Forest Whitaker: Biography from Answers.com

actor; movie director; movie producer

Personal Information

Born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, TX; son of Forest Jr. (in insurance sales) and Laura (a special education teacher) Whitaker; married Keisha Whitaker, 1996; children: two
Education: Attended California State Polytechnic University and University of Southern California.

Career

Actor on stage and in feature films, 1981-.

Life's Work

"A burly, good-natured Texan, soft-spoken and a little shy, Forest Whitaker doesn't exactly stand out in a crowd," wrote Associated Press correspondent Jay Sharbutt. "But in Hollywood, where unemployment is the rule, not the exception, he does OK." Whitaker, an award-winning actor, has graduated from important cameo roles to leading parts in major films. Not only has he won roles created specifically for a black actor--including jazz legend Charlie Parker in Bird--he has also received the opportunity to portray characters originally written for white actors. Whitaker commented to the Associated Press on his extraordinary range of roles: "I only care about doing characters I can grow from, someone I can learn from, people I can find some truth in. If I can do that, I can be happy."

As much as possible, Whitaker avoids the prying eyes of the Hollywood press. He grants interviews reluctantly and says little about his personal life or his work in the film industry. The actor explained in Ebony that the publicity surrounding his recent starring roles has proven difficult for him to accept. "I really appreciate that people enjoy my work, but most of my life has been in the background," he said. "I'm really just a normal guy, hanging out trying to live my life.... I appreciate the attention and I am growing to understand it and deal with it better, but I would prefer to walk around in total obscurity."

It may be too late for Whitaker to return to the anonymity he longs for, but he zealously guards what privacy is left by offering few details about his childhood or formative years. He was born July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas, but grew up in Carson and Los Angeles, California. The oldest of three children of an insurance salesman and a special education teacher, Whitaker attended Palisades High School in Los Angeles, where he was a good student and an All-League defensive back in football. He earned a sports scholarship to California State University at Pomona and became a drama and music major. Eventually, though, he felt that his singing talent would be better cultivated at the University of Southern California, and he transferred there to study voice.

Stage work proved tempting, however, and Whitaker began appearing in local equity productions in Southern California. "I was probably going to go to New York and work on stage and that was it," he recalled to the Associated Press. "It just so happens I was working on a play and it turned into an opportunity to do a film." Since 1982 Whitaker has worked regularly in the movies, going from project to project and working his way from the ranks of the "extras" to the very best roles.

In 1982 Whitaker earned his first substantial role in a well-received teen film titled Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The actor's size and robust build helped him land the part of a tough guy whose cherished car gets trashed. That essentially comic role was followed by more important, serious ones; in The Color of Money, for example, Whitaker appeared as a pool shark who tries to beat the best players in the game. Although he was on screen only briefly, Whitaker studied the nuances of pool for months in order to perfect his moves and timing. As a result, observed Robert Wheaton in Ebony, "his one-scene cameo...almost stole the show from high-powered stars Paul Newman and Tom Cruise." Whitaker's performance inThe Color of Money brought him to the attention of director Barry Levinson, who gave the actor a substantial part in the big-budget Good Morning, Vietnam. Whitaker was particularly pleased with that opportunity, because the part was not originally written for a black actor; he later portrayed another character intended for a white actor in Johnny Handsome. For all of these roles, Whitaker has done homework--in the form of reading and interviews--in order to assure that his performance would be realistic.

Whitaker put his greatest energy into researching the life of Charlie "Yardbird" Parker--the jazz giant who helped to launch the be-bop era--for his lead role in Clint Eastwood's Bird, a film treatment of Parker's life. In order to ensure he would be believable as a saxophone player, Whitaker took horn lessons and talked to numerous people who knew Parker during the years before the famous musician died an early, drug-related death. Whitaker even interviewed recovering heroin addicts in an effort to better understand the effects of drug abuse and dependency. "The research took on a very large scope," he remarked in Ebony. "I would wake up so depressed some mornings that I would really begin to understand why Charlie Parker tried to kill himself and why he took drugs. He led a very hard life, and it took quite a while to shake his thoughts from my head." Whitaker's portrayal of Parker in Bird won the young actor the top award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. Jet correspondent Lou Ransom declared that the role was "the crowning achievement in Whitaker's career, which has shown remarkable success." And Wheaton suggested that Whitaker's performance was "exceptional, the kind of acting that makes a star. He lets the late jazzman's self-destructive streak come through but also shows us Parker's charm and intelligence."

