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Forest Whitaker
Actor, Producer, Director, Additional CreditsBorn July 15, 1961 (64 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Featured Videos
Forest Whitaker Filmography
| 2025 | Havoc · as Lawrence Beaumont |
| 2025 | The King of Kings · as Peter (voice) |
| 2024 | My Generation (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2024 | Emperor of Ocean Park (TV Series) · as Oliver Garland |
| 2023 | Big George Foreman · as Doc Broadus |
| 2023 | Extrapolations (TV Series) · as Auggie Bolo |
| 2022 | Andor (TV Series) · as Saw Gerrera |
| 2022 | Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look · as Saw Gerrera (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 2021 | Respect · as C. L. Franklin |
| 2020 | Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey · as Jeronicus Jangle |
| 2019 | Godfather of Harlem (TV Series) · as Ellsworth 'bumpy' Johnson |
| 2019 | Finding Steve McQueen · as Howard Lambert |
| 2018 | City of Lies · as Jack Jackson |
| 2018 | Burden · as Reverend Kennedy |
| 2018 | Sorry to Bother You · as First Equisapien / Demarius |
| 2018 | How It Ends · as Tom |
| 2018 | Black Panther · as Zuri |
| 2017 | The Forgiven · as Desmond Tutu |
| 2017 | We Are One · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story · as Saw Gerrera |
| 2016 | Arrival · as Colonel Weber |
| 2016 | Star Wars: Go Rogue (TV Series) · as Saw Gerrera (voice) |
| 2016 | Roots: A New Vision · as Fiddler |
| 2016 | Roots: A History Revealed · as Fiddler |
| 2016 | Roots (2016) (TV Series) · as Fiddler |
| 2015 | Southpaw · as Titus 'tick' Wills |
| 2015 | Dope · as The Narrator (voice) |
| 2015 | Empire (2015) (TV Series) · as Eddie Barker |
| 2014 | Taken 3 · as Inspector Frank Dotzler |
| 2014 | Star Wars Rebels (TV Series) · as Saw Gerrera (voice) |
| 2014 | Two Men in Town · as William Garnett |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 | Repentance · as Angel |
| 2013 | Out of the Furnace · as Chief Wesley Barnes |
| 2013 | |
| 2013 | Black Nativity · as Reverend Cornell Cobbs |
| 2013 | |
| 2013 | Mysteries of the Unseen World · as Narrator |
| 2013 | Pawn · as Will |
| 2013 | The Butler · as Cecil Gaines |
| 2013 | The Last Stand · as Agent John Bannister |
| 2012 | Ernest & Celestine · as Ernest |
| 2012 | A Dark Truth · as Francisco Francis |
| 2012 | Rising from Ashes · as Narrator |
| 2012 | Freelancers · as Dennis Larue |
| 2011 | |
| 2011 | Serving Life · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2011 | Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (TV Series) · as Sam Cooper |
| 2011 | National Memorial Day Concert · as Cast |
| 2010 | Lullaby for Pi · as George |
| 2010 | The Experiment · as Barris |
| 2010 | 2 Everything 2 Terrible 2: Tokyo Drift · as (archive Footage) |
| 2010 | My Own Love Song · as Joey |
| 2010 | Repo Men · as Jake |
| 2010 | Our Family Wedding · as Brad Boyd |
| 2010 | |
| 2009 | Hurricane Season · as Al Collins |
| 2009 | Where the Wild Things Are · as Ira (voice) |
| 2009 | Powder Blue · as Charlie |
| 2009 | Toys in the Attic · as Teddy |
| 2008 | Winged Creatures · as Charlie Archenault |
| 2008 | Street Kings · as Captain Jack Wander |
| 2008 | Dragon Hunters · as Lian-Chu |
| 2008 | Vantage Point · as Howard Lewis |
| 2008 | Crips and Bloods: Made in America · as Narrator |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters · as Dr. James Farmer Sr. |
| 2007 | Ripple Effect · as Philip |
| 2007 | The Air I Breathe · as Happiness |
| 2006 | The Last King of Scotland · as Idi Amin |
| 2006 | Everyone's Hero · as Lonnie Brewster (voice) |
| 2006 | The Marsh · as Geoffrey Hunt |
| 2006 | Even Money · as Clyde Snow |
| 2005 | A Little Trip to Heaven · as Abe Holt |
| 2005 | Mary · as Ted Younger |
| 2005 | Criminal Minds (TV Series) · as Sam Cooper |
| 2005 | Venecia 2005: Crónica de Carlos Boyero · as Ted Younger |
| 2005 | American Gun · as Carter |
| 2005 | American Dad! (TV Series) · as Turlington (voice) |
| 2004 | First Daughter · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2003 | Deacons for Defense · as Marcus Clay |
| 2002 | Phone Booth · as Captain Ramey |
| 2002 | Panic Room · as Burnham |
| 2002 | The Shield (TV Series) · as Jon Kavanaugh |
| 2001 | The Feast of All Saints · as Daguerreotypist Picard |
| 2001 | The Fourth Angel · as Agent Jules Bernard |
| 2001 | The Follow · as The Employer |
| 2001 | Green Dragon · as Addie |
| 2001 | The Hire (TV Series) · as The Employer |
| 2000 | Four Dogs Playing Poker · as Mr. Ellington |
| 2000 | Battlefield Earth · as Ker |
| 2000 | The Paperboy · as Narrator |
| 1999 | Witness Protection · as Steven Beck |
| 1999 | Light It Up · as Officer Dante Jackson |
| 1999 | Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai · as Ghost Dog |
| 1999 | Independent Lens (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1998 | Body Count · as Crane |
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault · as Mr. Rucker |
| 1996 | Phenomenon · as Nate Pope |
