Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White (born November 10, 1967) is an American actor and professional martial artist, who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African-American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. White was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved as a teen to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he graduated from Central High School in 1988. White started martial arts training at the age of seven and is now an accomplished martial artist, holding seven legitimate black belts in Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Kobudo, Goju Ryu, Tang Soo Do, Wushu and Kyokushin, with a specific focus in Kyokushin (although his style incorporates aspects of many different martial arts forms). His first major starring role and breakout performance was in the 1995 HBO film Tyson, as heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson. In 1997, he portrayed the eponymous character in the 1997 movie Spawn. His work in Spawn earned him a nomination for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Male Newcomer. White starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier: The Return. In 2001, he also starred opposite fellow martial artist Steven Seagal in Exit Wounds. In 2003, he starred in Busta Rhymes' and Mariah Carey's music video "I Know What You Want". Since 2003, in addition to his on screen roles, White has been doing voice work, including Static Shock, Justice League, and the Spawn animated series. White showcases his martial arts skills in the direct-to-DVD film Undisputed II: Last Man Standing. He also appears in Michelle Yeoh's Silver Hawk in 2004. His film, Why Did I Get Married? opened at number one at the box office on October 12, 2007. White played the role of the mob boss Gambol in the 2008 film The Dark Knight. He also starred in the film Blood and Bone and the Blaxploitation homage Black Dynamite, both released in 2009. White wrote the scripts for both Black Dynamite and his upcoming 3 Bullets in which he stars with Bokeem Woodbine. White will make his directorial debut and star in Never Back Down 2, which is slated for a 2011 release. In August 2005 he wed his girlfriend of two years, Courtenay Chatman. The couple have a daughter named Morgan Michelle who was born on December 24, 2008. Michael has two sons from a previous relationship. He is an avid chess player, as seen in his movie Blood and Bone.
Filmography
Why Did I Get Married Again?
as Marcus
Why Did I Get Married Again?
as Marcus
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
as Brock Belfry
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
as Brock Belfry
Oscar Shaw
as Oscar Shaw
Oscar Shaw
as Oscar Shaw
Hostile Takeover
as Pete
Hostile Takeover
as Pete
Trouble Man
as Jaxen
Trouble Man
as Jaxen
Scream Before You Die
as Joe Washington
Scream Before You Die
as Joe Washington
Chuck Zito: An American Story
as Self
Chuck Zito: An American Story
as Self
One More Shot
as Robert Jackson
One More Shot
as Robert Jackson
MR-9: Do or Die
as Duke
MR-9: Do or Die
as Duke
The Island
as Mark
The Island
as Mark
Come Out Fighting
as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
Come Out Fighting
as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
You're Not Alone
as Keith Mitchell
You're Not Alone
as Keith Mitchell
A Snowy Day in Oakland
as Reverend Carter
A Snowy Day in Oakland
as Reverend Carter
As Good as Dead
as Bryant
As Good as Dead
as Bryant
The Hit
as Brooke
The Hit
as Brooke
Dead Zone
as Boss
Dead Zone
as Boss
The Commando
as James Baker
The Commando
as James Baker
Black Friday
as Archie
Black Friday
as Archie
Take Back
as Brian
Take Back
as Brian
Rogue Hostage
as Sparks
Rogue Hostage
as Sparks
Assault on VA-33
as Chief Malone
Assault on VA-33
as Chief Malone
Undercover Brother 2
as Undercover Brother / Narrator
Undercover Brother 2
as Undercover Brother / Narrator
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
as Self
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
as Self
Triple Threat
as Devereaux
Triple Threat
as Devereaux
The Hard Way
as Payne
The Hard Way
as Payne
Dragged Across Concrete
as 'Biscuit'
Dragged Across Concrete
as 'Biscuit'
Making a Killing
as Orlando Hudson
Making a Killing
as Orlando Hudson
Accident Man
as Mick
Accident Man
as Mick
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
as Princeton
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
as Princeton
Chocolate City
as Princeton
Chocolate City
as Princeton
Beyond the Game
as Himself
Beyond the Game
as Himself
Android Cop
as Hammond
Android Cop
as Hammond
Generation Iron
as Self
Generation Iron
as Self
Somebody's Child
as Douglas
Somebody's Child
as Douglas
The Philly Kid
as Arthur Letts
The Philly Kid
as Arthur Letts
Tactical Force
as Hunt
Tactical Force
as Hunt
One Angry Juror
as Derrick
One Angry Juror
as Derrick
Black Dynamite
as Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
as Black Dynamite
The Legend of Bruce Lee
as Ali
The Legend of Bruce Lee
as Ali
Getting Played
as Actor
Getting Played
as Actor
UnConventional
as Self
UnConventional
as Self
Pandora's Box
as Hampton Hines
Pandora's Box
as Hampton Hines
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
as Spawn (archive footage)
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
as Spawn (archive footage)
Exit Wounds
as Lewis Strutt
Exit Wounds
as Lewis Strutt
Universal Soldier: The Return
as SETH
Universal Soldier: The Return
as SETH
Thick as Thieves
as Pointy
Thick as Thieves
as Pointy
Breakfast of Champions
as Howell
Breakfast of Champions
as Howell
Mutiny
as Ben Cooper
Mutiny
as Ben Cooper
City of Industry
as Odell Williams
City of Industry
as Odell Williams
2 Days in the Valley
as Buck
2 Days in the Valley
as Buck
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
as Carpenter
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
as Carpenter
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
as Elroy
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
as Elroy
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
as Silvio
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
as Silvio
On Deadly Ground
as Oil Worker (uncredited)
On Deadly Ground
as Oil Worker (uncredited)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
as Audience Man
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
as Audience Man
Spymasters
Spymasters