The success of Bird proved that Whitaker could handle a principal role. He has been busy ever since, acting in films such as Diary of a Hitman and Article 99. He also took on the task of producing several films. In A Rage in Harlem--a 1991 comedy-drama that he also co-produced--Whitaker played a mild-mannered accountant who falls hopelessly in love with a worldly songstress and subsequently becomes embroiled in danger when he seeks to save her from a sordid scheme involving stolen gold. The actor pointed out to the Associated Press that the film "takes on a kind of fable quality. It's really about being able to believe in something and not be changed and structured by the world, being true to yourself." A Rage in Harlem, which was shot in Cincinnati, Ohio, also featured Gregory Hines, Danny Glover, and Robin Givens.

Whitaker took on the challenge of assuming the role of Joe Louis--the heavyweight boxer who won a world championship against Germany's Max Schmeling in 1938. In order to prepare for this portrayal, Whitaker went into a gym and worked with boxing trainers. The actor expressed in the Los Angeles Daily News that he is particularly excited about the opportunity to play Louis. "I love boxing," he said. "Joe Louis was the beginning. He gave pride to the black community." More than that, the actor added, "Joe Louis united the country."

Whitaker also began directing films in the early 1990s. His directing debut was in 1993 with Strapped, an original film for HBO, for which he won the International Critics' Award for best new director at the Toronto Film Festival in 1993. He has also directed such feature films as Waiting to Exhale in 1995, Hope Floats in 1998, and First Daughter in 2004.

To support his efforts, Whitaker established his own multimedia company called Spirit Dance Entertainment. Based in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Spirit Dance Entertainment, includes film, television, and music production. In London, the company mentors black and Asian filmmakers. His work continued to earn acclaim throughout the industry. In 2001 Whitaker produced his first feature film through Spirit Dance, Green Dragon. Soon, his television efforts were winning awards; Door to Door, a made for television movie about a man's efforts to become a successful salesman despite his cerebral palsy, won an Emmy award in 2003. In 2004, Whitaker was one of the first two directors selected for the First Amendment Project, a collaboration between the Sundance Channel and Court TV. For the project, Whitaker will direct a film that will portray an aspect of the First Amendment in a creative, fresh, innovative way.

Whitaker lives quietly in Los Angeles near his retired parents. He remains devoted to music, especially singing and playing the saxophone, and has been writing screenplays to support his own productions. Married in 1996, Whitaker is rarely seen on the Hollywood party scene--he shuns the limelight whenever possible. Ebony contributor Rhoda E. McKinney noted that despite his hard work and success, "Whitaker is truly a reluctant star. He is a humble man who shies from excess and pretense." Pressed about his views in Ebony, the star would only reply: "I hope through my work to help people understand themselves and others better."

Awards

Cannes Film Festival award for best actor, 1988, for Bird; International Critics' Award for best new director, Toronto Film Festival, 1993; Emmy award for best Made for Television Move, for Door to Door, 2003.

Works

Selected works

Films

Fast Times at Ridgemont High, 1982.
Platoon, 1986.
Stakeout, 1987.
Good Morning, Vietnam, 1987.
Bird, 1988.
Bloodsport, 1988.
Johnny Handsome, 1989.
Downtown, 1990.
Diary of a Hitman, 1991.
A Rage in Harlem, 1991.
Article 99, 1992.
The Crying Game, 1992.
Consenting Adults, 1992.
Body Snatchers, 1993.
Bank Robber, 1993.
Blown Away, 1994.
Jason's Lyric, 1994.
Ready to Wear, 1994.
Smoke, 1995.
Species, 1995.
Phenomenon, 1996.
Body Count, 1998.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, 1999.
Light It Up, 1999.
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000, 2000.
Four Dogs Playing Poker, 2000.
Green Dragon, 2001.
The Hire: The Follow, 2001.
The Fourth Angel, 2001.
Panic Room, 2002.
Phone Booth, 2002.
Jiminy Glick in La La Wood, 2004.
First Daughter, 2004.

Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker, February 2009
Born	Forest Steven Whitaker (1961-07-15) July 15, 1961 (age 50) Longview, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Cal Poly Pomona, University of Southern California, Drama Studio London, New York University
Occupation	Actor, producer, director
Years active	1982–present
Spouse	Keisha Nash (1996–present) 2 children

Early life

Whitaker was born in Longview, Texas, and his family moved to South Central Los Angeles when he was four.^[4] His father, Forest Whitaker, Jr., was an insurance salesman and the son of novelist Forest Whitaker, Sr. His mother, Laura Francis (née Smith), was a special education teacher who put herself through college and earned two Masters degrees while raising her children.^[5]^[6] Whitaker has two younger brothers, Kenn and Damon, and an older sister, Deborah.