| 1995 | Mr. Holland's Opus · as Bobby Tidd As An Adult (uncredited) |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | Smoke · as Cyrus Cole |
| 1994 | Ready to Wear · as Cy Bianco |
| 1994 | Jason's Lyric · as Maddog |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Curtis Ames |
| 1994 | The Enemy Within · as Col. Mackenzie Casey |
| 1994 | Blown Away · as Anthony Franklin |
| 1993 | Bank Robber · as Officer Battle |
| 1993 | Lush Life · as Buddy Chester |
| 1993 | Last Light · as Fred Whitmore |
| 1993 | Body Snatchers · as Major Collins |
| 1992 | The Crying Game · as Jody |
| 1992 | Consenting Adults · as David Duttonville |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) |
| 1992 | Article 99 · as Dr. Sid Handleman |
| 1991 | Diary of a Hitman · as Dekker |
| 1991 | A Rage in Harlem · as Jackson |
| 1990 | Criminal Justice · as Jessie Williams |
| 1990 | Downtown · as Dennis Curren |
| 1989 | Johnny Handsome · as Dr. Steven Fisher |
| 1988 | Bird · as Charlie 'bird' Parker |
| 1988 | Bloodsport · as Rawlins |
| 1987 | Good Morning, Vietnam · as Edward Garlick |
| 1987 | Stakeout · as Det. Jack Pismo |
| 1987 | Hands of a Stranger · as Sergeant Delaney |
| 1986 | Platoon · as Big Harold |
| 1986 | The Color of Money · as Amos |
| 1986 | North and South, Book II (TV Series) · as Cuffey |
| 1985 | North and South (TV Series) · as Cuffey |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Director |
| 1985 | Amazing Stories (1985) (TV Series) · as Jerry |
| 1985 | Vision Quest · as Balldozer |
| 1982 | Fast Times at Ridgemont High · as Charles Jefferson |
| 1982 | Tag: The Assassination Game · as Gowdy's Bodyguard |
| 1981 | The Fall Guy (TV Series) · as Friend |
| 1981 | Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) · as Night Manager |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) |
| 1979 | Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series) · as Lewis Jordan |
| 1978 | Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) |
| 2025 | Lucky Lu · as Executive Producer |
| 2024 | Layla · as Executive Producer |
| 2024 | Hollywood Black (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2023 | Fancy Dance · as Executive Producer |
| 2023 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2019 | Godfather of Harlem (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2019 | |
| 2019 | A Kid from Coney Island · as Executive Producer |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2017 | We Are One · as Executive Producer |
| 2015 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2012 | Rising from Ashes · as Executive Producer |
| 2011 | Serving Life · as Executive Producer |
| 2011 | Monte Carlo · as Executive Producer |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | Brick City (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 2008 | |
| 2007 | Ripple Effect · as Executive Producer |
| 2005 | American Gun · as Executive Producer |
| 2004 | First Daughter · as Executive Producer |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | The Twilight Zone (2002) (TV Series) · as Consulting Producer |
| 2001 | The Feast of All Saints · as Executive Producer |
| 2001 | Green Dragon · as Executive Producer |
| 1991 | A Rage in Harlem · as Co-Producer |
| 2024 | The Oscars · as Self - Presenter |
| 2022 | Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | The Jennifer Hudson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Music Box (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2021 | Young Rock (TV Series) · as Forest Whitaker |
| 2020 | By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2020 | |
| 2020 | Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King · as Self |
| 2020 | Global Goal: Unite for Our Future · as Self |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2018 | Strahan, Sara & Keke (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2018 | Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind · as Self |
| 2017 | The IMDb Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2017 | Steve (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2017 | Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives · as Self |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | Sunday Today with Willie Geist (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2015 | Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | A 'Taken' Legacy · as Self |
| 2015 | The Late Late Show with James Corden (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2014 | Star Wars: Rebels Recon (TV Series) · as Self - Voice Of 'saw Guerra' |
| 2014 | Good Morning Britain (TV Series) · as Self - Plays Saw Gerrera |
| 2014 | The 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2014 | 45th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2014 | 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter |
| 2014 | 19th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards · as Self - Joel Siegel Award |
| 2013 | The Hollywood Reporter Roundtables (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | The Queen Latifah Show (2013) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | BET Awards 2013 · as Self |
