Here you go my Geek Brothers and Sisters. This is my LONG list of Black Soul Brothers that starred (or co-starred) in a Science Fiction movie or TV show. This is a fitting post to top off Black History Month.
I also included 'A Few' brothers that have been in Fantasy presentations because I think they deserve mentioning. But we're pretty much talking about Sci-Fi here. Anything to do with Lasers, Aliens, Future Technology, space and time travel. My criteria basically covered Black Characters and/or Black Male Actors that have had significant roles in popular Sci-Fi. I really didn't think I would end up with a list this big though! And I'm sure there are others. Listen, if you think someone else should be on the list then leave a comment. I would be cool with adding more.
THE LEADERS - The men who are calling the shots. Pillars of knowledge and wisdom that you wouldn't mind serving under if you had to deal with mutants from space.
- Terry Carter
Colonel Tigh (Terry Carter) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (1979) - Back when you hardly saw Black men on space ships, this leader was second in command of the baddest ship in the Battlestar fleet. Tigh was always there to give a word of wisdom to Adama.
President Beck (Morgan Freedman) DEEP IMPACT - When you're the president and the word ELE comes into the picture (Extinction Level Event) you can't be the one to go running and screaming in the streets. Beck had to sacrifice some to save the rest of humanity.
President Elias Martinez (Blair Underwood) THE EVENT - It's only in the first season, but Martinez has his hands full with renegade aliens, a vice-president that wants him dead and 2.5 billion house guest showing up at his door.
- Lance Reddick
Agent Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) FRINGE - The tough inflexible police chief has been done to death on TV. But when they showed the man underneath the badge, Reddick's character took on much more depth. For Broyles, dealing with the destruction of 2 universes isn't as painful as loosing your child.
Agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) DEJA VU - It took a lot of leadership and open-mindedness to learn that you can look back in time, have a chance to stop a terrorist, fall in love with a girl whose murder your investigating, and travel back in time to save the day... all in about 72 hours.
President Lindberg (Tommy 'Tiny' Lister) THE FIFTH ELEMENT - Now I have to give it to Lister for this one. He usually played a thug, but kudos for the casting call of making him president of that zany future.
Captain Frank Irving (Orlando Jones) SLEEPY HOLLOW - He's the captain of the sheriff department and a brother that has to deal with witches, demons, and a headless Horseman. Plus he's a family man, so things are extra tight.
Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - And finally, in my opinion, the epitome of a Black Man in Sci-Fi. Sisko held down a space station, an inter-dimensional war, his role as emissary and he was a Great Father! All while rockin' a baldy and Goatee!! And what about commanding the Defiant! He IS the number one MAIN MAN in my book!! Here are some of his more excitable moments:
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THE MEAN BROTHERS - The last ones in the universe you want to point a Phaser at.
- Vader/Jones
Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) STAR WARS - He wasn't Black but his voice WAS! The Baddest dude in the universe had the baddest voice on the planet. Darth introduced himself by choking a dude out in the first 10 minutes of the film. Along with David Prowse in costume, Jones gave Darth Vader the ultimate ominous voice he deserved.
Jake (Forest Whitaker) REPO MEN - Talk about a man who loved his work. Hit your boys bar-b-que, step out for a minute for a quick artificial kidney removal in back of a taxi... with the butcher knife... and then tell the hostess 'He's okay... he'll make it to the hospital'. That's dedication!!
The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) SERENITY - Ahh... those lovable sociopaths that work for the government.
- Peter Williams
Apophis - (Peter Williams) STARGATE SG-1 - Of course he's meaner then a rattlesnake... he has one in his head. SG-1 had a hard time with this one.
The Prophet (Ving Rhames) SURROGATES - Everybody's worst fear... a Rastafarian with the soul of an old White man!
Brandt (Taye Diggs) EQUILIBRIUM - For a guy that persecuted people with emotions, he sure was smiling a lot!! Unfortunately, he met his end Face to Face.
- Harry Lennix
Boyd Langton (Harry Lennix) DOLLHOUSE - I hate to spoil it for you all.. aww heck... just check out the show. It's only 2 seasons because they canceled it. Boyd was the man... and that's all I'm gonna say.
