Forest Whitaker
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting170
movieHavoc
2025
Lawrence Beaumont
movieThe King of Kings
2025
Peter (voice)
movieSeaweed Stories
2024
Self - Narrator (voice)
tvMy Generation
2024
Self - Narrator (voice)
tvThe Emperor of Ocean Park
2024
Judge Oliver Garland
movieBig George Foreman
2023
Doc Broadus
tvExtrapolations
2023
Auggie Bolo
movieClint Eastwood: The Last Legend
2022
Self (archive footage)
movieProphets of Change
2022
Narrator
tvAndor
2022
Saw Gerrera
movieAndor: A Disney+ Day Special Look
2022
Saw Gerrera (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvCannes Festival
2022
Self - Guest
movieRespect
2021
C. L. Franklin
movieJingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
2020
Jeronicus Jangle
tvGodfather of Harlem
2019
Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson
movieFinding Steve McQueen
2019
Howard Lambert
movieCity of Lies
2018
Jack Jackson
movieBurden
2018
Reverend Kennedy
movieSorry to Bother You
2018
First Equisapien / Demarius
movieTriumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace
2018
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Forgiven
2018
Desmond Tutu
tvSteve
2017
Self
movieRogue One: A Star Wars Story
2016
Saw Gerrera
I Am You
2016
Narrator (voice)
movieArrival
2016
Colonel Weber
tvStar Wars: Go Rogue
2016
Saw Gerrera (voice)
tvRoots
2016
Fiddler
movieSouthpaw
2015
Titus 'Tick' Wills
movieDope
2015
The Narrator (voice)
tvEmpire
2015
Eddie Barker
movieTaken 3
2014
Inspector Frank Dotzler
tvStar Wars Rebels
2014
Saw Gerrera (voice)
movieTwo Men in Town
2014
William Garnett
movieRepentance
2014
Angel
movieZulu
2013
Ali Sokhela
movieBlack Nativity
2013
Reverend Cornell Cobbs
movieOut of the Furnace
2013
Chief Wesley Barnes
movieThe Butler
2013
Cecil Gaines
movieRising from Ashes
2013
Narrator
moviePawn
2013
Will
movieThe Last Stand
2013
Agent John Bannister
movieA Dark Truth
2012
Francisco Francis
movieFreelancers
2012
Dennis Larue
movieCatch.44
2011
Ronny
movieServing Life
2011
Narrator (voice)
tvCriminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
2011
Sam Cooper
movieLullaby for Pi
2010
George
movie2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
2010
(archive footage)
movieThe Experiment
2010
Barris
movieOur Family Wedding
2010
Brad Boyd
movieHurricane Season
2010
Al Collins
movieWhere the Wild Things Are
2009
Ira (voice)
movieWinged Creatures
2009
Charlie Archenault
moviePowder Blue
2009
Charlie
movieStreet Kings
2008
Captain Jack Wander
movieVantage Point
2008
Howard Lewis
movieThe Great Debaters
2007
Dr. James Farmer Sr.
movieRipple Effect
2007
Philip
movieEven Money
2007
Clyde Snow
movieThe Air I Breathe
2007
Happiness
movieBefore the Music Dies
2006
Self - Narrator (voice)
movieEveryone's Hero
2006
Lonnie Brewster (voice)
movieThe Marsh
2006
Geoffrey Hunt
movieA Little Trip to Heaven
2005
Abe Holt
movieMary
2005
Ted Younger
tvCriminal Minds
2005
Sam Cooper
movieAmerican Gun
2005
Carter
movieJiminy Glick in Lalawood
2005
Forest Whitaker
movieDeacons for Defense
2005
Marcus Clay
tvAmerican Dad!