As a teenager, Whitaker commuted from Carson to wealthy Palisades High School on LA's West Side.^[4] There, he was all-league defensive tackle on the football team quarterbacked by Jay Schroeder, a future NFL player.^[6] While in high school, he also took voice lessons, performed in musicals, and caught the "acting bug"; his first role as an actor was the lead in Dylan Thomas' play, Under Milk Wood.^[4] Whitaker graduated from "Pali High" in 1979.^[7]

Whitaker then attended California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona)^[8] on a football scholarship, but due to a debilitating back injury, he changed his major to music (voice). He toured England with the Cal Poly Chamber Singers in 1980. While still at Cal Poly, he briefly changed his major to drama. He was accepted to the Music Conservatory at the University of Southern California to study opera as a tenor, and subsequently was accepted into the University's Drama Conservatory.^[6] He graduated from USC in 1982. He also earned a scholarship to the Berkeley, California branch of the Drama Studio London.^[9] Whitaker has also pursued a bachelor's degree at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.^[10]

Career

Film work

Whitaker has a long history of working with well-regarded film directors and fellow actors. In his first onscreen performance of note, he had a small role playing a high school football player in the 1982 film version of Cameron Crowe's coming-of-age teen-retrospective, Fast Times at Ridgemont High.^[6] He co-starred alongside Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, and Sean Penn. In 1986, he appeared in Martin Scorsese's film, The Color of Money (with Paul Newman and Tom Cruise), and in Oliver Stone's Platoon. The following year, he co-starred with Robin Williams in the comedy Good Morning, Vietnam.

In 1988, Whitaker played in the film Bloodsport alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and he had his first lead role starring as musician Charlie Parker in the Clint Eastwood-directed film, Bird. To prepare himself for the part, he sequestered himself in a loft with only a bed, couch, and saxophone,^[1] having also conducted extensive research and taken alto sax lessons.^[11] His performance, which has been called "transcendent,"^[3] earned him the Best Actor award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival^[12] and a Golden Globe nomination. Whitaker continued to work with a number of well-known directors throughout the 1990s. He starred in the 1990 film Downtown with Anthony Edwards and Penelope Ann Miller. Neil Jordan cast him in the pivotal role of "Jody", a captive British soldier in his 1992 film, The Crying Game where Whitaker used an English accent. Todd McCarthy, of Variety, described Whitaker's performance as "big-hearted," "hugely emotional," and "simply terrific."^[13] In 1994, he was a member of the cast that won the first ever National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble for Robert Altman's film, Prêt-à-Porter. He gave a "characteristically emotional performance"^[14] in Wayne Wang and Paul Auster's 1995 film, Smoke.

Whitaker as the samurai, Ghost Dog

Whitaker played a serene, pigeon-raising, bushido-following, mob hit man in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, a 1999 film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Many consider this to have been a "definitive role" for Whitaker.^[3] In a manner similar to his preparation for Bird, he again immersed himself in his character's world—he studied Eastern philosophy and meditated for long hours "to hone his inner spiritual hitman."^[1] Jarmusch has told interviewers that he developed the title character with Whitaker in mind; the New York Times review of the film observed that "[I]t's hard to think of another actor who could play a cold-blooded killer with such warmth and humanity."^[15]

Scene from Battlefield Earth, showing (left to right) Barry Pepper, John Travolta, and Whitaker in costume.

Whitaker next appeared in what has been called one of the "worst films ever made,"^[16] the 2000 production of Battlefield Earth, based on the novel of the same name by L. Ron Hubbard. The film was widely criticized as a notorious commercial and critical disaster.^[16]^[17] However, Whitaker's performance was lauded by the film's director, Roger Christian, who commented that, "Everybody's going to be very surprised" by Whitaker, who "found this huge voice and laugh."^[18] Battlefield Earth "won" seven Razzie Awards; Whitaker was nominated for Worst Supporting Actor, but lost to his co-star, Barry Pepper.^[19] He has since publicly apologized for his appearance in the film.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, Whitaker had a small, uncredited role in the Wong Kar-wai-directed The Follow, one of five short films produced by BMW that year to promote its cars.^[20] He co-starred in Joel Schumacher's 2002 thriller, Phone Booth, with Kiefer Sutherland and Colin Farrell. That year, he also co-starred with Jodie Foster in Panic Room. His performance as the film's "bad guy" was described as "a subtle chemistry of aggression and empathy."^[4]

Whitaker as General Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland'

