Forest Whitaker
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- July 15, 1961 in Longview, Texas, USA
- Active Years
- 1952–2027 (76 Years)
- Total Credits
- 209 credits in database
Acting Born Jul 15, 1961 Longview, Texas, USA 209 credits
Biography
Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, director, and activist born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas. Throughout his professional career, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, earning recognition for his performances and contributions to film. Whitaker is the recipient of several major industry accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. With 192 known credits listed in his professional portfolio, he remains a highly active and respected presence in both film and television. His work is characterized by a commitment to intensive character study and a versatile range that spans across various genres and production scales.
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Career overview
Forest Whitaker began his film career with his debut in the 1982 production Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Following this introduction, he developed a reputation for his dedication to intensive character study work. Over the subsequent decades, he appeared in a diverse array of films, including Platoon, Good Morning, Vietnam, Bird, and The Crying Game. His filmography continued to expand throughout the 1990s and 2000s with roles in projects such as Phenomenon, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and The Great Debaters. These performances solidified his standing as a serious actor capable of portraying complex individuals across a variety of narrative settings.
In more recent years, Whitaker has maintained his presence in the industry through appearances in high-profile projects such as The Butler, Arrival, and Respect. In addition to his work in character-driven dramas, he has participated in large-scale blockbuster productions, including Panic Room. His career is marked by a consistent output of work, contributing to his total of 192 known credits. By balancing independent character studies with major studio releases, Whitaker has built a professional history that reflects both critical acclaim and broad commercial reach.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Rose's Baby
Lucky Lu · Executive Producer
HavocThe King of KingsTo Live and Die and Live · Producer
The Emperor of Ocean ParkHollywood BlackHollywood Black · Executive ProducerFancy Dance · Executive ProducerMy Generation
ExtrapolationsBig George Foreman
The Jennifer Hudson ShowAndorProphets of ChangeCannes FestivalClint Eastwood: The Last Legend
Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic LegacyRespectPassing · Producer
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas JourneyBy Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of HarlemBy Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem · Executive ProducerChadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a KingNations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times
Godfather of HarlemGodfather of Harlem · Executive ProducerFinding Steve McQueenDevil's Pie: D'Angelo · ProducerA Kid from Coney Island · Executive Producer
Black PantherSorry to Bother YouSorry to Bother You · ProducerHow It EndsCity of Lies
SteveRoxanne Roxanne · ProducerThe Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'Xenolinguistics: Understanding 'Arrival'
ArrivalRogue One: A Star Wars StoryRootsStar Wars: Go RogueI Am You
EmpireClose Up with The Hollywood ReporterSouthpawDopeDope · Producer
Star Wars RebelsTaken 3Two Men in TownRepentanceFood Chains
Fruitvale Station · ProducerPawnThe Last StandThe ButlerOut of the Furnace
A Dark TruthFreelancers
Catch.44Criminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorMonte Carlo · Executive ProducerServing LifeServing Life · Executive Producer
Repo MenThe ExperimentMy Own Love Song2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo DriftOur Family Wedding
Where the Wild Things AreWinged CreaturesPowder BluePowder Blue · ProducerCrips and Bloods: Made in America
Vantage PointStreet Kings
The Great DebatersThe Air I BreatheEven MoneyRipple EffectRipple Effect · Executive Producer
The Last King of ScotlandEveryone's HeroBefore the Music DiesThe Marsh
Criminal MindsAmerican Dad!The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonMaryJiminy Glick in Lalawood
First DaughterFirst Daughter · DirectorFirst Daughter · Executive ProducerShooting 'Panic Room'The Misbehavers
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres ShowPhone BoothChasing Papi · Producer
American IdolThe ShieldThe Twilight ZoneLive from E!Panic Room
The HireFeast of All SaintsThe Fourth AngelGreen DragonGreen Dragon · Executive Producer
