Biography

Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is a celebrated actor, filmmaker, director and activist from the United States known as Forest Whitaker.

The parts he played in the movies The Last King of Scotland and Bird made him an American actor, producer, and director, particularly well-known. Forest Whitaker played collegiate football while attending California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, but a back ailment forced him to switch to drama and opera. 

Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the sequel to Tag: The Assassination Game, marked the beginning of his successful cinematic career. Over the years, he starred in several critically praised films, including Panic Room, The Way of the Samurai, Ready to Wear, Good Morning, Vietnam, and Platoon.

Additionally, he made guest appearances on well-known television programs. With Strapped, he made his directorial debut. For his performance in The Last King of Scotland, Forest Whitaker won the Academy Award for Best Actor. 

In addition to other accolades and awards, he received the Hollywood Actor of the Year Award. He is wed to Keisha Whitaker, an actress.

Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker: History • Bio • Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Forest Steven Whitaker
Stage Name:	Forest Whitaker
Born:	15 July 1961 (age 62 years old)
Place of Birth:	Longview, Texas, United States
Nationality:	American
Height:	1.88 m
Parents:	Forest Steven Jr., Laura Francis Smith
Siblings:	Kenn Whitaker, Damon Whitaker, Deborah Whitaker
Wife • Spouse:	Keisha Whitaker (m. 1996–2021)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Keisha Whitaker (ex.), Raye Dowell (ex.)
Children:	Ocean Whitaker, True Whitaker, Autumn Whitaker, Sonnet Noel Whitaker
Occupation:	Actor • Filmmaker
Net Worth:	US$15 million

Early Life & Education

On July 15, 1961, Forest Whitaker was born in Longview, Texas, United States. While his father, Forest Steven Jr., was an insurance salesman, his mother, Laura Francis Smith, was a special education teacher. 

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Kenn Whitaker and Damon Whitaker are his two younger brothers, and Deborah Whitaker is his older sister. His ancestry links him to Nigeria.

He played college football and attended California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. After suffering a back ailment, he changed his major to music. 

Later, Forest Whitaker decided to major in drama and was accepted to the University of Southern California‘s Drama Conservatory and Music Conservatory to study opera, respectively. His graduation was in 1982. 

He received a scholarship to study at the Drama Studio London in Berkeley, California. He performed in England in the 1980s with the Cal Poly Chamber Singers.

Career

In 1982, Forest Whitaker made his cinematic debut in Tag: The Assassination Game, and later that year, he made an appearance in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. In 1985, he had appearances in Vision Quest and North and South. He also ventured into television, playing small parts in several well-known programs, including Different Strokes (1985), The Fall Guy (1985), and Amazing Stories (1986). 

In 1986, he appeared in The Color of Money and Platoon and then in Good Morning, Vietnam, the following year. He played his first starring role as an actor in Bird (1989), which came out after his 1988 film Bloodsport (1988). He was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the Best Actor prize for his work at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival.

Forest Whitaker appeared in the 1990 films Downtown, Diary of a Hitman, A Rage in Harlem, Article 99, and Consenting Adults (1992). In the 1992 film The Crying Game, he portrayed a bewildered British soldier. 

In 1993, he made his directing debut with the film Strapped.

In the 1993 films Bank Robber and Body Snatchers, as well as Blown Away, Prêt-à-Porter, and Jason’s Lyric, Forest Whitaker delivered strong performances. In 1994’s The Enemy Within television movie, he played Colonel MacKenzie “Mac” Casey. His spirited performance in Smoke in 1995 was typical of him.

He was the director of Hope Floats in 1998 and Waiting to Exhale in 1995. In the 1999 film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Forest Whitaker portrayed a calm mob assassin. His movie Battlefield Earth received a lot of negative reviews and is on the list of the worst movies ever made. 

He appeared in the films Green Dragon, The Hire: The Follow, The Fourth Angel, and Four Dogs Playing Poker (all of which were released in 2001). He received numerous nods for best-supporting actor in 2002 for his work in Panic Room. 

In the years 2002 to 2003, he hosted and narrated 44 episodes of The Twilight Zone. He gave a fantastic performance in American Gun in 2005 after directing and acting in First Daughter in 2004. Forest Whitaker won numerous prizes and accolades for his portrayal of Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland. He was honoured in 2007 for his supporting performance in The Great Debaters.

In 2008, he appeared in three movies: Vantage Point, Street Kings, and Dragon Hunters. He made cameos in a few indie films and delivered yet another heartfelt performance in Lee Daniels‘ The Butler in 2013, which made him win several nominations and accolades. In 2013, he appeared alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film The Last Stand.

Filmography

1. Platoon (1986)
2. The Crying Game (1992)
3. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
4. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
5. Rogue One (2016)
6. Arrival (2016)
7. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
8. The Great Debaters (2007)
9. Black Panther (2018)
10. The Butler (2013)

Awards & Achievements

• For the movie Bird, Forest Whitaker received the Best Actor prize at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival.
• For Strapped, he also received an international critics’ award at the 1993 Toronto International Film Festival. 
• For the 1996 film Phenomenon, he won the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor. 
• For the 2006 film, The Last King of Scotland, Forest Whitaker won the Best Actor Academy Award, Best Actor African-American Film Critics Association Award, Best Actor BAFTA Award, and Best Actor BET Award. 
• For Lee Daniels‘ The Butler, he received the African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture in 2013.
• At the 82nd Commencement Ceremony in 2009, Forest Whitaker was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Xavier University of Louisiana. 
• On May 16, 2015, he also got an honorary doctorate in humane letters from California State University, Dominguez Hills. 

Personal Life

Since 1996, actor Forest Whitaker and actress Keisha Whitaker have been married. Sonnet Noel Whitaker and True Whitaker, the couple’s children, are the result of their marriage. 

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Ocean Whitaker is the son of Forest Whitaker‘s previous relationship, while Autumn Whitaker is the daughter of Keisha Whitaker.

He once dated Raye Dowell.

He supports vegetarianism through People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) (PETA). On June 21, 2011, he was officially welcomed as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation during a ceremony held at the organization’s headquarters. 

Net Worth

Forest Whitaker has accumulated a net worth of US$15 million, with his successful career in acting, directing, and production serving as the foundation of his wealth. 

Forest Whitaker is a well-known American actor, producer, and director who has received numerous awards for his work.

Social Media

• Twitter: @ForestWhitaker
• Instagram: @ForestWhitaker
• Facebook: Forest Whitaker