Jamie Foxx, who played Ray Charles in "Ray," accepts the Oscar for best actor

Jamie Foxx won the Academy Award as best actor on Sunday for his celebrated performance as legendary soul singer Ray Charles in the biographical film "Ray."

The Oscar victory, though widely expected, is likely to propel Foxx, 37, to the ranks of Hollywood's most sought-after stars after a career dominated by television comedy and roles in such films as "Booty Call" and "Any Given Sunday."

In a rare Oscar twist, Foxx also was nominated as best supporting actor for his role opposite Tom Cruise in "Collateral," becoming the first black to garner two Oscar bids in a single year. The prize for supporting actor went to Morgan Freeman for his work in "Million Dollar Baby."

Foxx now stands as only the third black to win the Oscar for best actor, following in the footsteps of Sidney Poitier for the 1963 film "Lilies of the Field" and Denzel Washington three years ago for "Training Day."

"Let's live this African-American dream," a triumphant Foxx said after pumping the statuette in his hand. "Give it up for Ray Charles and his beautiful legacy."

Foxx also paid tribute to Poitier by doing a brief impersonation of the celebrated actor he said once told him: "'I saw you once, and I looked in your eyes and there was a connection.' And he says. 'I give to you responsibility."'

"So, I'm taking that responsibility, tonight, Thank you, Sidney," Foxx added.

He also saluted his late grandmother, Estelle Talley, who raised him. He called her his "first acting teacher" for telling him to stand up straight and "to act like you've got some sense."

And he thanked his young daughter, Marie, for telling him moments earlier, "If you don't win, Dad, don't worry. You're still good."

Foxx arrived at the Oscars as a front-runner for best actor, having won many of this season's leading movie awards for his performance in "Ray," including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and top honors from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the National Society of Film Critics.

A classically trained pianist himself, Foxx won rave reviews for his turn in "Ray" as the pioneering musician who overcame blindness, bigotry and drug addiction to become one of America's most beloved entertainers.

(Agencies)

footstep: a person's step（腳步）

impersonation: the act of impersonating; personification; investment with personality; representation in a personal form（扮演）