Whitaker's 2006 portrayal of Idi Amin in the film, The Last King of Scotland earned him positive reviews by critics as well as multiple awards and honors.^[21]^[22] To portray the dictator, Whitaker gained 50 pounds, learned to play the accordion, and immersed himself in research.^[2] He read books about Amin, watched news and documentary footage, and spent time in Uganda meeting with Amin's friends, relatives, generals, and victims; he also learned Swahili and mastered Amin's East African accent.^[1] His performance earned him the 2007 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, making him the fourth African-American actor in history to do so, joining the ranks of Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Jamie Foxx.^[23] For that same role, he was also recognized with a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA Award, and accolades from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the National Board of Review, and the Broadcast Film Critics Association among others.^[24]

In 2007, Whitaker played Dr. James Farmer Sr. in The Great Debaters, for which he received an Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor.^[25] In 2008, Whitaker appeared in three films, first as a business man known only as Happiness, who likes butterflies, in the film The Air I Breathe. He also portrayed a rogue police captain in Street Kings, and a heroic tourist in Vantage Point.

Television work

After completing several films in the early 1980s, Whitaker gained additional roles in multiple television shows. On the series, Diff'rent Strokes, he played a bully in the 1985 episode "Bully for Arnold".^[26] That same year, Whitaker also played the part of a comic book salesman in the Amazing Stories episode "Gather Ye Acorns".^[27] He appeared in the first and second parts of North and South in 1985 and 1986. Throughout the 1990s, Whitaker mainly had roles in television films, including Criminal Justice, The Enemy Within, and Witness Protection.

From 2002 to 2003, Whitaker was the host and narrator of 44 new episodes of the Rod Serling classic, The Twilight Zone, which lasted one season on UPN.^[28] After working in several film roles, he returned to television in 2006 when he joined the cast of FX's police serial The Shield, as Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh, who was determined to prove that the lead character, Vic Mackey, is a dirty cop. As opposed to with his previous character work, Whitaker states that he merely had to draw on his childhood years growing up in South Central Los Angeles for the role.^[3] He received rave reviews for his performance—Variety called it a "crackling-good guest stint"^[29]—and he reprised the role in the show's 2007 season.

In the fall of 2006, Whitaker started a multi-episode story arc on ER as Curtis Ames, a man who comes into the ER with a cough, but quickly faces the long-term consequences of a paralyzing stroke; he then takes out his anger on Doctors Luka Kovač and Abby Lockhart. Whitaker received a 2007 Emmy Award nomination for his performance on the series.^[30] Also in 2006, Whitaker appeared in T.I.'s music video "Live in the Sky" alongside Jamie Foxx.^[31]

Whitaker has recently been cast in the Criminal Minds spin-off, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.^[32]

Producing and directing

Whitaker branched out into producing and directing in the 1990s. He co-produced and co-starred in A Rage in Harlem in 1991. He made his directorial debut with a grim film about inner-city gun violence, Strapped, for HBO in 1993. In 1995, he directed his first feature, Waiting to Exhale, which was based on the Terry McMillan novel of the same name. Roger Ebert observed that the tone of the film resembled Whitaker's own acting style: "measured, serene, confident."^[33] Whitaker also directed co-star Whitney Houston's music video of the movie's theme song, "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)".

Whitaker continued his directing career with the 1998 romantic comedy, Hope Floats, starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick, Jr. He directed Katie Holmes in the romantic comedy, First Daughter in 2004; he had co-starred with Holmes in Phone Booth in 2002. Whitaker served as an executive producer on First Daughter. He had previously gained experience as the executive producer of several made-for-television movies, most notably the 2002 Emmy-award winning Door to Door, starring William H. Macy. He produced these projects through his production company, Spirit Dance Entertainment, which he shut down in 2005 to concentrate on his acting career.^[3]^[11]

Honors

In addition to the numerous awards Whitaker won for his performance in The Last King of Scotland, he has also received several other honors. In September 2006, the 10th Annual Hollywood Film Festival presented him with its "Hollywood Actor of the Year Award," calling him "one of Hollywood's most accomplished actors."^[34] He was honored at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2007, where he received the American Riviera Award.^[35]

Previously, in 2005, the Deauville (France) Festival of American Film paid tribute to him.^[36] Whitaker was the recipient of the 2,335th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 16, 2007.^[37]^[38] He received an Honorary Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2009 at the 82nd Commencement Ceremony.^[39] He has also produced Monte Carlo.

Personal life

Whitaker presenting the film My Own Love Song in Paris, 2010.

Family

In 1996, Whitaker married actress Keisha Nash, whom he met on the set of Blown Away.^[2] The Whitakers have four children: two daughters together (Sonnet and True), his son (Ocean) from a previous relationship, and her daughter (Autumn) from a previous relationship. On Inside the Actors Studio, Whitaker said that a genetic test indicated he was of Igbo descent on his father's side, and Akan descent on his mother's side.^[40]

Martial arts

Whitaker studies yoga and has a black belt in kenpō.^[2] He also trains in the Filipino martial art of Kali, under Dan Inosanto.

