Born Name
Michael Richard Jai White
Nick Name
Michael
Sun Sign
Scorpio
Born Place
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Nationality
Education
Michael Jai White went to the Central High School and then to the University of Connecticut.
However, he didn’t complete his studies there and moved to the Southern Connecticut State University. He also changed his majors a couple of times, discarding engineering as well as political science.
Occupation
Actor, martial artist
Family
- Father – Left before his birth
- Mother – Renel (School Teacher)
- Siblings – None
Manager
Baumgarten Management and Productions
Build
Bodybuilder
Height
6 ft 1 in or 185 cm
Weight
94 kg or 207 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Michael Jai White has dated –
- Sallie Toussaint – Michael Jai White was RUMORed to have had an affair with the former beauty queen and actress Sallie Toussaint.
- Adrienne-Joi Johnson (2004) – White started going out with actress and fitness coach Adrienne-Joi Johnson in 2004. Their relationship became public knowledge after they decided to step out together on the red carpet at the Soul Music Awards in June 2004.
- Courtenay Chatman (2005-2011) – Michael started going out with gynecologist Courtenay Chatman in 2005 after having met through mutual friends. She didn’t even know that Michael was an actor. After going out for almost 4 years, Chatman proposed to White in January 2009. Two days later, they got married at the Four Seasons Hotel in Santa Barbara. However, their relationship didn’t last long and Chatman filed for divorce in 2011 as White had cheated on her with model Claudia Jordan. They share a daughter, Morgan (b. December 2008). By then, he already had two sons from other relationships.
- Claudia Jordan (2008-2011) – White started his ON and OFF affair with model and actress Claudia Jordan in 2008. Michael used to pay regular nightly visits to Claudia’s house, which was just a mile away from the house he shared with his wife. Their affair lasted for around 3 years and ended soon after the end of his marriage.
- Gillian Waters (2013-Present) – Michael started going out with actress Gillian Waters in 2013. White proposed to Waters in February 2014 and they got married in an extravagant ceremony in Thailand in June 2015.
Race / Ethnicity
Black
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Muscular and imposing body
- Trademark goatee
- Deep menacing voice
Measurements
His body specifications may be –
- Chest – 51 in or 129.5 cm
- Arms / Biceps – 18 in or 46 cm
- Waist – 36 in or 91.5 cm
Shoe Size
Unknown
Brand Endorsements
Michael Jai White has starred in TV commercials for
- Old Spice
- Burger King’s mini muffins (1990)
Religion
His religious views aren’t known.
Best Known For
- Being the first African-American actor to play a superhero, the distinction which he achieved by playing the main lead in 1997 movie, Spawn.
- Playing the role of legendary boxer Mike Tyson in HBO TV movie Tyson (1995).
First Film
He made his first film appearance in 1989 comedy horror film The Toxic Avenger Part II as Apocalypse Inc. Executive.
First TV Show
White first appeared in NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell in 1992.
Personal Trainer
Michael Jai White works out five days a week with Thursday and Sunday being his off days. His typical morning workout routine comprises of a 45-minute cardio session that could include treadmill, running, stair-mill or heavy bag movements.
His strength and conditioning training routines stretch to about 90 minutes and usually take place in afternoon or evening. These exercises include lifting weights and kettlebells, exercises involving pull up bars, sit ups, pushups and martial art exercises.
As he uses weight training for pure toning purposes, he performs four sets of 15 reps per exercise and limits each body part training to about 12 sets. Also, he performs weight training exercises in a slight different way. He lowers the weight very slowly and follows the reverse course in an explosive movement. He basically throws weight at the top of the exercise.
Michael Jai White Favorite Things
- Exercise – Pull-ups
- Films – The Princess Bride (1987), Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975), Enter The Dragon (1973), Say Anything… (1989), Coming to America (1988)
Source – Coach Mag, Rotten Tomatoes
Michael Jai White Facts
- Before kicking off his acting career, he used to work as a teacher for emotionally disturbed students at a local school in Bridgeport.
- In an audition for the role of Mike Tyson in 1995 TV movie Tyson, he had to compete with over one thousand applicants and only managed to be selected due to his impressive martial arts skills.
- He started learning martial arts at the age of 7, and his first trainer agreed to teach him for free after being impressed by his demonstration in the first class.
- He has achieved black belts in 7 different martial arts disciplines – Kyokushin, Tang Soo Do, Wushu, Taekwondo, Kobudo, Shotokan and Goju Ryu.
- Due to conflicts with his mother, he left home at 14, got mixed up with the bad crowd and started working as an enforcer for local mafia.
- At the age of 15, he was shot twice with one bullet piercing his hip and other his arm. This incident proved to be a wake-up call, and he started to focus more on studies and sports.
- In 2015, he was honored with an induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
- Apart from English, he can speak Japanese and Mandarin with some proficiency.
- He has often trained with famous action star Jean-Claude Van Damme.
- Visit his official website @ michaeljaiwhite.com.
- Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.
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