Actor Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White
Photo of actor 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.
Place of birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Date of birth
10th November 1967
Movies that starred Michael Jai White (22 in total)
One More Shot poster

One More Shot [2024]

Robert Jackson
Rogue Hostage poster

Rogue Hostage [2021]

Sparks
Batman: Soul of the Dragon poster

Batman: Soul of the Dragon [2021]

Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
Triple Threat poster

Triple Threat [2019]

Devereaux
Undercover Brother 2 poster

Undercover Brother 2 [2019]

Undercover Brother / Narrator
Accident Man poster

Accident Man [2018]

Mick
Dragged Across Concrete poster

Dragged Across Concrete [2018]

'Biscuit'
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege poster

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege [2017]

Scorpion
Never Back Down: No Surrender poster

Never Back Down: No Surrender [2016]

Case Walker
Vigilante Diaries poster

Vigilante Diaries [2016]

Barrington
The Crooked Man poster

The Crooked Man [2016]

Milo
The Asian Connection poster

The Asian Connection [2016]

Greedy Greg
Skin Trade poster

Skin Trade [2014]

Reed
Android Cop poster

Android Cop [2014]

Hammond
Somebody's Child poster

Somebody's Child [2012]

Douglas
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown poster

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown [2011]

Case Walker
Blood and Bone poster

Blood and Bone [2009]

Isaiah Bone
Black Dynamite poster

Black Dynamite [2009]

Black Dynamite
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing poster

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing [2006]

George Chambers
Exit Wounds poster

Exit Wounds [2001]

Lewis Strutt
Universal Soldier: The Return poster

Universal Soldier: The Return [1999]

SETH
Spawn poster

Spawn [1997]

Al Simmons / Spawn
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