Ptosis

Whitaker's left eye ptosis has been called "intriguing" by some critics^[41] and "gives him a contemplative look."^[42] Whitaker has explained that the condition is hereditary and that he has considered having surgery to correct it, not for cosmetic reasons but because it affects his vision.^[43]

Activism

Charity work

Whitaker, who is a vegetarian,^[2] recorded a public service announcement with his daughter, True, promoting vegetarianism on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).^[44] He is also a supporter and public advocate for Hope North, a boarding school and vocational training center in northern Uganda for escaped child soldiers, orphans, and other young victims of the country's civil war.^[45]

Politics

In politics, Whitaker supported and spoke on behalf of Senator Barack Obama in his 2008 presidential campaign.^[46] On April 6, 2009, Whitaker was given a chieftancy title in Imo State, Nigeria. Whitaker, who was named a chief among the Igbo community of Nkwerre, was given the title Nwannedinamba of Nkwerre, which means A Brother in a Foreign Land.

Whitaker was inducted as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation, in a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters on June 21, 2011. As Goodwill Ambassador, Whitaker works with UNESCO to support and develop initiatives that empower youths and keep them from entering or remaining in cycles of violence. At the induction ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO David Killion described Whitaker as a "perfect choice as a Goodwill Ambassador...He has exemplified compassion in every area of his life, with humility and grace. He does this because it's the right thing to do."

In May 2011, Whitaker co-founded with Dr. Aldo Civico the International Institute for Peace (IIP) at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Launched during the international Newark Peace Education Summit, IIP’s mission is to develop programs and strategic partnerships to address cutting-edge issues such as increasing citizen security through community-building; the role of women and spiritual and religious leaders in peace-building; the impact of climate change; and the reduction of poverty. Whitaker serves as chairman of IIP while Civico, who teaches sociology and anthropology at Rutgers-Newark, is the director. IIP operates under the auspices of UNESCO as a Category 2 Center.

Filmography

Actor
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Tag: The Assassination Game	Gowdy's Bodyguard
1982	Fast Times at Ridgemont High	Charles Jefferson
1985	Vision Quest	Balldozer
1985	North and South	Cuffey
1986	Color of Money, TheThe Color of Money	Amos
1986	North and South, Book II	Cuffey
1986	Platoon	Big Harold
1987	Stakeout	Jack Pismo
1987	Good Morning, Vietnam	Edward Garlick
1988	Bird	Charlie 'Bird' Parker	Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor
1988	Bloodsport	Rawlins
1989	Johnny Handsome	Dr. Steven Fisher
1990	Downtown	Dennis Curren
1991	Diary of a Hitman	Dekker
1991	Rage in Harlem, AA Rage in Harlem	Jackson
1992	Article 99	Dr. Sid Handleman
1992	Crying Game, TheThe Crying Game	Jody
1992	Consenting Adults	David Duttonville
1993	Bank Robber	Officer Battle
1993	Body Snatchers	Major Collins
1994	Blown Away	Anthony Franklin
1994	Prêt-à-Porter	Cy Bianco	NBR Award for Best Cast
1994	Jason's Lyric	Maddog
1995	Species	Dan Smithson, Empath
1995	Smoke	Cyrus Cole
1996	Phenomenon	Nate Pope
1998	Body Count (1998 film)	Crane
1999	Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai	Ghost Dog
1999	Light It Up	Officer Dante Jackson
1999	Witness Protection	US Marshal Steven Beck
2000	Battlefield Earth	Ker	Nominated - Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
2000	Four Dogs Playing Poker	Mr. Ellington
2001	Fourth Angel, TheThe Fourth Angel	Agent Jules Bernard
2001	Follow, TheThe Follow	The Employer	uncredited
2001	Green Dragon	Addie
2002	Panic Room	Burnham	Nominated - Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor
2002	Phone Booth	Captain Ed Ramey	Theatrical release was delayed due to the Beltway sniper attacks in October 2002.^[47]
2004	First Daughter	Narrator	also directed
2005	Little Trip to Heaven, AA Little Trip to Heaven	Abe Holt
2005	American Gun	Carter	Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male
2005	Mary	Ted Younger
2006	Even Money	Clyde Snow
2006	The Marsh	Geoffrey Hunt
2006	Everyone's Hero	Lonnie Brewster	voice only
2006	Last King of Scotland, TheThe Last King of Scotland	Idi Amin	Academy Award for Best Actor BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role BET Award for Best Actor Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture National Board of Review Award for Best Actor National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association for Best Actor Nominated — British Independent Film Award for Best Actor
2007	Air I Breathe, TheThe Air I Breathe	Happiness
2007	Ripple Effect	Philip
2007	Great Debaters, TheThe Great Debaters	James L. Farmer, Sr.
2008	Vantage Point	Howard Lewis
2008	Street Kings	Capt. Jack Wander
2008	Dragon Hunters	Lian Chu	Voice — English version
2009	Powder Blue	Charlie
2009	Winged Creatures	Charlie Archenault
2009	Where the Wild Things Are	Ira	(voice only)
2009	Lullaby for Pi	George
2009	Hurricane Season	Al Collins
2010	Repo Men	Jake Freivald
2010	My Own Love Song	Joey
2010	Experiment, TheThe Experiment	Barris
2010	Our Family Wedding	Bradford Boyd
2011	Catch .44	Ronny
2012	Freelancers	TBA	pre-production
2013	Last Stand	TBA	filming

