Forest Whitaker
Known For
Acting
Born
1961-07-15 in Longview, Texas, USA
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.
Most Known For
Criminal Minds
as Sam Cooper
American Dad!
as Turlington (voice)
The Daily Show
as Self
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host
ER
as Curtis Ames
The View
as Self
Star Wars Rebels
as Saw Gerrera (voice)
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
as Self
Andor
as Saw Gerrera
The Shield
as Jon Kavanaugh
American Idol
as Self
The Jennifer Hudson Show
as Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self - Guest
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
as Self
Hill Street Blues
Empire
as Eddie Barker
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Black Panther
as Zuri