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Michael Jai White picture

Michael Jai White

Acting
Known For

57 Years Old

An American actor and professional martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. White was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved as a teen to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he graduated from Central High School in 1988. White started martial arts training at the age of seven and is now an accomplished martial artist, holding seven legitimate black belts in Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Kobudo, Goju Ryu, Tang Soo Do, Wushu and Kyokushin, with a specific focus in Kyokushin (although his style incorporates aspects of many different martial arts forms). His first major starring role and breakout performance was in the 1995 HBO film Tyson, as heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson. In 1997, he portrayed the eponymous character in the 1997 movie Spawn. His work in Spawn earned him a nomination for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Male Newcomer. White starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier: The Return. In 2001, he also starred opposite fellow martial artist Steven Seagal in Exit Wounds. In 2003, he starred in Busta Rhymes' and Mariah Carey's music video "I Know What You Want". Since 2003, in addition to his on screen roles, White has been doing voice work, including Static Shock, Justice League, and the Spawn animated series. White showcases his martial arts skills in the direct-to-DVD film Undisputed II: Last Man Standing. He also appears in Michelle Yeoh's Silver Hawk in 2004. His film, Why Did I Get Married? opened at number one at the box office on October 12, 2007. White played the role of the mob boss Gambol in the 2008 film The Dark Knight. He also starred in the film Blood and Bone and the Blaxploitation homage Black Dynamite, both released in 2009. White wrote the scripts for both Black Dynamite and his upcoming 3 Bullets in which he stars with Bokeem Woodbine. White will make his directorial debut and star in Never Back Down 2, which is slated for a 2011 release. In August 2005 he wed his girlfriend of two years, Courtenay Chatman. The couple have a daughter named Morgan Michelle who was born on December 24, 2008. Michael has two sons from a previous relationship. He is an avid chess player, as seen in his movie Blood and Bone.