Director
Year	Title
1993	Strapped
1995	Waiting to Exhale
1998	Hope Floats
2004	First Daughter

Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Making The Grade		Episode "Marriage David Style"
1983	Cagney & Lacey	Night Manager	Episode "The Grandest Jewel Thief of Them All"
1984	Trapper John, M.D.	Lewis Jordan	Episode "School Nurse"
1984	Hill Street Blues	Floyd Green	Episode "Blues for Mr. Green"
1985	Diff'rent Strokes	Herman	Episode "Bully for Arnold"
1985	Grand Baby, TheThe Grand Baby		Television movie
1985	Fall Guy, TheThe Fall Guy	Friend	Episode "Spring Break"
1986	Amazing Stories	Jerry	Episode "Gather Ye Acorns"
1987	Hands of a Stranger	Sergeant Delaney	Television movie
1990	Criminal Justice	Jessie Williams	Television movie
1993	Lush Life	Buddy Chester	Television movie
1993	Last Light	Fred Whitmore	Television movie
1994	Enemy Within, TheThe Enemy Within	Colonel MacKenzie 'Mac' Casey	Television movie
1996	Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault	Mr. Rucker	Television movie
1999	Witness Protection	Steven Beck	Television movie
2001	Feast of All Saints	Daguerreotypist Picard	Television movie
2003	Deacons for Defense	Marcus Clay	Television movie
2002– 2003	Twilight Zone, TheThe Twilight Zone	Host / Narrator	44 episodes
2006– 2007	ER	Curtis Ames	6 episodes
2006– 2007	The Shield	Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh	(Seasons 5 and 6)
2007– 2009	American Dad!	Turlington	3 episodes
2010	Criminal Minds	Sam Cooper	Episode "The Fight"
2011	Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior	Sam Cooper	Spin-off