| 2013 | Africa (2013) (TV Series) · as Self - Narrator: Usa |
| 2013 | The Butler: An American Story · as Self |
| 2012 | Larry King Now (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | CBS Saturday Morning (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | Oprah's Next Chapter (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | The Jonathan Ross Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Dish Nation (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | Guys Choice Awards 2011 · as Self - Winner |
| 2010 | A Man's Story · as Self |
| 2010 | Ebert Presents At The Movies (TV Series) · as Self - Festival Honoree |
| 2010 | The 82nd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2009 | Lopez Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | C à Vous (TV Series) · as Self (duplex) |
| 2009 | 2009 MTV Movie Awards · as Self |
| 2009 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2009 | |
| 2008 | Stand Up to Cancer · as Self |
| 2008 | King · as Self |
| 2008 | The 80th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2007 | The 5th Annual TV Land Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2007 | Morning Joe (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | 38th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2007 | The 79th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2007 | La noche de los Oscar · as Self - Interviewee |
| 2007 | Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2007 | The 12th Annual Critics' Choice Awards · as Self |
| 2007 | The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2007 | The Orange British Academy Film Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 2006 | Before the Music Dies · as Self - Narrator (voice) |
| 2006 | 3rd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors · as Self |
| 2006 | Rachael Ray (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Entertainment Tonight Canada (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Special Thanks to Roy London · as Self |
| 2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Misbehavers · as Self |
| 2004 | Jiminy Glick in Lalawood · as Forest Whitaker |
| 2004 | Le grand journal de Canal+ (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | Words in Progress · as Self |
| 2004 | Shooting 'Panic Room' · as Self |
| 2004 | The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2004 | 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2004 | UFC 46: Supernatural · as Self |
| 2004 | The 30th Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | Hollywood on Set (TV Series) · as Self - Interviewee |
| 2003 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | American Storytellers · as Self |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | The Twilight Zone (2002) (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 2002 | American Idol (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | Last Call with Carson Daly (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (TV Series) · as Self - Special Guest |
| 2001 | |
| 2001 | The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2000 | |
| 2000 | Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows · as Self |
| 1999 | Where Are They Now? (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | ARTE Journal Clips (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1998 | 1998 MTV Movie Awards · as Self |
| 1997 | The View (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Access Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | Whoever That Fails (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | 27th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1995 | 1995 VH1 Honors · as Self |
| 1995 | E! Live from the Red Carpet (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malpaso · as Self |
| 1994 | Cartelera (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | WGN Morning News (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Inside the Actors Studio (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1993 | Late Show with David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | HBO First Look (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | Charlie Rose (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | National Memorial Day Concert (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | 21st NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1989 | The 6th Annual American Cinema Awards · as Self |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1986 | The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1982 | Maurizio Costanzo Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | 20/20 (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1975 | Arena (1975) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1973 | AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Film (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1954 | The Early Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | |
| 1998 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1993 |
| 2002 | Door to Door · as Co-Executive Producer |