Forest Whitaker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forest Whitaker
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Whitaker at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
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| Born |
Forest Steven Whitaker
July 15, 1961 Longview, Texas, U.S.
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| Education | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona University of Southern California (BFA) New York University |
| Alma mater | Drama Studio London |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Keisha Nash
(m. 1996; div. 2021) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is a famous American actor, director, and activist. He is known for winning many major awards for his acting. These include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a British Academy Film Award.
Whitaker made his first movie appearance in Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982. He became known for deeply studying his characters for movies like Platoon (1986), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), and Bird (1988). He also starred in popular films like The Butler (2013), Arrival (2016), and Black Panther (2018).
Many people know him from the Star Wars universe as the character Saw Gerrera. He played this role in the movie Rogue One (2016) and the TV shows Star Wars: Rebels and Andor. He also voiced the character in the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
For his amazing performance as the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006), Whitaker won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Besides acting, he has directed movies like Waiting to Exhale (1995) and Hope Floats (1998). Since 2019, he has starred in the TV series Godfather of Harlem.
Whitaker is also known for his work to help others. In 2011, he became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He works to promote peace and help young people in difficult situations.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Forest Steven Whitaker was born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas. His mother, Laura, was a special education teacher, and his father, Forest Jr., was an insurance salesman. When he was young, his family moved to Carson, California. He has two younger brothers and an older sister.
In high school, Whitaker played football and sang in the choir. He went to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on a football scholarship. However, a back injury made him switch his focus to music and singing. He later transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) and graduated with a degree in acting in 1982.
Acting Career
Getting Started
Whitaker has worked with many famous directors and actors. His first big role was as a high school football player in the 1982 movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He later appeared in important films like Martin Scorsese's The Color of Money (1986) and Oliver Stone's Platoon (1986). The next year, he starred with Robin Williams in the comedy Good Morning, Vietnam.
He also acted in TV shows. In 1985, he played a bully in an episode of Diff'rent Strokes. He also appeared in the miniseries North and South in 1985 and 1986.
Becoming a Star
In 1988, Whitaker had his first leading role in the movie Bird. He played the famous jazz musician Charlie Parker. To prepare, Whitaker learned to play the saxophone and spent a lot of time alone to understand the character. His performance was a huge success. It earned him the Best Actor award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival.
Throughout the 1990s, he continued to star in popular movies. He played a captured British soldier in The Crying Game (1992). He also appeared in Smoke (1995) and Phenomenon (1996), where he acted alongside John Travolta.
In 1999, he played a calm, mob hitman who follows the way of the samurai in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Many people think this is one of his best roles. To get ready, he studied Eastern philosophy and meditated.
Winning an Oscar
From 2002 to 2003, Whitaker hosted the TV show The Twilight Zone. In 2006, he joined the cast of the police drama The Shield as Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh. His performance was highly praised.
His most celebrated role came in 2006 when he played Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. To play Amin, Whitaker gained 50 pounds, learned to play the accordion, and studied the Swahili language. He also traveled to Uganda to meet people who knew Amin.
His hard work paid off. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor, becoming the fourth Black actor to win this honor. He also won a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy Film Award for the role.
An Established Actor
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After his Oscar win, Whitaker continued to appear in major films. He starred in The Great Debaters (2007), Street Kings (2008), and Vantage Point (2008).
In 2013, he played the lead role in The Butler, which was a big success. In 2016, he joined the Star Wars universe as Saw Gerrera in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He later voiced the character in the animated series Star Wars Rebels.
In 2018, he played Zuri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Black Panther. The cast of the film won a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Recent Work
Since 2019, Whitaker has starred as the crime boss Bumpy Johnson in the TV series Godfather of Harlem. He also appeared in the Netflix Christmas movie Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020).
He played C. L. Franklin, the father of singer Aretha Franklin, in the movie Respect (2021). He also returned as Saw Gerrera in the Disney+ series Andor. In 2023, he portrayed boxing trainer Doc Broadus in the movie Big George Foreman.
Directing and Producing
Whitaker is also a talented director and producer. He made his directing debut in 1993 with the TV film Strapped. In 1995, he directed the popular movie Waiting to Exhale, starring Whitney Houston. He also directed the romantic comedy Hope Floats (1998), starring Sandra Bullock.
His production company, Significant Productions, helps create movies and TV shows that feature diverse stories and actors. The company produced the award-winning film Fruitvale Station (2013) and the comedy Sorry to Bother You (2018).
Activism and Charity Work
Whitaker is dedicated to humanitarian work. In 2012, he founded the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI). This organization runs peace-building programs in communities affected by conflict around the world, including in Africa, Mexico, and the United States.
In 2011, he was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation. In this role, he works to help young people avoid violence. He is also an Advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to solve global problems like poverty and climate change.
Whitaker believes that everyone can make a difference. He once said, "Even a seemingly small action can cause ripples that make an enormous impact."
Personal Life
In 1996, Whitaker married actress Keisha Nash. They met on the set of the movie Blown Away. They have four children together. The couple decided to divorce in 2018.
Whitaker practices yoga and has a black belt in kenpō, a form of martial arts. He is also a vegetarian. In 2021, he became a part-owner and investor in NBA Africa.
Whitaker has a condition called ptosis in his left eye, which makes the eyelid droop. He has said it is hereditary (passed down in his family).
His family history has been traced to the Igbo community in Nkwerre, Nigeria. In 2009, he was made an honorary chief there and given the title Nwannedinamba, which means "A Brother in a Foreign Land."
Awards and Honors
Besides his Academy Award, Whitaker has received many honors for his work in film and his efforts to help others.
- He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he received in 2007.
- He has received several honorary doctorates from universities like the University of Southern California.
- In 2013, France's Minister of Culture honored him for his work helping people affected by conflict.
- In 2022, he received the Honorary Palme d'Or from the Cannes Film Festival, a special award for his entire career.
See also
In Spanish: Forest Whitaker para niños
