Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor Oscar for 'Sinners'

Michael B. Jordan has been building toward a performance like “Sinners” for over 20 years. Now he has the best actor Oscar as his reward in what proved to be a hugely popular win. Jordan got one trophy for playing identical twins Smoke and Stack in the blues-seeped supernatural horror film set in 1930s Mississippi that earned a record 16 Academy Award nominations and won four. Last year’s winner, Adrien Brody, announced Jordan’s name Sunday night, setting off a wild celebration inside the Dolby Theatre. Teyana Taylor, a supporting actress nominee for “One Battle After Another,” joined the standing ovation, mouthing, “Yes!” Jordan was cheered loudly as he made his way through the backstage photo and interview rooms. The win is Jordan’s first Oscar. “I’ve been doing this for 25 years and there’s a lot of people who have seen me grow up in this industry,” he said backstage, “and they looked out for me when they didn’t have to.” Jordan is eager to pass on that support. “I’m really big on the next generation, so, try to be an example,” he said. “I’m not a big talker, I’m about action. I like to lead by example.” Jordan is the sixth Black man to win the best actor trophy. He joins Will Smith (“King Richard,” 2020), Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland,” 2006), Jamie Foxx (“Ray,” 2004), Denzel Washington (“Training Day,” 2001) and Sidney Poitier (“Lillies of the Field”), who was the first in 1963. “I stand here because of the people that came before me — Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith,” he said on stage, “and to be up amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys, thank you everybody in this room and everybody at home supporting me over my career.” Jordan added, “I know you guys wanted me to do well and I want to do that because you guys bet on me, so thank you for keep betting on me. I’m going to keep stepping up, and I’m going to keep being the best version of myself I can be.” The other nominees were Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme,” Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke of “Blue Moon” and Wagner Moura in “The Secret Agent.” Chalamet had been the early Oscar favorite after wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. But Jordan surprised himself by winning at the Actor Awards, giving him momentum in the final days of Oscar voting. “Sinners” reunited Jordan and writer-producer-director Ryan Coogler. They go back to their first collaboration in 2013. “You’re an amazing person,” Jordan told Coogler from the stage. “You gave me the opportunity and space to be seen.” Jordan’s breakthrough film role came in Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station” for which he received critical praise playing a real-life man who was killed by police. It was Coogler’s directorial debut, and they followed with “Creed,” “Black Panther” and now “Sinners.” Jordan’s initial acting success came in television. He had a small yet pivotal role in “The Wire” in 2002, followed by the daytime drama “All My Children,” in which he replaced Chadwick Boseman, and “Friday Night Lights.” He and Boseman later acted together in “Black Panther” and were close friends until Boseman’s death from colon cancer in 2020. Jordan dedicated his acting award from this year’s NAACP Image Awards to Boseman. Jordan, a 39-year-old who also produces and directs, was named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2020. Jordan shared Oscar night with his mother, Donna, who hugged her son upon hearing his name, and his father Michael A. Jordan, as well as his two siblings. He espoused the values that he was taught growing up in Newark, New Jersey. “I’m just walking my path, just trying to be locked in,” he said backstage. “Dream big, man, and be kind and be honest. That’s how I try to live.”