Denzel Whitaker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denzel Whitaker
Whitaker at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Denzel Dominique Whitaker (1990-06-15) June 15, 1990 (age 35) Torrance, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2001–present

Denzel Dominique Whitaker (born June 15, 1990) is an American actor who started his career as a child. He is known for his roles in movies like The Great Debaters and Black Panther.

Whitaker first appeared in the movie Training Day in 2001. He later became a cast member on the Nickelodeon show All That. His performance in The Great Debaters won him an NAACP Image Award. He has also appeared in many other movies and TV shows, including The Purge.

Early Life and Name

Denzel Whitaker was born in Torrance, California, on June 15, 1990. His parents are Younalanda and Dale Whitaker. He attended Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. While he was acting as a teenager, he did his schoolwork through email.

He was named after the famous actor Denzel Washington. At first, Whitaker didn't believe this. He even said it wasn't true on The Oprah Winfrey Show. But his father later told him that he was, in fact, named after Washington. Denzel Washington later became a mentor to Whitaker when they worked together on The Great Debaters.

Acting Career

Whitaker began his acting journey in 2001 with a role in the movie Training Day. From 2004 to 2005, he was a regular cast member on the popular Nickelodeon comedy show, All That.

Breakthrough with 'The Great Debaters'

In 2007, Whitaker played James Farmer Jr. in the movie The Great Debaters. His acting was highly praised by critics. For this role, he won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. He was also nominated for a Young Artist Award.

Major Film and TV Roles

Over the years, Whitaker has appeared in many different movies. He was in the Disney Channel Original Movie Dadnapped in 2009. In 2011, he had roles in the action movie Abduction and the sports drama Warrior.

One of his well-known roles was playing the young version of the character Zuri in the 2018 superhero blockbuster Black Panther. In 2020, he played an aspiring musician in the film ... City.

Whitaker has also been a guest star on many TV shows. These include ER, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and Blue Bloods.

Voice Acting and Directing

Besides acting on screen, Whitaker is also a talented voice actor. He voiced the character Albert in the animated movie The Ant Bully (2006). He also provided voices for TV shows like The Boondocks and Black Dynamite: The Animated Series.

Whitaker has also worked behind the camera. He has directed music videos and short films, showing his talent in other areas of filmmaking.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of Denzel Whitaker's most notable roles in movies and television.

Film

Television