Nelson Mandela's Death: Morgan Freeman, Idris Elba and More Stars Who Played the South African Leader

Actors who've portrayed the late Nobel Peace Price winner

By Brett Malec Dec 05, 2013 11:25 PMTags
Nelson MandelaAP Photo/Denis Farrell

Nelson Mandela, the famed South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, passed away earlier today at the age of 95.

"Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss," South African President Jacob Zuma announced today. "Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood. Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause."

Mandela's inspiring life and endless activism was the subject of many films and TV movies. Sidney Poitier portrayed him back in 1997's Mandela and de KlerkMorgan Freeman did the job in 2009's Invictus and, most recently, Idris Elba is portraying Mandela in the new film Long Walk to Freedom.

But they're not the only ones. Check out all the stars who've portrayed Mandela's courageous story.