Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White
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.
Directed Movies
Director: Michael Jai White
Writers: Chris Hauty,
Cast: Aaron Brumfield, Creighton Mark Johnson, Damian Mavis, Elidh MacQueen, Eoin O'Brien, Gillian White, Greg Matt Garcia, Josh Barnett, Michael Jai White, Nathan Jones,
Director: Michael Jai White
Writers: Chris Hauty,
Cast: Alex Meraz, Dean Geyer, Evan Peters, Gralen Bryant Banks, J. Patrick McNamara, Michael Jai White, Rus Blackwell, Scottie Epstein, Stacey Asaro, Todd Duffee,
Acted Movies
Director: James Nunn
Writers: Jamie Russell,
Cast: Aaron Toney, Alexis Knapp, Cassidy Little, Hannah Arterton, Jill Winternitz, Meena Rayann, Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins, Tom Berenger, Waleed Elgadi,
Director: Asif Akbar
Writers: Asif Akbar,
Cast: ABM Sumon, Dave Kumar, Frank Grillo, James Moses Black, Kelly Greyson, Matt Passmore, Michael Jai White, Oleg Prudius, Omi Vaidya, Sakshi Pradhan,
Director: Shaun Paul Piccinino
Writers: Philippe Martinez,
Cast: Amber Townsend, Cami Storm, Edoardo Costa, Gillian White, Jackson Rathbone, Michael Jai White, Victor Young, Wayne Gordon,
Director: Sam Liu
Writers: Jeremy Adams,
Cast: Chris Cox, David Giuntoli, Eric Bauza, Grey DeLisle, James Hong, Jamie Chung, Kelly Hu, Mark Dacascos, Michael Jai White, Robin Atkin Downes,
Director: Dallas Jackson
Writers: Gene Quintano,
Cast: Anthony Grant, Anthony J. Mifsud, Gary Owen, Gillian White, Kristen Harris, Michael Eklund, Michael Jai White, Paul Essiembre, Sabryn Rock, Stephanie Sy,
Director: S. Craig Zahler
Writers: S. Craig Zahler,
Cast: Don Johnson, Fred Melamed, Jennifer Carpenter, Laurie Holden, Mel Gibson, Michael Jai White, Tattiawna Jones, Tory Kittles, Udo Kier, Vince Vaughn,
Director: Ekachai Uekrongtham
Writers: John Hyams,
Cast: Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Celina Jade, Conan Stevens, Dolph Lundgren, Michael Jai White, Mike Dopud, Peter Weller, Ron Perlman, Tasya Teles, Tony Jaa,
Director: Ernie Barbarash
Writers: Y.T. Parazi,
Cast: Hazuki Kato, Jazmin Caratini, Laila Ali, Lateef Crowder, Masashi Odate, Michael J. Morris, Michael Jai White, Millie Ruperto, Neal McDonough, Robert Colón,
Director: Vlad Yudin
Writers: Vlad Yudin,
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Busta Rhymes, Kai Greene, Lou Ferrigno, Michael Jai White, Mickey Rourke, Mike Katz, Phil Heath,
Director: Adamo P. Cultraro
Writers: Adamo P. Cultraro,
Cast: Adrian Holmes, Darren Shahlavi, Keith Jardine, Lexa Doig, Michael Eklund, Michael Jai White, Michael Shanks, Peter Kent, Steve Austin, Steve Bacic,
Director: Tyler Perry
Writers: Tyler Perry,
Cast: Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Lamman Rucker, Louis Gossett Jr., Malik Yoba, Michael Jai White, Richard T. Jones, Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Tyler Perry,
Director: Scott Sanders
Writers: Byron Minns,
Cast: Arsenio Hall, Bokeem Woodbine, Buddy Lewis, Irwin Keyes, Kevin Chapman, Michael Jai White, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Nicole Ari Parker, Richard Edson, Tommy Davidson,
Director: Ben Ramsey
Writers: Michael Andrews,
Cast: Bob Sapp, Dante Basco, Dick Anthony Williams, Eamonn Walker, Julian Sands, Kevin Phillips, Michael Jai White, Michelle Belegrin, Nona Gaye, Ron Yuan,
Director: Jingle Ma Choh-Sing
Writers: Jingle Ma Choh-Sing,
Cast: Brandon Chang, Brandon Rhea, Li Bingbing, Liu Mingzhe, Luke Goss, Max Ruddock, Michael Jai White, Michelle Yeoh, Richie Jen, Wu Sai Kit,
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Writers: Ed Horowitz,
Cast: Anthony Anderson, Bill Duke, Bruce McGill, David Vadim, DMX, Isaiah Washington, Jill Hennessy, Michael Jai White, Steven Seagal, Tom Arnold,