Samuel L. Jackson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington, Vanessa Williams et al. Win NAACP Awards

The 42nd annual NAACP Image Awards were presented in a ceremony on Friday, March 4 at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills and broadcast live on FOX. The awards recognize excellence in film, television, music and literature categories.

For Colored Girls, adapted from Ntozake Shange’s play, won for outstanding motion picture, director Tyler Perry, and supporting actress Kimberly Elise. Perry won an additional award for his television comedy series, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.

Among the acting winners were theater veterans Terrence Howard for Law & Order: Los Angeles; Samuel L. Jackson for Mother and Child; S. Epatha Merkerson for Law & Order; Sofia Vergara for Modern Family; Denzel Washington for The Book of Eli; and Vanessa Williams for Desperate Housewives. Halle Berry, who is rumored to be coming to Broadway next season in The Mountaintop, won for the film, Frankie & Alice.

Music winners included Broadway veterans Fantasia and Usher.

For a full list of nominees and winners, click here.