Albert Laurent (Djimon Hounsou) THE ISLAND - Relentless mercenary that always caught his Clone. But sometimes you can have a change of heart for the test tube babies.
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THE TOUGH MO' FOES - The fellas that got yo' back when you're negotiating weapon deals at the seedy space station. Big Pulse Rifle included!
- Michael Dorn
Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - Picard "You are the bravest Man I have ever known." Yeah Picard, you Better check yo' self!! All Worf needed to beat his enemies was his Batleth, some hair gel and a little Deanna on the side!
Lt. Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) PREDATOR 2 - He has to be bad if a rickety old cop can stop a hunter killer alien... with his own hand blade!! A Predator against an L.A cop? No Match!
Frank Armitage (Keith David) THEY LIVE - He took on Conservative Aliens and Rowdy Ron Piper... how much tougher can you get!
Dillon (Carl Weathers) PREDATOR - Shoot the Alien... lose an arm... shoot with the other arm. He started out shifty, but he stepped up to the plate by the end... his end.
- Christopher Judge
Teal'c (Christopher Judge) STARGATE SG-1 - Look in the dictionary under Honor and you'll find Teal'c's face. There weren't many Sci-Fi friendships closer than Teal'c and O'Neall.
Riddick (Vin Diesel) CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK - This homeboy is so tough he's got prophecies written about him. He eats Space Armada Cults for dinner. Just don't be his friend or one day you'll wake up dead.
- Keith Hamilton Cobb
Tyr Anasazi (Keith Hamilton Cobb) ANDROMEDA - Now here is a dude that you want covering your back... unless he meets the right chick to forward his gene pool. Still, he had Dillon Hunt covered.
James 'One' Shade (Colin Salmon) RESIDENT EVIL - He was one tough leader but in the end he was just a square.
Sgt. Brodski (Peter Mensah) JASON X - machete to the stomach... "You think that's gonna stop me" machete to the heart... "Yeah, That'll do it!" Bad movie, but I love that part.
- Al Matthers
Sgt. Apone (Al Matthers) ALIENS - No one could lead a bunch of bug-huntin' killer Marines and gnaw on a cigar like this guy!
Charles Gunn (J. August Richards) ANGEL - A Gang leader protecting his turf from vampires and demons. The streets get tougher everyday!
Ryan Nichols (Morris Chestnut) 'V' (2010) - No one could touch him in a fight, but his little girl had him wrapped around her little... Tail?
- Ice Cube
Desolation Williams (Ice Cube) GHOST OF MARS - List of things needed to fight Ancient Alien-possessed cannibals: 1. Guns. 2. Hot White Chick with Guns. 3. Red Army Fatigues. Now your ready!
Sgt. Epps (Tyrese Gibson) TRANSFORMERS (2007) Even with his army base being blasted by a Transformer, Epps had time to get pictures for his Facebook page.
Heimdall (Idris Elba) THOR (the movie) - This brother was so intimidating that even his fellow 'gods' didn't want to mess with him.
Master Sgt. Ronald Greer (Jamil Walker Smith) STARGATE UNIVERSE - Sometimes the angry black man role can get tiresome... until he forks over a kidney. Greer was always willing to take one for the team!
THE COOLEST - Dudes so smooth they should have their own Theme Music. They don't sweat, they perspire!
- Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) STARWARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - The ladies man that permed his hair and ran 'Cloud City'. He left his smuggling days for the good life. But he's also a caring administrator of his people. Lando likes to wine and dine and on the weekends he kills time destroying Death Stars. Coolest brother in the galaxy!!
Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) MATRIX - I don't think too many actors could have pulled this role off the way Fishburne did. Morpheus was the definition of cool, calm and collected.
- Wesley Snipes
Blade (Wesley Snipes) BLADE - Before Matrix, Wesley's character made the long leather coat and martial arts happen.
Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) STARWARS I: THE PHANTOM MENACE - Just three words... Purple Light Saber!
John Jones/Martian Manhunter (Phil Morris) SMALLVILLE - His shape changing abilities allowed him to choose any human form. Good choice brother!
The Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis) HEROES - This man is so cool even his boys didn't know he could talk!
- Laura Allen and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali
Richard Tyler - (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali) 4400 - Tyler is in this section because of his tenacity when it came to his family. He was a loving husband and father and risked everything to protect them. And a little telekinesis didn't hurt.
