What's After the Movie
Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an accomplished American actor, producer, and director. He has gained numerous awards in his career, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Whitaker made his film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) before going on to gain a reputation for intensive character study work in films such as Platoon (1986), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bird (1988), The Crying Game (1992), and The Great Debaters (2007). His portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006) won him an Academy Award. Beyond acting, Whitaker made his directorial debut with Strapped (1993) and has directed the films Waiting to Exhale (1995), Hope Floats (1998), and First Daughter (2004). He has been starring as Bumpy Johnson in the Epix crime drama series Godfather of Harlem since 2019. Whitaker was born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas, and studied at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, the University of Southern California, and New York University. His acting debut was in Dylan Thomas's play Under Milk Wood, and he has an extensive stage and television career in addition to his film work. Whitaker is also a humanitarian and activist, holding positions such as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and the CEO of the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative, a non-profit outreach program. He is known for his support of ordinary people making a difference in the world, embodying his mother's teaching that 'you have to believe in something'.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Forest Whitaker, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Forest Whitaker rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Forest Steven Whitaker
Born: Longview, Texas, U.S.
Citizenship: American
Birthday: July 15, 1961
Occupations: Actor, Producer, Director
Years Active: 1981-present
Children: 4
Spouses: Keisha Nash
External Links and Streaming Options
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Awards and Nominations Received by Forest Whitaker
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Forest Whitaker has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Forest Whitaker
The Last Stand
Black Panther
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Platoon
The Crying Game
Arrival
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Repo Men
How It Ends
Repentance
Where the Wild Things Are
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
American Gun
Stakeout
The Last King of Scotland
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Respect
The Great Debaters
Body Snatchers
A Dark Truth
Taken 3
Our Family Wedding
Street Kings
Black Nativity
Bird
Out of the Furnace
The Air I Breathe
City of Lies
Burden
Powder Blue
Species
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World
Southpaw
Phone Booth
Vantage Point
Good Morning, Vietnam
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000
The Forgiven
Green Dragon
Even Money
Finding Steve McQueen
Bloodsport
Johnny Handsome
Toys in the Attic
Consenting Adults
The King of Kings
Havoc
Catch.44
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life
Lullaby for Pi
My Own Love Song
The Experiment
Serving Life
Freelancers
Making a Scene
The Butler
Zulu
Xenolinguistics: Understanding ‘Arrival’
The Stories: The Making of ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
Burden
Four Dogs Playing Poker
A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting ‘Platoon’
The Follow
Feast of All Saints
Roots
City of Lies
The Paperboy
Battlefield Earth
Deacons for Defense
Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows
The Fourth Angel
The Marsh
Ripple Effect
Shooting ‘Panic Room’
A Little Trip to Heaven
Before the Music Dies
Downtown
Odyssey in Rome
Diary of a Hitman
Criminal Justice
A Rage in Harlem
Tag: The Assassination Game
Hands of a Stranger
Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King
Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times
Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look
Big George Foreman
to Crinkle their Wrist, Perfumed Splendour
Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times
Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy
Jason’s Lyric
Blown Away
Waiting to Exhale
Prêt-à-Porter
Strapped
Mon Clown
The Enemy Within
Body Count
Lush Life
Witness Protection
Bank Robber
Crips and Bloods: Made in America
Hurricane Season
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Forest Whitaker, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2023
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World
Doc Broadus
Big George Foreman
Doc Broadus
to Crinkle their Wrist, Perfumed Splendour
Ghost Dog (archive footage)
2020
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Jeronicus
Burden
Reverend Kennedy
Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King
Self
Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times
Self
Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times
Self
2018
Black Panther
Zuri
How It Ends
Tom Sutherland
The Forgiven
Desmond Tutu
Burden
Reverend Kennedy
City of Lies
Jack Jackson
2017
Xenolinguistics: Understanding ‘Arrival’
Self
The Stories: The Making of ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
Self
2013
The Last Stand
Lee Daniels' The Butler
A Dark Truth
Black Nativity
Out of the Furnace
Making a Scene
Man
The Butler
Cecil Gaines
Zulu
Ali Sokhela
2010
Repo Men
Our Family Wedding
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
(archive footage)
Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life
Lion
Lullaby for Pi
George
My Own Love Song
Joey
The Experiment
Barris
2008
Street Kings
The Air I Breathe
Vantage Point
Mon Clown
Self (archive footage)
Crips and Bloods: Made in America
Narrator
2006
American Gun
The Last King of Scotland
The Marsh
Geoffrey Hunt
Before the Music Dies
Self - Narrator (voice)
2001
Green Dragon
A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting ‘Platoon’
Self
The Follow
The Employer
Feast of All Saints
Daguerreotypist Picard
The Fourth Angel
Agent Jules Bernard
2000
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000
Four Dogs Playing Poker
Mr. Ellington
The Paperboy
Narrator
Battlefield Earth
Ker
Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows
Self
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