Harry Belafonte through the years

The evolution of Harry Belafonte

Born in New York on March 1, 1927, Harry Belafonte died on April 25 at age 96 from congestive heart failure. 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 legendary career, check out photos of Belafonte through the years, ahead.

Harry Belafonte in the early 1950s

Harry Belafonte on Three for Tonight on Jan. 22, 1955

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

Harry Belafonte in the 1950s

Harry Belafonte in 1956

Harry Belafonte in a recording studio in 1957

Harry Belafonte in 1957

Harry Belafonte on The Bell Telephone Hour in December 1958

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

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

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

Harry Belafonte with Sidney Poitier and Charlton Heston at the Lincoln Memorial During the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963

Harry Belafonte in 1965

Harry Belafonte in the late 1960s

Harry Belafonte in the late 1960s

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

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

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

Harry Belafonte in 1980

Harry Belafonte in New York City in 1985

Harry Belafonte performing in Paris on Sept. 24, 1988

Harry Belafonte performing in London in 1990

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

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

Harry Belafonte on March 16, 1998

Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover outside Carnegie Hall in New York City on Nov. 30, 1998

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

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

Harry Belafonte in NYC on March 26, 2002

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

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

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

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

Harry Belafonte at the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC on April 2, 2011

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

Harry Belafonte at NYC Pride 2013 on June 30, 2013

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

Harry Belafonte and Pamela Frank in NYC on May 31, 2016

Harry Belafonte and Michael B. Jordan at the 2016 Many Rivers to Cross Festival at Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, Ga., on Oct. 2, 2016

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