Battlefield EarthThe PaperboyFour Dogs Playing PokerClint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows
Where Are They Now?The Early ShowGhost Dog: The Way of the SamuraiLight It UpWitness Protection
Hope Floats · DirectorHope Floats · Executive Music ProducerBody Count
Full Filmography
209 titles- Rose's Baby (2027)
- Lucky Lu (2026) Executive Producer
- Havoc (2025) as Lawrence Beaumont
- The King of Kings (2025) as Peter (voice)
- To Live and Die and Live (2025) Producer
- The Emperor of Ocean Park (2024) as Judge Oliver Garland
- Hollywood Black (2024) as Self
- Hollywood Black (2024) Executive Producer
- Fancy Dance (2024) Executive Producer
- My Generation (2024) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Seaweed Stories (2024) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Transplant (2024) Producer
- Extrapolations (2023) as Auggie Bolo
- Big George Foreman (2023) as Doc Broadus
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Andor (2022) as Saw Gerrera
- Prophets of Change (2022) as Narrator
- Cannes Festival (2022) as Self - Guest
- Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- For the Sake of Peace (2022) Producer
- Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look (2022) as Saw Gerrera (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy (2021) as Self
- Respect (2021) as C. L. Franklin
- Passing (2021) Producer
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020) as Jeronicus Jangle
- By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (2020) as Self
- By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (2020) Executive Producer
- Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King (2020) as Self
- Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times (2020) as Self
- Godfather of Harlem (2019) as Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson
- Godfather of Harlem (2019) Executive Producer
- Finding Steve McQueen (2019) as Howard Lambert
- Devil's Pie: D'Angelo (2019) Producer
- A Kid from Coney Island (2019) Executive Producer
- Black Panther (2018) as Zuri
- Sorry to Bother You (2018) as First Equisapien / Demarius
- Sorry to Bother You (2018) Producer
- How It Ends (2018) as Tom
- City of Lies (2018) as Jack Jackson
- The Forgiven (2018) as Desmond Tutu
- Burden (2018) as Reverend Kennedy
- Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace (2018) as Narrator (voice)
- Steve (2017) as Self
- Roxanne Roxanne (2017) Producer
- The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (2017) as Self
- Xenolinguistics: Understanding 'Arrival' (2017) as Self
- Arrival (2016) as Colonel Weber
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) as Saw Gerrera
- Roots (2016) as Fiddler
- Star Wars: Go Rogue (2016) as Saw Gerrera (voice)
- I Am You (2016) as Narrator (voice)
- Empire (2015) as Eddie Barker
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Southpaw (2015) as Titus 'Tick' Wills
- Dope (2015) as The Narrator (voice)
- Dope (2015) Producer
- Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) Producer
- Star Wars Rebels (2014) as Saw Gerrera (voice)
- Taken 3 (2014) as Inspector Frank Dotzler
- Two Men in Town (2014) as William Garnett
- Repentance (2014) as Angel
- Food Chains (2014)
- Fruitvale Station (2013) Producer
- Pawn (2013) as Will
- The Last Stand (2013) as Agent John Bannister
- The Butler (2013) as Cecil Gaines
- Out of the Furnace (2013) as Chief Wesley Barnes
- Zulu (2013) as Ali Sokhela
- Black Nativity (2013) as Reverend Cornell Cobbs
- Making a Scene | 11 Performances (2013)
- Rising from Ashes (2013) as Narrator
- Rising from Ashes (2013) Executive Producer
- Mysteries of the Unseen World (2013) as Narrator
- A Dark Truth (2012) as Francisco Francis
- Freelancers (2012) as Dennis Larue
- Catch.44 (2011) as Ronny
- Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2011) as Sam Cooper
- Monte Carlo (2011) Executive Producer
- Serving Life (2011) as Narrator (voice)
- Serving Life (2011) Executive Producer
- A Man's Story (2011) as Self
- Repo Men (2010) as Jake
- The Experiment (2010) as Barris
- My Own Love Song (2010) as Joey
- 2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift (2010) as (archive footage)
- Our Family Wedding (2010) as Brad Boyd
- Hurricane Season (2010) as Al Collins
- Lullaby for Pi (2010) as George
- Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life (2010) as Lion
- Where the Wild Things Are (2009) as Ira (voice)
- Winged Creatures (2009) as Charlie Archenault
- Powder Blue (2009) as Charlie
- Powder Blue (2009) Producer
- Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2009) as Narrator
- Brick City (2009) Executive Producer
- Kassim the Dream (2009) Producer
- Vantage Point (2008) as Howard Lewis
- Street Kings (2008) as Captain Jack Wander
- The Great Debaters (2007) as Dr. James Farmer Sr.
