Forest Whitaker

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Born: 15th of July 1961 (64 years old)

Biography:
Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, producer, director, and activist. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

After making his film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Whitaker went on to earn a reputation for intensive character study work for films, such as Platoon (1986), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bird (1988), The Crying Game (1992), Phenomenon (1996), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), The Great Debaters (2007), The Butler (2013), Arrival (2016), and Respect (2021). He has also appeared in blockbusters, such as Panic Room (2002), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) as Saw Gerrera, and Black Panther (2018) as Zuri. For his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the British historical drama film The Last King of Scotland (2006), Whitaker won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Whitaker made his directorial debut with the television film Strapped (1993), and directed the films Waiting to Exhale (1995), Hope Floats (1998), and First Daughter (2004).

Apart from his film career, Whitaker is also known for his humanitarian work and activism. In 2011, he was inducted as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, later receiving a promotion to Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, and serves as the CEO of Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), a non-profit outreach program.

Forest Whitaker's Filmography

Havoc

Havoc

  •   Movie
  • 2025
Lawrence Beaumont
Emperor of Ocean Park

Emperor of Ocean Park

  •   TV Show
  • 2024
Oliver Garland
Big George Foreman

Big George Foreman

  •   Movie
  • 2023
Doc Broadus
Extrapolations

Extrapolations

  •   TV Show
  • 2023
Auggie Bolo
Andor

Andor

  •   TV Show
  • 2022
Saw Gerrera
Respect

Respect

  •   Movie
  • 2021
C. L. Franklin
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

  •   Movie
  • 2020
Jeronicus Jangle
Godfather of Harlem

Godfather of Harlem

  •   TV Show
  • 2019
Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson
Finding Steve McQueen

Finding Steve McQueen

  •   Movie
  • 2019
Howard Lambert
City of Lies

City of Lies

  •   Movie
  • 2018
Jack Jackson
Burden

Burden

  •   Movie
  • 2018
Reverend Kennedy
How It Ends

How It Ends

  •   Movie
  • 2018
Tom
Sorry to Bother You

Sorry to Bother You

  •   Movie
  • 2018
First Equisapien / Demarius
The Forgiven

The Forgiven

  •   Movie
  • 2018
Desmond Tutu
Black Panther

Black Panther

  •   Movie
  • 2018
Zuri
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

  •   Movie
  • 2016
Saw Gerrera
Arrival

Arrival

  •   Movie
  • 2016
Colonel Weber
Roots

Roots

  •   TV Show
  • 2016
Fiddler
Dope

Dope

  •   Movie
  • 2015
The Narrator (voice)
Southpaw

Southpaw

  •   Movie
  • 2015
Titus 'Tick' Wills
Empire

Empire

  •   TV Show
  • 2015
Eddie Barker
Taken 3

Taken 3

  •   Movie
  • 2014
Inspector Frank Dotzler
Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars Rebels

  •   TV Show
  • 2014
Saw Gerrera (voice)
Two Men in Town

Two Men in Town

  •   Movie
  • 2014
William Garnett
Repentance

Repentance

  •   Movie
  • 2014
Angel
Zulu

Zulu

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Ali Sokhela
Black Nativity

Black Nativity

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Reverend Cornell Cobbs
Out of the Furnace

Out of the Furnace

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Chief Wesley Barnes
The Butler

The Butler

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Cecil Gaines
Pawn

Pawn

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Will
The Last Stand

The Last Stand

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Agent John Bannister
A Dark Truth

A Dark Truth

  •   Movie
  • 2012
Francisco Francis
Freelancers

Freelancers

  •   Movie
  • 2012
Dennis Larue
Witness Protection

Witness Protection

  •   Movie
  • 2011
Steven Beck
The Experiment

The Experiment

  •   Movie
  • 2010
Barris
Repo Men

Repo Men

  •   Movie
  • 2010
Jake
Our Family Wedding

Our Family Wedding

  •   Movie
  • 2010
Brad Boyd
Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season

  •   Movie
  • 2010
Al Collins
Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

  •   Movie
  • 2009
Ira (voice)
Winged Creatures

Winged Creatures

  •   Movie
  • 2009
Charlie Archenault
Powder Blue

Powder Blue

  •   Movie
  • 2009
Charlie
Street Kings

Street Kings

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Captain Jack Wander
Vantage Point

Vantage Point

  •   Movie
  • 2008
Howard Lewis
The Great Debaters

The Great Debaters

  •   Movie
  • 2007
Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Even Money

Even Money

  •   Movie
  • 2007
Clyde Snow
The Air I Breathe

The Air I Breathe

  •   Movie
  • 2007
Happiness
The Last King of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland

  •   Movie
  • 2006
Idi Amin
Everyone's Hero

Everyone's Hero

  •   Movie
  • 2006
Lonnie Brewster (voice)
A Little Trip to Heaven

A Little Trip to Heaven

  •   Movie
  • 2005
Abe Holt
Mary

Mary

  •   Movie
  • 2005
Ted Younger
Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds

  •   TV Show
  • 2005
Sam Cooper
American Gun

American Gun

  •   Movie
  • 2005
Carter
American Dad!

