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

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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

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Harry Belafonte on Three for Tonight on January 22, 1955

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Harry Belafonte With Dorothy Dandridge and Joe Adams in Carmen Jones in 1954

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Harry Belafonte in the 1950s

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Harry Belafonte in 1956

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Harry Belafonte in a Recording Studio in 1957

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Harry Belafonte in 1957

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Harry Belafonte on The Bell Telephone Hour in December 1958

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Harry Belafonte With Julie Robinson and David Belafonte in New York City in 1959

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Harry Belafonte at the 1960 Emmy Awards on June 20, 1960

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Harry Belafonte and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at Kennedy International Airport on August 14, 1964

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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

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Harry Belafonte in 1965

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Harry Belafonte in the Late 1960s

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Harry Belafonte in the Late 1960s

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Harry Belafonte and Julie Andrews on An Evening with Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte in 1969

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Harry Belafonte and Muhammad Ali at the 31st Annual Beaux Arts Ball in New York City in 1971

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Harry Belafonte at the George V Hotel in Paris on June 14, 1976

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Harry Belafonte in 1980

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Harry Belafonte in New York City in 1985

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Harry Belafonte Performing in Paris on September 24, 1988

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Harry Belafonte Performing in London in 1990

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Harry Belafonte and Jack Nicholson Celebrating President Bill Clinton's Inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 1993

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Harry Belafonte and Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the United Nations Headquarters on June 16, 1994

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Harry Belafonte on March 16, 1998

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Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover Outside Carnegie Hall in New York City on November 30, 1998

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Harry Belafonte, Julie Robinson, and Nelson Mandela on June 15, 1999

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Harry Belafonte at On Stage at the Kennedy Center: The Mark Twain Prize on October 15, 2001

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Harry Belafonte in New York City on March 26, 2002

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Harry Belafonte at the 5th Annual Dubai International Film Festival on December 15, 2008

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Harry Belafonte at the 1199 SEIU's 50th Anniversary Celebration in New York City on December 18, 2009

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Harry Belafonte at the Bing Decision Maker Series in Park City, Utah on January 22, 2011

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Harry Belafonte at Sing Your Song Photocall at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival on February 12, 2011

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Harry Belafonte at the Museum Of Arts And Design in New York City on April 2, 2011

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Harry Belafonte at the 44th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles on February 1, 2013

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Harry Belafonte at NYC Pride 2013 on June 30, 2013

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Harry Belafonte at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' 2014 Governors Awards in Hollywood on November 8, 2014

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Harry Belafonte and Pamela Frank in New York City on May 31, 2016

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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

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Harry Belafonte at the 2016 Library Lions Gala at the New York Public Library on November 7, 2016

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By Madeline Boardman