffered from an abusive father who was later convicted of murder.
Being raised by his great grandma, Terrance managed to turn things around with an impressive acting career and a long list of movies and TV shows.
His major performances include roles in Crash, Dead Presidents, Biker Boyz, Iron Man, Winnie Mandela, and Hustle & Flow – for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
On TV, Terrance appeared in All My Children, Family Matters, Sparks, Law & Order: LA, Empire, Wayward Pines, and The Best Man: The Final Chapters among a dozen other shows.
Although fans are always debating the exact shade of his eye color –I say light green-blue–, there’s no argument that the caramel-skinned is quite handsome.
13. Dudley O’Shaughnessy
A British actor and boxer, Dudley O’Shaughnessy was born on the 18th of October in London, England with an Irish and Caribbean heritage.
He’s known for his smoldering looks where his sky-blue eyes merge perfectly with his tamed skin and sharp jawline.
Dudley started boxing when he was nine and won the Amateur Boxing Association Championship. However, he didn’t make it into Great Britain’s Olympic team.
The opportunity presented itself for Dudley to work in the modeling industry after being scouted at the age of nineteen by Next Model Management.
He appeared in Rihanna’s music video for We Found Love, and went on to work on various film, theatre, and TV projects. These include The Fields, The Spoiler, Taylor, Montana, White Colour Black, Doctors, and Rain Catcher.
Fans consider his biggest acting break to be his supporting role as Si in the Netflix series Top Boy. The show lasted 5 seasons (from 2019) and ended in 2023.
14. Jeremy Meeks
You may have come across a picture of this black actor with blue eyes back in 2014 while scrolling through your social media feed. That’s when his mugshot went viral after the police posted it on Facebook following his arrest during a gang sweep where he was convicted of felony weapon charges.
Why did his photo go viral? Well. just look at him. His smoldering look, chiseled features, and overall attractive appearance caught the eye of millions of people who dubbed him the “hot felon”.
Jeremy’s mugshot showed how ridiculously photogenic his face is, to the point that several modeling agencies took an interest in him.
In 2016, after serving his 2-year sentence, the former street gang member started his career as a model with photographer Jim Jordan and his talent management agency.
In 2017, Jeremy walked the runway during New York Fashion Week for Philipp Plein. He also walked for the German fashion designer at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.
While Meeks continues to shine in the fashion world, he entered the film industry in 2020 with his debut in Trigger. Since then, he appeared in various movies such as Dutch, True to the Game (2 & 3), Unfair Exchange, Secret Society (1 & 2), and Dance for Me.
15. Shane Mosley
Last but not least on today’s list of black actors with blue eyes is Shane Mosley, nicknamed Sugar Shane Mosley.
Born on the 7th of September 1971, he’s a former American boxer who competed professionally from the age of 22 (1993) until 2016.
His boxing career has seen many world champion titles in the lightweight class, the welterweight class, and the light middleweight class. He was named Fighter of the Year in 1993 and made it to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000.
Shane Mosley boasts that fascinating contrast between light-colored eyes and dark skin, but you may be wondering why he’s on this list of actors when he’s an athlete.
Well, Shane is technically an actor. He had a guest appearance on the sitcom The Bernie Mac Show in episode 14 of season 3 as well as on the sitcom All of Us in episode 14 of season 1.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the entertainment industry has quite a few names that fit the “black actor with blue eyes” description.
In my opinion, we could always use more! There’s just something breathtaking about this combination of features that keeps fans coming back for more!