Harry Belafonte Through the Years
Celebrate the star's 90th birthday with a look back
By Madeline Boardman Updated March 01, 2017 at 10:52 AM EST
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The Evolution of Harry Belafonte
Close Your Eyes
Credit: Metronome/Getty Images
Born in New York on March 1, 1927, Harry Belafonte celebrates his 90th birthday Wednesday. Pictured here in the 1940s, the star kicked off his career as a singer, later expanding his work to acting and activism. Decades later, the star has an Emmy, Grammys, and an Academy Awards' Humanitarian Award to his name. In honor of his 90th, see photos of Harry Belafonte through the years, ahead.
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Harry Belafonte in the Early 1950s
Portrait Of Harry Belafonte Smiling
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Harry Belafonte on Three for Tonight on January 22, 1955
Harry Belafone Performs On 'Three For Tonight'
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Harry Belafonte With Dorothy Dandridge and Joe Adams in Carmen Jones in 1954
Carmen Jones
Credit: Henry Gris/FPG/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte in the 1950s
Dancing Harry
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Harry Belafonte in 1956
Harry Belafonte Portrait
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Harry Belafonte in a Recording Studio in 1957
Harry Belafonte
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Harry Belafonte in 1957
Harry Belafonte Portrait
Credit: Archive Photos/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte on The Bell Telephone Hour in December 1958
The Bell Telephone Hour
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Harry Belafonte With Julie Robinson and David Belafonte in New York City in 1959
Belafonte And Family
Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte at the 1960 Emmy Awards on June 20, 1960
Harry Belafone Wins Emmy
Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at Kennedy International Airport on August 14, 1964
King And Belafonte
Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte With Sidney Poitier and Charleton Heston at the Lincoln Memorial During the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963
At The Lincoln Memorial During March On Washington
Credit: PhotoQuest/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte in 1965
Harry Belafonte
Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte in the Late 1960s
Harry Belafonte
Credit: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte in the Late 1960s
Harry Belafonte
Credit: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte and Julie Andrews on An Evening with Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte in 1969
An Evening with Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte
Credit: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte and Muhammad Ali at the 31st Annual Beaux Arts Ball in New York City in 1971
31th Annual Beaux Arts Ball
Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage
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Harry Belafonte at the George V Hotel in Paris on June 14, 1976
FRANCE-MUSIC-BELAFONTE
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Harry Belafonte in 1980
Harry Belafonte, S?nger, Schauspieler, USA - undatiert
Credit: Will/ullstein bild via Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte in New York City in 1985
Harry Belafonte Portrait
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Harry Belafonte Performing in Paris on September 24, 1988
FRANCE-MUSIC-BELAFONTE
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Harry Belafonte Performing in London in 1990
Harry Belafonte
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Harry Belafonte and Jack Nicholson Celebrating President Bill Clinton's Inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 1993
Harry Belafonte And Jack Nicholson
Credit: Cynthia Johnson/Liaison
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Harry Belafonte and Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the United Nations Headquarters on June 16, 1994
South African activist and Nobel Peace P
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Harry Belafonte on March 16, 1998
Harry Belafonte, Musiker, S?nger, USA - 1998
Credit: Brill/ullstein bild via Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover Outside Carnegie Hall in New York City on November 30, 1998
Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte outside Carnegie Hall after
Credit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte, Julie Robinson, and Nelson Mandela on June 15, 1999
S.AFRICA-MANDELA-BELAFONTE
Credit: THEMBA HADEBE/AFP/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte at On Stage at the Kennedy Center: The Mark Twain Prize on October 15, 2001
On Stage at the Kennedy Center - The Mark Twain Prize - Show
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Harry Belafonte in New York City on March 26, 2002
Harry Belafonte Portrait
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Harry Belafonte at the 5th Annual Dubai International Film Festival on December 15, 2008
The 5th Annual Dubai International Film Festival - Portraits
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Harry Belafonte at the 1199 SEIU's 50th Anniversary Celebration in New York City on December 18, 2009
1199 SEIU's 50th Anniversary Celebration
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Harry Belafonte at the Bing Decision Maker Series in Park City, Utah on January 22, 2011
The Bing Decision Maker Series with the “Sing Your Song” Cast and Filmmakers - 2011 Park City
Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte at Sing Your Song Photocall at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival on February 12, 2011
61st Berlin Film Festival - "Sing Your Song" Photocall
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Harry Belafonte at the Museum Of Arts And Design in New York City on April 2, 2011
18th New York African Film Festival - "African Rhythmus" Panel Discussion
Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte at the 44th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles on February 1, 2013
44th NAACP Image Awards - Portraits
Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards
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Harry Belafonte at NYC Pride 2013 on June 30, 2013
NYC Pride 2013 - The March
Credit: Michael Stewart/WireImage
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Harry Belafonte at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' 2014 Governors Awards in Hollywood on November 8, 2014
Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' 2014 Governors Awards - Show
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte and Pamela Frank in New York City on May 31, 2016
Celebrities Visit Broadway - May 31, 2016
Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
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Harry Belafonte and Michael B. Jordan at the 2016 Many Rivers To Cross Festival at Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, Georgia on October 2, 2016
2016 Many Rivers To Cross Festival
Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images
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Harry Belafonte at the 2016 Library Lions Gala at the New York Public Library on November 7, 2016
2016 Library Lions Gala
Credit: Gary Gershoff/WireImage
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