Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1961-07-15 (Age: 65)
Place of Birth
Longview, Texas, USA
Forest Whitaker
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.
Filmography (127)
Rose's Baby
2027
Havoc
2025
The King of Kings
2025
Seaweed Stories
2024
to Crinkle their Wrist, Perfumed Splendour
2023
Big George Foreman
2023
Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend
2022
Prophets of Change
2022
Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look
2022
Respect
2021
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
2020
Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times
2020
Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King
2020
Finding Steve McQueen
2019