Born

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA on 10th November 1967

All Credits

Batman: The Brave and the Bold Image
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Tattooed Man (voice)
CSI: Miami Image
CSI: Miami
Roy Bailey
Insecure Image
Insecure
Zeke
Justice League Unlimited Image
Justice League Unlimited
Doomsday (voice)
black-ish Image
black-ish
Vincent
Arrow Image
Arrow
Ben Turner
Arrow Image
Arrow
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger
The Art of Action Image
The Art of Action
Self
Saved by the Bell Image
Saved by the Bell
Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
JAG Image
JAG
Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
For Better or Worse Image
For Better or Worse
Marcus Williams
Carl Weber's The Family Business Image
Carl Weber's The Family Business
Vegas Duncan
Black Dynamite Image
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
The Legend of Bruce Lee Image
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Ali
Metal Hurlant Chronicles Image
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Balt
Metal Hurlant Chronicles Image
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Teague
The Dark Knight Image
The Dark Knight
Gambol
Static Shock Image
Static Shock
Osebo (voice)
Renegade Image
Renegade
Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
Justice League Image
Justice League
Doomsday (voice)
Clubhouse Image
Clubhouse
Ellis Hayes
Boston Public Image
Boston Public
Darren Schofield
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Image
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
The Island Image
The Island
Mark
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing Image
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
George Chambers
Blood and Bone Image
Blood and Bone
Isaiah Bone
Never Back Down: No Surrender Image
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Case Walker
Kingdom Business Image
Kingdom Business
Julius “Caesar” Jones
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown Image
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
Case Walker
Dragged Across Concrete Image
Dragged Across Concrete
'Biscuit'
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege Image
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
Scorpion
Accident Man Image
Accident Man
Mick
Universal Soldier Image
Universal Soldier
Soldier
MR-9: Do or Die Image
MR-9: Do or Die
Duke
Triple Threat Image
Triple Threat
Devereaux
Universal Soldier: The Return Image
Universal Soldier: The Return
SETH
One More Shot Image
One More Shot
Robert Jackson
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Image
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Audience Man
Wonderland Image
Wonderland
Derrick Hatcher
Exit Wounds Image
Exit Wounds
Lewis Strutt
Spawn Image
Spawn
Al Simmons / Spawn
Falcon Rising Image
Falcon Rising
John 'Falcon' Chapman
The Hard Way Image
The Hard Way
Payne
The Commando Image
The Commando
James Baker
2 Days in the Valley Image
2 Days in the Valley
Buck
Come Out Fighting Image
Come Out Fighting
Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
Trouble Man! Image
Trouble Man!
Jaxen
On Deadly Ground Image
On Deadly Ground
Oil Worker (uncredited)
Skin Trade Image
Skin Trade
Reed
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes Image
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
Spawn (archive footage)
Welcome to Sudden Death Image
Welcome to Sudden Death
Jesse Freeman
Rogue Hostage Image
Rogue Hostage
Sparks
As Good as Dead Image
As Good as Dead
Bryant
Vigilante Diaries Image
Vigilante Diaries
Barrington
Batman: Soul of the Dragon Image
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
Freaky Deaky Image
Freaky Deaky
Donnell Lewis
Black Dynamite Image
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
Why Did I Get Married? Image
Why Did I Get Married?
Marcus
Dead Zone Image
Dead Zone
Boss
Tyson Image
Tyson
Mike Tyson
The Crooked Man Image
The Crooked Man
Milo
Black Friday Image
Black Friday
Archie
Spawn The Director's Cut Image
Spawn The Director's Cut
Al Simons / Spawn
Silver Hawk Image
Silver Hawk
Morris
Send It! Image
Send It!
Coach
Assault on VA-33 Image
Assault on VA-33
Chief Malone
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks Image
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Self
Why Did I Get Married Too? Image
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Marcus
Tactical Force Image
Tactical Force
Hunt
The Asian Connection Image
The Asian Connection
Greedy Greg
Undercover Brother 2 Image
Undercover Brother 2
Undercover Brother / Narrator
Take Back Image
Take Back
Brian
City of Industry Image
City of Industry
Odell Williams
The Toxic Avenger Part II Image
The Toxic Avenger Part II
Apocalypse Inc. Executive
Chain of Command Image
Chain of Command
James Webster
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie Image
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
Outlaw Johnny Black Image
Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black
The Real Miyagi Image
The Real Miyagi
Self
The Philly Kid Image
The Philly Kid
Arthur Letts
Chocolate City Image
Chocolate City
Princeton
Thick as Thieves Image
Thick as Thieves
Pointy
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip Image
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
Princeton
Breakfast of Champions Image
Breakfast of Champions
Howell
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike Image
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
Silvio
Sunset Superman Image
Sunset Superman
JT
In Search of the Last Action Heroes Image
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
Himself
Cops and Robbers Image
Cops and Robbers
Michael
Pandora's Box Image
Pandora's Box
Hampton Hines
True Identity Image
True Identity
Ballistic Image
Ballistic
Quint
Bisping Image
Bisping
Self
A Snowy Day in Oakland Image
A Snowy Day in Oakland
Reverend Carter
Generation Iron Image
Generation Iron
Self
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story Image
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Elroy
Android Cop Image
Android Cop
Hammond
Getting Played Image
Getting Played
Actor
Chuck Zito: An American Story Image
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Self
Beyond the Game Image
Beyond the Game
Himself
Ringmaster Image
Ringmaster
Demond
The Legend of Bruce Lee Image
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Ali
Making a Killing Image
Making a Killing
Orlando Hudson
One Angry Juror Image
One Angry Juror
Derrick
Mutiny Image
Mutiny
Ben Cooper
You're Not Alone Image
You're Not Alone
Keith Mitchell
Freedom Song Image
Freedom Song
Coleman Vaughnes
Every Day Is Christmas Image
Every Day Is Christmas
Justin
Fedz Image
Fedz
Big D
Justice Image
Justice
Tre
Full Contact Image
Full Contact
Low-Ball
We the Party Image
We the Party
Officer Davis
The Making of Exit Wounds Image
The Making of Exit Wounds
Self
No Image
Fight Or Flight
UnConventional Image
UnConventional
Self
Scream Before You Die Image
Scream Before You Die
Joe Washington
The Hit Image
The Hit
Brooke
Somebody's Child Image
Somebody's Child
Douglas
No Image
The Making of 'Spawn'
Self
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare Image
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
Self
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal Image
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Carpenter
No Image
Karate Ghost
No Image
Spymasters
To Live and Die in the Midwest Image
To Live and Die in the Midwest
No Image
Hostile Takeover
Pete
No Image
Drive Through Fire