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

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

Martin Luther King Jr. may have passed generations ago, but his legacy lives on, both in politics and in pop 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 on film and on TV.

Most recently, Aml Ameen 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.