- The Air I Breathe (2007) as Happiness
- Even Money (2007) as Clyde Snow
- Ripple Effect (2007) as Philip
- Ripple Effect (2007) Executive Producer
- The Last King of Scotland (2006) as Idi Amin
- Everyone's Hero (2006) as Lonnie Brewster (voice)
- Before the Music Dies (2006) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- The Marsh (2006) as Geoffrey Hunt
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Sam Cooper
- American Dad! (2005) as Turlington (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Mary (2005) as Ted Younger
- Jiminy Glick in Lalawood (2005) as Forest Whitaker
- A Little Trip to Heaven (2005) as Abe Holt
- Deacons for Defense (2005) as Marcus Clay
- Odyssey in Rome (2005)
- American Gun (2005) as Carter
- American Gun (2005) Executive Producer
- First Daughter (2004) as Narrator (voice)
- First Daughter (2004) Director
- First Daughter (2004) Executive Producer
- Shooting 'Panic Room' (2004) as Self
- The Misbehavers (2004) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Phone Booth (2003) as Captain Ramey
- Chasing Papi (2003) Producer
- Making of Phone Booth (2003) as Self
- American Idol (2002) as Self
- The Shield (2002) as Jon Kavanaugh
- The Twilight Zone (2002) as Self - Host
- Live from E! (2002) as Self
- Panic Room (2002) as Burnham
- Door to Door (2002) Co-Executive Producer
- The Hire (2001) as The Employer
- Feast of All Saints (2001) as Daguerreotypist Picard
- The Fourth Angel (2001) as Agent Jules Bernard
- Green Dragon (2001) as Addie
- Green Dragon (2001) Executive Producer
- A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting 'Platoon' (2001) as Self
- The Follow (2001) as The Employer
- Ghost Dog: The Odyssey: The Journey Into the Life of a Samurai (2001)
- Battlefield Earth (2000) as Ker
- The Paperboy (2000) as Narrator
- Four Dogs Playing Poker (2000) as Mr. Ellington
- Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows (2000) as Self
- Where Are They Now? (1999) as Self
- The Early Show (1999) as Self
- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) as Ghost Dog
- Light It Up (1999) as Officer Dante Jackson
- Witness Protection (1999) as Steven Beck
- Hope Floats (1998) Director
- Hope Floats (1998) Executive Music Producer
- Body Count (1998) as Crane
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Phenomenon (1996) as Nate Pope
- Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996) as Mr. Rucker
- Species (1995) as Dan Smithson, Empath
- Waiting to Exhale (1995) Director
- Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) as Bobby Tidd as an adult (uncredited)
- Smoke (1995) as Cyrus Cole
- ER (1994) as Curtis Ames
- Blown Away (1994) as Anthony Franklin
- Prêt-à-Porter (1994) as Cy Bianco
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- The Enemy Within (1994) as Col. MacKenzie Casey
- Jason's Lyric (1994) as Maddog
- Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malpaso (1994) as Self
- Body Snatchers (1993) as Major Collins
- Bank Robber (1993) as Officer Battle
- Lush Life (1993) as Buddy Chester
- Strapped (1993) Director
- Last Light (1993) as Fred Whitmore
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- The Crying Game (1992) as Jody
- Consenting Adults (1992) as David Duttonville
- Article 99 (1992) as Dr. Sid Handleman
- Diary of a Hitman (1991) as Dekker
- A Rage in Harlem (1991) as Jackson
- A Rage in Harlem (1991) Co-Producer
- Criminal Justice (1990) as Jessie Williams
- Downtown (1990) as Dennis Curren
- Johnny Handsome (1989) as Dr. Steven Fisher
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- Bloodsport (1988) as Rawlins
- Bird (1988) as Charlie 'Bird' Parker
- Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) as Edward Garlick
- Stakeout (1987) as Det. Jack Pismo
- Hands of a Stranger (1987) as Sergeant Delaney
- Platoon (1986) as Big Harold
- The Color of Money (1986) as Amos
- A Little Off Mark (1986) Thanks
- North and South (1985) as Cuffey
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Jerry
- Vision Quest (1985) as Balldozer
- The Grand Baby (1983)
- Cagney & Lacey (1982) as Night Manager
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) as Charles Jefferson
- Tag: The Assassination Game (1982) as Gowdy's Bodyguard
- Hill Street Blues (1981)
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The Oscars (1953) as Self - Presenter
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Today (1952) as Self
- Rise of the Empress Executive Producer
- Rosetta Producer
- Sewing Hope as Narrator (voice)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Forest Whitaker best known for?
Forest Whitaker is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Havoc (2025), The King of Kings (2025), Fancy Dance (2024), Extrapolations (2023).
When and where was Forest Whitaker born?
Forest Whitaker was born on July 15, 1961 in Longview, Texas, USA.
How many credits does Forest Whitaker have?
Forest Whitaker has accumulated over 209 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1952 to 2027.
What is Forest Whitaker's background in cinema and television?
Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, director, and activist born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas. Throughout his professional career, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, earning recognition for his performances and contributions to film. Whitaker is the...
Forest Whitaker by the numbers
209credits
159films
50TV series
1952–2027active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- The King of Kings (2025) as Peter (voice) — aged about 63
- Andor (2022) as Saw Gerrera — aged about 60
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Sam Cooper — aged about 43
- The Shield (2002) as Jon Kavanaugh — aged about 40
- Godfather of Harlem (2019) as Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson — aged about 57
- ER (1994) as Curtis Ames — aged about 32
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