Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker by Gage Skidmore

Forest Whitaker
Born	Forest Steven Whitaker Birth date -1st March 1966 Longview, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, producer, director
Years active	1982–present
Spouse(s)	Keisha Nash Whitaker (m. 1996)
Children	4

Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, producer, and director. He is known for his work in film and television, and has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Early life

Whitaker was born in Longview, Texas, and his family moved to Carson, California when he was four. He attended California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on a football scholarship, but he later transferred to the University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts to study acting.

Career

Early career

Whitaker made his film debut in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He gained further recognition for his roles in Platoon (1986), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), and The Crying Game (1992).

Breakthrough and critical acclaim

Whitaker's breakthrough role came in 1988 with Bird, in which he portrayed jazz musician Charlie Parker. His performance earned him the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2006, Whitaker received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance.

Recent work

Whitaker has continued to work in both film and television. Notable recent roles include The Butler (2013), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), and Black Panther (2018).

Personal life

Whitaker married actress Keisha Nash Whitaker in 1996. They have four children. He is known for his humanitarian work and has been involved in various charitable organizations.

Filmography

Main article: Forest Whitaker filmography

• Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
• Platoon (1986)
• Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
• The Crying Game (1992)
• Bird (1988)
• The Last King of Scotland (2006)
• The Butler (2013)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
• Black Panther (2018)

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Forest Whitaker

• Academy Award for Best Actor
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
• BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
• Screen Actors Guild Awards

See also

• List of African-American Academy Award winners and nominees
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations