| Forest Whitaker Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 92 kg |
| Date of Birth | July 15, 1961 |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Forest Whitaker is an American actor who is best known for portraying roles such as Bumpy Johnson in Godfather of Harlem, Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, Private Edward Garlick in Good Morning, Vietnam, Ghost Dog in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Burnham in Panic Room, Captain Ed Ramey in Phone Booth, and Saw Gerrera in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He has also appeared in a variety of other TV shows and films such as Johnny Handsome, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Four Dogs Playing Poker, Battlefield Earth, A Little Trip to Heaven, American Gun, The Great Debaters, Where the Wild Things Are, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Black Nativity, Southpaw, Black Panther, Hill Street Blues, The Enemy Within, Rebound: The Legend of Earl “The Goat” Manigault, The Shield, Young Rock, and many more. For his acting skills, Forest has been honored with numerous awards such as the Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, Golden Globes Award, and Primetime Emmy Award.
Born Name
Forest Steven Whitaker III
Nick Name
Forest
Sun Sign
Cancer
Born Place
Longview, Texas, U.S.
Nationality
Education
Whitaker did his schooling from Cal Poly Pomona or California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as it is now known as. He got a football scholarship but after a back injury, he changed his major to music. He later changed his major to drama.
He then attended the Music Conservatory at the University of Southern California where he studied opera as a tenor. He later went to the University’s Drama Conservatory.
In 1982, Whitaker completed his graduation from USC and got a scholarship to pursue higher studies at the Drama Studio London‘s California wing.
He also attended the New York University‘s Gallatin School of Individualized Study to earn a degree in The Core of Conflict: Studies in Peace and Reconciliation.
Occupation
Actor, film producer, film director
Family
- Father – Forest Steven Jr. (Insurance Salesman)
- Mother – Laura Francis (née Smith) (Teacher)
- Siblings – Kenn Whitaker (Younger Brother), Damon Whitaker (Younger Brother), Deborah Whitaker (Older Sister)
Manager
His career is managed by Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Build
Average
Height
6 ft 2 in or 188 cm
Weight
92 kg or 203 pounds
Girlfriend / Spouse
Whitaker dated and married –
- Keisha Nash (1994-2018) – Whitaker first met actress Keisha Nash on the sets of Blown Away in 1994 and the two got married in 1996. The couple has four children (3 biological children) – two daughters Sonnet and True, and a son Sergio Hyatt and a daughter Autumn from Keisha’s previous relationship. They separated in late 2018. In December 2023, it was revealed that Keisha had passed away.
Race / Ethnicity
Black
Forest has African American ancestry.
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Left eye ptosis
- Lazy, contemplative look
- Mostly seen in roles of politicians, leaders, historical figures, government agent
Shoe Size
11 (US) or 44 (EU)
Brand Endorsements
Whitaker lent his voice for the TV commercial of Citi credit cards by Citibank.
He lent his voice to the Heads Up Football Coaches Certification TV commercial for USAFootball.com in 2013.
In October 2014, he lent his voice to the TV commercial of the Health Partners campaign for Cigna Insurance.
Whitaker recorded a public service announcement with daughter True for promoting vegetarianism for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Religion
He is a spiritual person.
Best Known For
He is best known for films like Bird (1988), Platoon (1986), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), The Butler (2013), and many others.
The Last King of Scotland (2006) was a landmark film in his career and he played Uganda’s dictator Idi Amin in the movie.
His role of LAPD Internal Affairs Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh in The Shield TV series was also commended.
First Film
His first film was Tag: The Assassination Game in 1982, which saw him portray the role of Gowdy’s Bodyguard.
First TV Show
His first television entry was in Making the Grade in 1982. Whitaker was seen in the Marriage David Style episode of this short-lived series.
First Direction
In 1993, Whitaker turned into a film director when he first directed the 1993 HBO crime-thriller / drama movie Strapped.
First Stage Performance
In 2016, Whitaker made his Broadway debut in Hughie, a play by Eugene O’Neill. The stage performance was held at the Booth Theatre under the direction of Michael Grandage.
Personal Trainer
Whitaker practices yoga and has a black belt in kenpō. He trains in the Filipino martial art of Kali under the guidance of Dan Inosanto, who was the teacher of late martial arts expert and actor Bruce Lee.
Forest Whitaker Favorite Things
- Game – Football
- Food – Vegetarian
Source – Wikipedia
Forest Whitaker Facts
- Whitaker has worked with many famed directors and actors and has also worked in video films with Lil Wayne, Maggie Grace, 50 Cent, T.I., and others.
- For the role of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006), he won the Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, Golden Globe, National Board of Review Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and others. He won a total of 23 awards for the movie.
- Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi produced the film Fruitvale Station, which won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. They also co-produced Repentance (2014) and Dope (2015).
- Whitaker took the role of a co-chair at JuntoBox Films in March 2012.
- He was honored with the Hollywood Actor of the Year award in 2006 at the Annual Hollywood Film Festival’s 10th edition.
- On April 16, 2007, he became the 2,335th actor to receive the Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
- In 2009, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Xavier University of Louisiana during the 82nd Commencement Ceremony.
- In May 2015, the actor also got the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
- He is a humanitarian and supports Hope North, a boarding school and vocational training center in northern Uganda for refugee child soldiers, orphans, and other young victims of the country’s civil war.
- Whitaker is the chief of Igbo community of Nkwerre and has been allotted the title of Nwannedinamba of Nkwerre which implies that he is a Brother in a Foreign Land.
- The United Nations inducted Whitaker as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation on June 21, 2011, during a ceremony which was held at the UNESCO headquarters.
- In 2010, Whitaker received the Artist-Citizen of the World Award in France.
- In May 2011, Whitaker became the co-founder of the International Institute for Peace (IIP) at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey.
