Star Who’ve Played Martin Luther King Jr.: Samuel L. Jackson, David Oyelowo & More

Take a look at the actors who carried on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy on screen.

Martin Luther King Jr. died generations ago, but his legacy lives on, both in politics and in popular culture. As people continue to fight for their civil rights today, many look to King’s memory for guidance. One way people have honored the activist is in film and TV.

Several actors, from Samuel L. Jackson to David Oyelowo, have portrayed King in various on-screen performances.

Aml Ameen also tackled the role of Dr. King in the 2023 Netflix film Rustin. In our exclusive interview, Aml opened up about the dream he had about playing MLK Jr. before scoring the audition and how he prepped for the “I Have a Dream” speech. Ready for more stars who have stepped into Martin Luther King Jr.’s shoes? Check out the gallery for all the best.

Scroll through the gallery to see which actors have played MLK.

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