Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White
Biography
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.
Known For
Actor
as Jaxen
as Pete
as Joe Washington
as Self
as Robert Jackson
as Outlaw Johnny Black
as Duke
as Mark
as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
as Keith Mitchell
as Reverend Carter
as Bryant
as Boss
as James Baker
as Julius “Caesar” Jones
as Archie
as Brian
as Sparks
as Coach
as Chief Malone
as Self
as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
as Jesse Freeman
as Self
as Undercover Brother / Narrator
as Himself
as Self
as Devereaux
as Payne
as 'Biscuit'
as Justin
as Orlando Hudson
as Mick
as Vegas Duncan
as Scorpion
as Milo
as Barrington
as Princeton
as Case Walker
as Greedy Greg
as Zeke
as James Webster
as Princeton
as Self
as Himself
as Reed
as John 'Falcon' Chapman
as Hammond
as Vincent
as Self
as Big D (as Micheal White)
as Douglas
as Arthur Letts
as Donnell Lewis
as Officer Davis
as Teague
as Balt
as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger
as Ben Turner
as Black Dynamite
as Hunt
as Case Walker
as Marcus Williams
as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
as self
as Derrick
as Jackson Briggs
as Marcus
as Black Dynamite
as Ali
as Isaiah Bone
as Gambol
as Tattooed Man (voice)
as Ali
as Marcus
as George Chambers
as Actor
as Self
as Morris
as Ellis Hayes
as Doomsday (voice)
as Tre
as Hampton Hines
as Self
as Roy Bailey
as Spawn (archive footage)
as Lewis Strutt
as Doomsday (voice)
as Coleman Vaughnes
as Osebo (voice)
as Dr. Derrick Hatcher
as SETH
as Pointy
as Howell
as Ben Cooper
as Demond
as Al Simmons / Spawn
as Self
as Odell Williams
as Buck
as Carpenter
as Elroy
as Mike Tyson
as Quint
as Silvio
as Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
as Oil Worker (uncredited)
as Low-Ball
as Soldier
as Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
as Audience Man
as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
as Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
Writer
as Writer
as Writer
as Writer
as Writer
as Screenplay
Director
as Director
as Director
as Director
as Director
Producer
Crew
as Creator
as Stunts
Creator
as Creator