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "In general, he rules." The Boston Globe. October 1, 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Forest Whitaker: The King Of The Oscars?" CBS News. February 4, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sternbergh, Adam. "Out of the Woods: How Forest Whitaker escaped his career slump." New York. January 9, 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Patterson, John. "The bigger picture." The Guardian. dildo 20, 2002.
^ "Forest Whitaker Biography (1961–)." FilmReference.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Forest Whitaker". Inside the Actors Studio. episode 1. season 13. December 11, 2006. http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio/guest/Forest_Whitaker.
^ "Bringing Home the Oscars." Palisadian-Post. February 28, 2007.
^ "Cal Poly Pomona". CSU Mentor. http://www.csumentor.edu/campustour/undergraduate/1/Cal_Poly_Pomona/Cal_Poly_Pomona5.html. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
^ Joshua Rich. "Spotlight: Forest Whitaker." EW.com.
^ Laura Randall "BLACKBOARD: Independent Study; A Twin Peek: What The Stars Do at N.Y.U." "NY Times".
^ ^a ^b Longino, Bob. "The power of Forest Whitaker." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 12, 2006.
^ "Festival de Cannes: Bird". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/316/year/1988.html. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
^ McCarthy, Todd. "The Crying Game (Review)." Variety. September 11, 1992.
^ Stratton, David. "Smoke (Review)." Variety. February 20, 1995.
^ Scott, A.O. "'Ghost Dog': Passions of Emptiness in an Essay on Brutality." New York Times. March 3, 2000.
^ ^a ^b Campbell, Duncan. "Cult Classic." Guardian Unlimited. May 31, 2005.
^ Ebert, Roger. "Battlefield Earth." Chicago Sun-Times. May 12, 2000.
^ Graham, Bob. "What on Earth Are These Guys Doing?" San Francisco Chronicle. April 30, 2000.
^ "Hollywood honours its worst". BBC News. March 25, 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1240930.stm. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ The Follow. MSN Movies.
^ Hirshon, Nicholas (September 17, 2006). "Reel Study of a Tyrant". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/ny_local/2006/09/17/2006-09-17_reel_study__of_a_tyrant__ami.html. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ Hall, Sandra (February 2, 2007). "The Last King of Scotland". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/film-reviews/the-last-king-of-scotland/2007/02/02/1169919520376.html. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ Cocks, Tim (February 26, 2007). "Ugandans laud Whitaker for Oscar". Independent Online. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=136&art_id=nw20070226125714268C265243. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ Foley, Doug (February 24, 2007). "Here's a list of what honours the top movies and Oscar nominees have won" (Registration required). The Spectator. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1222085061.html?dids=1222085061:1222085061&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+24%2C+2007&author=Doug+Foley&pub=The+Spectator&desc=Here%27s+a+list+of+what+honours+the+top+movies+and+Oscar+nominees+have+won%3A&pqatl=google. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ "'Great Debaters' scores 8 Image Award nods". Associated Press. MSNBC. January 8, 2008. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22562299/wid/11915773/. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ Grover, Ronald (February 15, 2007). "The Academy Should Reward Whitaker". BusinessWeek. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2007/db20070215_662383.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ Schultz, Paul (August 28, 2006). "VD Review: Amazing Stories — The Complete First Season". The Trades. http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=4594. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ The Twilight Zone (2002). epguides.com.
^ Lowry, Brian. "The Shield (Review)." Variety. March 27, 2007.
^ Kings, Susan (July 19, 2007). "Emmy nominations unveiled". Los Angeles Times. http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/emmys/env-emmynews19jul19,0,5451140.story. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ Reid, Shaheem; Yasmine Richard (August 14, 2006). "T.I. Gets Vulnerable, Jamie Foxx Provides Comic Relief On 'Live In The Sky' Video Set". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1538463/20060811/t_i_.jhtml. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ Michael Ausiello (January 25, 2010). "Scoop: Forest Whitaker to headline 'Criminal Minds' spin-off!". Entertainment Weekly. http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/01/25/forest-whitaker-criminal-minds-spin-off/. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
^ Ebert, Roger. "Waiting to Exhale (review)." Chicago Sun-Times. December 22, 1995.
^ "Press release." Hollywood Film Festival News. September 28, 2006.
^ "Festival 2007 Tributes." Santa Barbara International Film Festival. sbiff.org.
^ Nesselson, Lisa. "Deauville tips hat." Variety. August 18, 2005.
^ "Forest Whitaker Gets Star On Walk Of Fame." The Insider. April 17, 2007. Accessed January 9, 2009.
^ "Forest Whitaker Gets Walk of Fame Star". Associated Press. Fox News. April 16, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2007Apr16/0,4675,PeopleWhitaker,00.html. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
^ "Commencement 2009". Xavier University of Louisiana. Accessed January 9, 2009.
^ James Lipton (Himself — Host), Forest Whitaker (Himself) (December 11, 2006). "Inside the Actors Studio: Forest Whitaker (2006)". Inside the Actors Studio. season 13. New York City, New York, USA. Bravomedia. Bravotv. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013110/.
^ Wloszczyna, Susan. "'Last King' demanded obedience to their craft." USA Today. October 2, 2006.
^ Zackarek, Stephanie. "Jim Jarmusch adds lyrical violence to a Zen meditation on warriors hip-hop and ancient." Salon.com. March 9, 2000.
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^ PSA for PETA PETA TV.
^ "Hope North". Hope North. http://www.hopenorth.org. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
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External links

Awards for Forest Whitaker

v t e Academy Award for Best Actor (2001–present)

Denzel Washington (2001) Adrien Brody (2002) Sean Penn (2003) Jamie Foxx (2004) Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005) Forest Whitaker (2006) Daniel Day-Lewis (2007) Sean Penn (2008) Jeff Bridges (2009) Colin Firth (2010) Jean Dujardin (2011)

Complete list (1928–1940) (1941–1960) (1961–1980) (1981–2000) (2001–2020)

v t e BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (2000–2019)

Jamie Bell (2000) Russell Crowe (2001) Daniel Day-Lewis (2002) Bill Murray (2003) Jamie Foxx (2004) Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005) Forest Whitaker (2006) Daniel Day-Lewis (2007) Mickey Rourke (2008) Colin Firth (2009) Colin Firth (2010) Jean Dujardin (2011)