Spawn (Micheal Jae White) SPAWN - More fantasy then Sci-Fi, but he was a cool character, especially in the comic.
Shepard Derrial Book (Ron Glass) FIREFLY - When your surrounded by death at every turn, it's good to have a Man of the Cloth around. Even if he wasn't what he seemed, Shepard still kept his cool when things got hot.
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THE HOMIES - Your boys that you can count on when your in an 5th-dimensional jam.
- Herbert Jefferson Jr.
Lt. Boomer (Herbert Jefferson Jr.) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (1978) - Part of the three amigos of the original series, Boomer always looked out for his boys.
Lt. Col. James 'Rhody' Rhodes (Terrence Howard) IRONMAN - It doesn't matter if you're some billionaire electronic genius, you still need a guy like Rhody to hang with and keep your shellhead out the clouds.
Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) SMALLVILLE - What would Clark do without Pete by his side? Well, pretty much anything he wanted. But still Pete was Clark's best friend and the first one he confided in about his powers.
- Don Cheadle
War Machine (Don Cheadle) IRONMAN 2 - What's better than one ultra-high tech armored superhero? Two ultra-high tech HOMIES that are best friends.
Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis) TRUEBLOOD - Fantasy. At first sight you would think Lafayette was only out for himself, but he's always looking out for his cousin Tara and her friend Sookie.
Tank (Marcus Chong) MATRIX - Their only tether line to the real world. Tank made sure their bodies were okay while their minds were away. Him and his brother Dozer (Anthony Ray Parker) gave the ultimate price to save his crew.
- Harold Perrineau
Link (Harold Perrineau) MATRIX RELOADED - He had a responsibility to help those on a mission, even if it meant risking his life, like his brother-in-law did.
Bear (Micheal Clark Duncan) ARMAGEDDON - He wasn't too comfortable in space, but he wasn't going to let his friends or the planet get whacked by a giant rock.
Barnes (Common) TERMINATOR SALVATION - When there are Terminators to Terminate, Barnes will keep his boy John covered. 40-watt plasma rifle or not!
Dorian (Michael Ealy) ALMOST HUMAN - He's not your average android. And don't call him a synthetic, he finds it a term of bigotry. What Dorian does appreciate is working with his partner, fellow detective Kennex, and solving crimes in the future.
THE ONES THAT DESERVE CREDIT - Guys that didn't always have the spotlight.
- Cirroc Lofton
Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - Jake had lost him mom, but was part of a truly classic father and son relationship. Lofton ended up acting in some of the more heart-felt episodes.
Yale (Sullivan Walker) EARTH 2 - Not the most glamorous character but Yale was reliable for a former brain washed prisoner.
Mr. X (Steven Williams) X-FILES - He replaced Deep Throat in the X-Files. But mama didn't raise a fool. He stayed in the shadows but stepped to the plate when the time came.
Jacob Benson (Jaden Smith) DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL - A little bratty, but then again everyone on the planet was about to get eaten by metal bugs... he gets a pass.
Jefferson Reed (Robert Townsand) THE METEOR MAN - This gets credit for bringing the first black superhero to the big screen.
- Rainbow Francks
Lt. Aiden Ford (Rainbow Francks) STARGATE ATLANTAS - A good soldier that turned really bad. Ford got infected by a Wraith and started to turn into one. Interestingly Francks is the brother of Cree Summer.
Commodore Glen Ross (Tucker Smallwood) SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND - Smallwood is always perfect for these tough general roles.
Dr. Mathias (Anton Phillips) SPACE: 1999 - A very early role for the portrayal of a doctor who happened to be black. Bravo!
Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie) THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU - Shamefully I haven't watched it yet, but somebody hipped me to Mackie's role.
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THE DUDES BEHIND THE MASK AND THE VOICE - Live action makeup, costume or voice.
- Kevin P. Hall
Predator (Kevin Peter Hall) PREDATOR - Now I know why predator was so intimidating. Hall was a Big Actor... literally! (RIP Mr. Hall)
Jazz (Scatman Crothers) TRANSFORMERS (original TV series) - Jazz was my favorite Transformer. A great decision to get Scatman, a legend of jazz music, to play Jazz the transforming Porsche.
Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMar) FUTURAMA - LaMar has done many voice overs. Besides being funny this show is very Sci-Fi.
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THE BRAINIACS - Guys you don't want to play chess with at the Family Bar-b-Que, because they will whup yo behind!
- LeVar Burton
Lt. Com. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - So what if he had a little tryst in the holodeck. Geordi kept the engines running and his boy Data on the path to being human.
Tuvok (Tim Russ) STAR TREK: VOYAGER - I thought Vulcans were only... green! My apologies for believing the stereotype.
Henry Deacon (Joe Morton) EUREKA - I could have put Joe Morton under Terminator 2 or even Brother from Another Planet, but to me Deacon on Eureka is his biggest role yet.
- Richard Biggs
Dr. Stephen Franklin (Richard Biggs) BABYLON 5 - If you were sick, he was gonna heal ya. No matter what your alien race was.
Marcus 'Augur' Deveraux (Richard Chevolieau) EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT - I actually just started watching this. Augur is eccentric but he knows his stuff.
- Noah Gray-Caby
Micah Sanders (Noah Gray-Cabey) HEROES - Even without being able to talk to machines, Micah was a pretty smart kid.
Dr. Miles Hawkins (Carl Lumbly) M.A.N.T.I.S. - A scientist that couldn't walk becomes a superhero with gadgets that Batman would give a nod at.
Dr. Ed 'Braz' Brazzleton (Delroy Lindo) THE CORE - He built a vehicle that could tunnel to the core of the planet. Sad he had to die to keep it running.
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THE ZEROES TO HEROES - Heads that came up from the streets and ended up saving the day.
Ensign Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) ENTERPRISE - Working on a space barge was nothing to working on the first Enterprise.
- Noel Clarke
Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke) DOCTOR WHO - Once he realized his potential Mickey stepped into the hero shoes no problem.
Dillon (Charles Dutton) ALIEN 3 - He was a prisoner but intentionally became the Alien's last meal to try to destroy it.
D. L. Hawkins (Leonard Roberts) HEROES - A guy that can pass through objects still took a bullet for his wife. That's love.
- Yaphet Kotto
Parker (Yaphet Kotto) ALIEN - Parker only wanted his share of the cut at first. But when it came to a killer alien with two mouths, he wasn't gonna leave his shipmate to die alone.
Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) LOST - He played the priest/ drug dealer. But he saw the light when he saw his brother had died.
Reginald Cornelius III (Peter Parros) KNIGHT RIDER - I didn't know fixing cars in the streets gave you the skills to work on the most advance car on earth. Shows what I know.
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THE CRAZY CATS - In space... everyone can hear you laugh.
- Danny John-Jules
The Cat (Danny John-Jules) RED DWARF - He is what you get when you have a million years of cat evolution, vanity is optional.
Ford Perfect (Mos Def) HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - Don't mess with a man and his towel! Mos Def can play pretty much any part.
Tyberius 'Ty' Walker (Flex Alexander) and Morris Clay (Darryl M. Bell) HOMEBOYS IN OUTER SPACE - I know this show was bad but....... I got nothin'.
Dave Lister (Craig Charles) RED DWARF - The bum that became the only human left.
- Terry Crews
Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) GHOSTBUSTERS - Trapping ghosts and killin' evil gods... all for a steady paycheck!
Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker) THE FIFTH ELEMENT - Prince look out. In the future you will be upstaged by a galaxy wide famous DJ. Tucker went all out on this role.
THE ONE YOU THINK IS, BUT YOUR WRONG!
- Jason Momoa
Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa) STARGATE: ATLANTIS - Now I know many of you think Jason Momoa is black but... HE IS NOT BLACK! He got that tan from the beautiful Hawaiian sun on his father's side. Still he plays the tough 'ready to shoot anything' hero with gusto. And now he's Conan!
Well I hope you enjoyed the list. I know it's long and I left plenty of people out, especially in fantasy. It took me a while just to put this one together. Still, like I said, if you think someone should be added then let Geek Soul Brother and he will put them on. Just let it be major work, not direct to dvd... unless it's awesome!! Stay tuned for other 'Soul Brothers and Sisters of Sci-Fi'.
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