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Forest Whitaker
0 FOLLOWERS • 86 CREDITS • JUL 15, 1961 • 64
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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.
Overview
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.
Known For
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Oscars
The Daily Show
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
ER
The Shield
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Cagney & Lacey
Hill Street Blues
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Criminal Minds
The Early Show
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
American Idol
Andor
Today
Extrapolations
Live from E!
Diff'rent Strokes
Amazing Stories
Empire
American Dad!
Saturday Night Live
Star Wars Rebels
Mr. Holland's Opus
First Daughter
Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look
Sorry to Bother You
Dragon Hunters
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Star Wars: Go Rogue
Black Panther
Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows
The Last Stand
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The Color of Money
Species
Stakeout
The King of Kings
Where the Wild Things Are
Out of the Furnace
Blown Away
Platoon
Catch.44
Bloodsport
Smoke
The Crying Game
Havoc
Panic Room
Roots
Southpaw
Powder Blue
Phenomenon
Phone Booth
The Marsh
Arrival
Battlefield Earth
How It Ends
Lush Life
City of Lies
Respect
Good Morning, Vietnam
Taken 3
Street Kings
Repo Men
The Twilight Zone
The Last King of Scotland
The Butler
The Emperor of Ocean Park
Criminal Justice
The Forgiven
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Godfather of Harlem
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
The Enemy Within
Production Credits
Fruitvale Station
First Daughter
Passing
Sorry to Bother You
Rise of the Empress
Brick City
Monte Carlo
Hope Floats
Godfather of Harlem
Fancy Dance
Powder Blue
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