Original Broadway production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Tony Awards | Best Play | August Wilson | Won | [16] |
| Best Leading Actor in a Play | James Earl Jones | Won | |||
| Best Featured Actor in a Play | Frankie Faison | Nominated | |||
| Courtney B. Vance | Nominated | ||||
| Best Featured Actress in a Play | Mary Alice | Won | |||
| Best Direction of a Play | Lloyd Richards | Won | |||
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Play | August Wilson | Won | [17] | |
| Outstanding Actor in a Play | James Earl Jones | Won | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Frankie R. Faison | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Mary Alice | Won | |||
| Outstanding Director of a Play | Lloyd Richards | Nominated | |||
| Pulitzer Prize | Drama | August Wilson | Won | [18] | |
| Theatre World Awards | Courtney B. Vance | Won | [19] |
2010 Broadway revival
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Play | Won | [20] | |
| Best Leading Actor in a Play | Denzel Washington | Won | |||
| Best Leading Actress in a Play | Viola Davis | Won | |||
| Best Featured Actor in a Play | Stephen McKinley Henderson | Nominated | |||
| Best Direction of a Play | Kenny Leon | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Score | Branford Marsalis | Nominated | |||
| Best Scenic Design in a Play | Santo Loquasto | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design in a Play | Constanza Romero | Nominated | |||
| Best Lighting Design in a Play | Brian MacDevitt | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design in a Play | Acme Sound Partners | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Won[a] | [21] | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Chris Chalk | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Viola Davis | Won[b] | |||
| Outstanding Music in a Play | Branford Marsalis | Won | |||
| Theatre World Awards | Chris Chalk | Won | [19] |