American Dad!

  •   TV Show
  • 2005
Turlington (voice)
First Daughter

First Daughter

  •   Movie
  • 2004
Narrator (voice)
Phone Booth

Phone Booth

  •   Movie
  • 2003
Captain Ramey
American Idol

American Idol

  •   TV Show
  • 2002
Self
Panic Room

Panic Room

  •   Movie
  • 2002
Burnham
The Shield

The Shield

  •   TV Show
  • 2002
Jon Kavanaugh
The Fourth Angel

The Fourth Angel

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Agent Jules Bernard
Green Dragon

Green Dragon

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Addie
Four Dogs Playing Poker

Four Dogs Playing Poker

  •   Movie
  • 2000
Mr. Ellington
Battlefield Earth

Battlefield Earth

  •   Movie
  • 2000
Ker
Light It Up

Light It Up

  •   Movie
  • 1999
Officer Dante Jackson
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

  •   Movie
  • 1999
Ghost Dog
Body Count

Body Count

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Crane
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

  •   Movie
  • 1996
Mr. Rucker
Phenomenon

Phenomenon

  •   Movie
  • 1996
Nate Pope
Mr. Holland's Opus

Mr. Holland's Opus

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Bobby Tidd as an adult (uncredited)
Species

Species

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Dan Smithson, Empath
Smoke

Smoke

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Cyrus Cole
ER

ER

  •   TV Show
  • 1994
Curtis Ames
The Enemy Within

The Enemy Within

  •   Movie
  • 1994
Col. MacKenzie Casey
Blown Away

Blown Away

  •   Movie
  • 1994
Anthony Franklin
Jason's Lyric

Jason's Lyric

  •   Movie
  • 1994
Maddog
Last Light

Last Light

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Fred Whitmore
Body Snatchers

Body Snatchers

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Major Collins
Consenting Adults

Consenting Adults

  •   Movie
  • 1992
David Duttonville
The Crying Game

The Crying Game

  •   Movie
  • 1992
Jody
Diary of a Hitman

Diary of a Hitman

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Dekker
A Rage in Harlem

A Rage in Harlem

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Jackson
Downtown

Downtown

  •   Movie
  • 1990
Dennis Curren
Johnny Handsome

Johnny Handsome

  •   Movie
  • 1989
Dr. Steven Fisher
Bird

Bird

  •   Movie
  • 1988
Charlie 'Bird' Parker
Bloodsport

Bloodsport

  •   Movie
  • 1988
Rawlins
Good Morning, Vietnam

Good Morning, Vietnam

  •   Movie
  • 1987
Edward Garlick
Stakeout

Stakeout

  •   Movie
  • 1987
Det. Jack Pismo
Platoon

Platoon

  •   Movie
  • 1986
Big Harold
The Color of Money

The Color of Money

  •   Movie
  • 1986
Amos
North and South

North and South

  •   TV Show
  • 1985
Cuffey
Vision Quest

Vision Quest

  •   Movie
  • 1985
Balldozer
Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

  •   Movie
  • 1982
Charles Jefferson
To Live and Die and Live

To Live and Die and Live

  •   Movie
  • 2025
Producer
Hollywood Black

Hollywood Black

  •   TV Show
  • 2024
Executive Producer
Fancy Dance

Fancy Dance

  •   Movie
  • 2024
Executive Producer
Passing

Passing

  •   Movie
  • 2021
Producer
Godfather of Harlem

Godfather of Harlem

  •   TV Show
  • 2019
Executive Producer
Sorry to Bother You

Sorry to Bother You

  •   Movie
  • 2018
Producer
Roxanne Roxanne

Roxanne Roxanne

  •   Movie
  • 2017
Producer
Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Songs My Brothers Taught Me

  •   Movie
  • 2015
Producer
Dope

Dope

  •   Movie
  • 2015
Producer
Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station

  •   Movie
  • 2013
Producer
Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo

  •   Movie
  • 2011
Executive Producer
Powder Blue

Powder Blue

  •   Movie
  • 2009
Producer
American Gun

American Gun

  •   Movie
  • 2005
Executive Producer
First Daughter

First Daughter

  •   Movie
  • 2004
Director, Executive Producer
Chasing Papi

Chasing Papi

  •   Movie
  • 2003
Producer
Door to Door

Door to Door

  •   Movie
  • 2002
Co-Executive Producer
Green Dragon

Green Dragon

  •   Movie
  • 2001
Executive Producer
Hope Floats

Hope Floats

  •   Movie
  • 1998
Executive Music Producer, Director
Waiting to Exhale

Waiting to Exhale

  •   Movie
  • 1995
Director
Strapped

Strapped

  •   Movie
  • 1993
Director
A Rage in Harlem

A Rage in Harlem

  •   Movie
  • 1991
Co-Producer
Lucky Lu

Lucky Lu

Movie
7th Jan 2026
🚀 Pre-Release