2005
Turlington (voice)
movieFirst Daughter
2004
Narrator (voice)
tvJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Self / Self - Guest
moviePhone Booth
2003
Captain Ramey
tvThe Twilight Zone
2002
Self - Host
moviePanic Room
2002
Burnham
tvThe Shield
2002
Jon Kavanaugh
movieFeast of All Saints
2001
Daguerreotypist Picard
movieThe Fourth Angel
2001
Agent Jules Bernard
movieThe Follow
2001
The Employer
tvThe Hire
2001
The Employer
movieFour Dogs Playing Poker
2000
Mr. Ellington
movieThe Paperboy
2000
Narrator
movieWitness Protection
1999
Steven Beck
movieLight It Up
1999
Officer Dante Jackson
movieBody Count
1998
Crane
tvThe View
1997
Self
moviePhenomenon
1996
Nate Pope
movieMr. Holland's Opus
1995
Bobby Tidd as an adult (uncredited)
movieSpecies
1995
Dan Smithson, Empath
movieSmoke
1995
Cyrus Cole
moviePrêt-à-Porter
1994
Cy Bianco
tvER
1994
Curtis Ames
movieThe Enemy Within
1994
Col. MacKenzie Casey
movieBlown Away
1994
Anthony Franklin
movieJason's Lyric
1994
Maddog
movieBank Robber
1993
Officer Battle
movieLush Life
1993
Buddy Chester
movieLast Light
1993
Fred Whitmore
movieBody Snatchers
1993
Major Collins
movieConsenting Adults
1992
David Duttonville
movieArticle 99
1992
Dr. Sid Handleman
movieA Rage in Harlem
1991
Jackson
movieCriminal Justice
1990
Jessie Williams
movieDowntown
1990
Dennis Curren
movieJohnny Handsome
1989
Dr. Steven Fisher
movieBird
1988
Charlie 'Bird' Parker
movieBloodsport
1988
Rawlins
movieGood Morning, Vietnam
1987
Edward Garlick
movieStakeout
1987
Det. Jack Pismo
movieHands of a Stranger
1987
Sergeant Delaney
moviePlatoon
1986
Big Harold
tvNorth and South
1985
Cuffey
movieVision Quest
1985
Balldozer
movieFast Times at Ridgemont High
1982
Charles Jefferson
movieTag: The Assassination Game
1982
Gowdy's Bodyguard
tvCagney & Lacey
1982
Night Manager
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Self - Host
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self - Presenter / Self
tvToday
1952
Self
Sewing Hope
Narrator (voice)
Production31
movieLucky Lu
2026
Executive Producer
movieTransplant
2024
Producer
tvHollywood Black
2024
Executive Producer
movieFancy Dance
2024
Executive Producer
movieFor the Sake of Peace
2022
Producer
moviePassing
2021
Producer
tvBy Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem
2020
Executive Producer
tvGodfather of Harlem
2019
Executive Producer
movieDevil's Pie: D'Angelo
2019
Producer
movieA Kid from Coney Island
2019
Executive Producer
movieSorry to Bother You
2018
Producer
movieRoxanne Roxanne
2017
Producer
movieDope
2015
Producer
movieRising from Ashes
2013
Executive Producer
movieFruitvale Station
2013
Producer
movieServing Life
2011
Executive Producer
movieMonte Carlo
2011
Executive Producer
Brick City
2009
Executive Producer
movieKassim the Dream
2009
Producer
moviePowder Blue
2009
Producer
movieRipple Effect
2007
Executive Producer
movieAmerican Gun
2005
Executive Producer
movieFirst Daughter
2004
Executive Producer
movieChasing Papi
2003
Producer
movieDoor to Door
2002
Co-Executive Producer
movieGreen Dragon
2001
Executive Producer
movieA Rage in Harlem
1991
Co-Producer
Rosetta
Producer
Rise of the Empress
Executive Producer
Directing4
movieFirst Daughter
2004
Director
movieHope Floats
1998
Director
movieWaiting to Exhale
1995
Director
movieStrapped
1993
Director
Crew2
movieHope Floats
1998
Executive Music Producer