Complete list (1952–1959) (1960–1979) (1980–1999) (2000–2019)

v t e Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor

Kevin Bacon (1995) Geoffrey Rush (1996) Jack Nicholson (1997) Ian McKellen (1998) Russell Crowe (1999)

Russell Crowe (2000) Russell Crowe (2001) Daniel Day-Lewis/Jack Nicholson (2002) Sean Penn (2003) Jamie Foxx (2004) Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005) Forest Whitaker (2006) Daniel Day-Lewis (2007) Sean Penn (2008) Jeff Bridges (2009)

Colin Firth (2010) George Clooney (2011)

v t e Festival de Cannes (Cannes Film Festival) Prix d'interprétation masculine (Best Actor) 1980–1999

Michel Piccoli (1980) Ugo Tognazzi (1981) Jack Lemmon (1982) Gian Maria Volonté (1983) Alfredo Landa/Francisco Rabal (1984) William Hurt (1985) Michel Blanc/Bob Hoskins (1986) Marcello Mastroianni (1987) Forest Whitaker (1988) James Spader (1989) Gérard Depardieu (1990) John Turturro (1991) Tim Robbins (1992) David Thewlis (1993) Ge You (1994) Jonathan Pryce (1995) Pascal Duquenne/Daniel Auteuil (1996) Sean Penn (1997) Peter Mullan (1998) Emmanuel Schotte (1999)

Complete List (1946–1959) (1960–1979) (1980–1999) (2000–2019)

v t e Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (2001–2020)

Russell Crowe (2001) Jack Nicholson (2002) Sean Penn (2003) Leonardo DiCaprio (2004) Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005) Forest Whitaker (2006) Daniel Day-Lewis (2007) Mickey Rourke (2008) Jeff Bridges (2009) Colin Firth (2010) George Clooney (2011)

Complete list (1943–1960) (1961–1980) (1981–2000) (2001–2020)

v t e National Board of Review Award for Best Actor

Ray Milland (1945) Laurence Olivier (1946) Michael Redgrave (1947) Walter Huston (1948) Ralph Richardson (1949)

Alec Guinness (1950) Richard Basehart (1951) Ralph Richardson (1952) James Mason (1953) Bing Crosby (1954) Ernest Borgnine (1955) Yul Brynner (1956) Alec Guinness (1957) Spencer Tracy (1958) Victor Sjöström (1959)

Robert Mitchum (1960) Albert Finney (1961) Jason Robards (1962) Rex Harrison (1963) Anthony Quinn (1964) Lee Marvin (1965) Paul Scofield (1966) Peter Finch (1967) Cliff Robertson (1968) Peter O'Toole (1969)

George C. Scott (1970) Gene Hackman (1971) Peter O'Toole (1972) Al Pacino / Robert Ryan (1973) Gene Hackman (1974) Jack Nicholson (1975) David Carradine (1976) John Travolta (1977) Jon Voight / Laurence Olivier (1978) Peter Sellers (1979)

Robert De Niro (1980) Peter Fonda (1981) Ben Kingsley (1982) Tom Conti (1983) Victor Banerjee (1984) William Hurt / Raúl Juliá (1985) Paul Newman (1986) Michael Douglas (1987) Gene Hackman (1988) Morgan Freeman (1989)

Robert De Niro / Robin Williams (1990) Warren Beatty (1991) Jack Lemmon (1992) Anthony Hopkins (1993) Tom Hanks (1994) Nicolas Cage (1995) Tom Cruise (1996) Jack Nicholson (1997) Ian McKellen (1998) Russell Crowe (1999)

Javier Bardem (2000) Billy Bob Thornton (2001) Campbell Scott (2002) Sean Penn (2003) Jamie Foxx (2004) Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005) Forest Whitaker (2006) George Clooney (2007) Clint Eastwood (2008) George Clooney / Morgan Freeman (2009)

Jesse Eisenberg (2010) George Clooney (2011)

v t e Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (2001–2020)

Russell Crowe (2001) Daniel Day-Lewis (2002) Johnny Depp (2003) Jamie Foxx (2004) Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005) Forest Whitaker (2006) Daniel Day-Lewis (2007) Sean Penn (2008) Jeff Bridges (2009) Colin Firth (2010) Jean Dujardin (2011)

Complete list (1994–2000) (2001–2020)

v t e Films directed by Forest Whitaker

1990s	Strapped (1993) Waiting to Exhale (1995) Hope Floats (1998)

2000s	First Daughter (2004)

Persondata
Name	Whitaker, Forest
Alternative names
Short description	American actor and film director.
Date of birth	July 15, 1961
Place of birth	Longview, Texas, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death

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