Jamie Foxx won an Oscar for Best Actor for his incredible portrayal of musician Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray.

The Historic Win

This triumph came at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005, marking Foxx as the first Black actor nominated in both lead and supporting categories that year (he was also nominated for Collateral but didn't win there). His transformative performance—complete with vocal mimicry, piano mastery, and deep emotional range—earned universal praise, beating out stars like Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda). Picture this: Foxx, channeling decades of Charles' triumphs and struggles with addiction, blindness, and genius, delivered a role that felt like living history on screen.

Behind the Performance

Foxx prepared relentlessly, losing weight, learning Braille, and spending time with Ray Charles himself before the legend's passing in 2004. Stories from the set highlight Oprah Winfrey's surprise role in presenting his Oscar, adding a full-circle Hollywood magic moment. No other acting Oscars followed, though he's racked up Golden Globes, Grammys, and more for music and film.

Key Facts

  • Film : Ray (2004)
  • Award : Best Actor (sole win)
  • Year : 2005 ceremony
  • Notable : 10th actor ever nominated in both categories same year
  • Other 2005 noms : Supporting Actor for Collateral

Cultural Impact

This win spotlighted Black excellence at the Oscars, alongside Morgan Freeman's supporting win that night for Million Dollar Baby. It's still celebrated in 2026 clips and retrospectives as a benchmark for biopic mastery.

TL;DR : Jamie Foxx's one Oscar is for Best Actor as Ray Charles in Ray (2005).

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