Michael Jai White
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 10, 1967 (age 59)
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Michael Jai White (born November 10, 1967) is 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.
Known For
Filmography
To Live and Die in the Midwest
Movie
Spymasters
Movie
Karate Ghost
Movie
The Hook
Movie · as Malcolm Miller
Paper Made
Movie · as James Watkins
Counter Strike
Movie
Drive Through Fire
Movie · as Tommy Poole
Why Did I Get Married Again?
Movie · as Marcus
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
Movie · as Brock Belfry
Oscar Shaw
Movie · as Oscar Shaw
The Secret Between Us
Movie · as Jack Frazier
Trouble Man
Movie · as Jaxen
Exit Protocol
Movie · as Isaac Florentine
Hostile Takeover
Movie · as Pete
One More Shot
Movie · as Robert Jackson
Scream Before You Die
Movie · as Joe Washington
Don't Mess with Grandma
Movie · as JT
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Movie · as Self
You're Not Alone
Movie · as Keith Mitchell
Outlaw Johnny Black
Movie · as Outlaw Johnny Black
The Island
Movie · as Mark
MR-9: Do or Die
Movie · as Duke
Come Out Fighting
Movie · as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
A Snowy Day in Oakland
Movie · as Reverend Carter
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
Movie · as Himself
Dead Zone
Movie · as Boss
As Good as Dead
Movie · as Bryant
The Commando
Movie · as James Baker
The Hit
Movie · as Brooke
Kingdom Business
TV · as Julius “Caesar” Jones · 8 eps
Bisping
Movie · as Self
Send It!
Movie · as Coach
Take Back
Movie · as Brian
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Movie · as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
Black Friday
Movie · as Archie
Assault on VA-33
Movie · as Chief Malone
Rogue Hostage
Movie · as Sparks
Welcome to Sudden Death
Movie · as Jesse Freeman
The Art of Action
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Triple Threat
Movie · as Devereaux
Dragged Across Concrete
Movie · as 'Biscuit'
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
Movie · as Self
The Hard Way
Movie · as Payne
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
Movie · as Self
Undercover Brother 2
Movie · as Undercover Brother / Narrator
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Movie · as Self
Accident Man
Movie · as Mick
Making a Killing
Movie · as Orlando Hudson
Every Day Is Christmas
Movie · as Justin
Carl Weber's The Family Business
TV · as Vegas Duncan · 21 eps
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
Movie · as Scorpion
Cops and Robbers
Movie · as Michael
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Movie · as Case Walker
The Asian Connection
Movie · as Greedy Greg
Vigilante Diaries
Movie · as Barrington
The Crooked Man
Movie · as Milo
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
Movie · as Princeton
Insecure
TV · as Zeke · 2 eps
Chocolate City
Movie · as Princeton
Chain of Command
Movie · as James Webster
The Real Miyagi
Movie · as Self
Android Cop
Movie · as Hammond
Falcon Rising
Movie · as John 'Falcon' Chapman
Skin Trade
Movie · as Reed
Beyond the Game
Movie · as Himself
black-ish
TV · as Vincent · 1 ep
Generation Iron
Movie · as Self
Fedz
Movie · as Big D
Teen Titans Go!
TV · as Don Jackson (voice) · 1 ep
We the Party
Movie · as Officer Davis
Freaky Deaky
Movie · as Donnell Lewis
Somebody's Child
Movie · as Douglas
The Philly Kid
Movie · as Arthur Letts
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
TV · as Teague, Balt · 1 ep
Arrow
TV · as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger · 7 eps
Black Dynamite
TV · as Black Dynamite · 19 eps
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
Movie · as Case Walker
Tactical Force
Movie · as Hunt
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
TV · as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs · 2 eps
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse
TV · as Marcus Williams · 135 eps
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Movie · as Marcus
One Angry Juror
Movie · as Derrick
Blood and Bone
Movie · as Isaiah Bone
Black Dynamite
Movie · as Black Dynamite
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Movie · as Ali
The Dark Knight
Movie · as Gambol
The Legend of Bruce Lee
TV · as Ali · 50 eps
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
TV · as Tattooed Man (voice) · 1 ep
Why Did I Get Married?
Movie · as Marcus
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
Movie · as George Chambers
Windfall
TV · as Michael · 1 ep
Getting Played
Movie · as Actor
The Boondocks
TV · as Bushido Brown/Cop (voice) · 1 ep
Silver Hawk
Movie · as Morris
UnConventional
Movie · as Self
Justice League Unlimited
TV · as Doomsday (voice) · 1 ep
Clubhouse
TV · as Ellis Hayes · 1 ep
Justice
Movie · as Tre
The Making of Exit Wounds
Movie · as Self
Pandora's Box
Movie · as Hampton Hines
CSI: Miami
TV · as Roy Bailey · 1 ep
Exit Wounds
Movie · as Lewis Strutt
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
Movie · as Spawn (archive footage)
Justice League
TV · as Doomsday (voice) · 1 ep
Freedom Song
Movie · as Coleman Vaughnes
Static Shock
TV · as Osebo (voice) · 2 eps
Wonderland
TV · as Derrick Hatcher · 8 eps
Boston Public
TV · as Darren Schofield · 1 ep
Universal Soldier: The Return
Movie · as SETH
Thick as Thieves
Movie · as Pointy
Mutiny
Movie · as Ben Cooper
Breakfast of Champions
Movie · as Howell
Ringmaster
Movie · as Demond
Spawn
Movie · as Al Simmons / Spawn
City of Industry
Movie · as Odell Williams
The Making of 'Spawn'
Movie · as Self
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Movie · as Carpenter
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Movie · as Elroy
2 Days in the Valley
Movie · as Buck
Tyson
Movie · as Mike Tyson
Ballistic
Movie · as Quint
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
Movie · as Silvio
JAG
TV · as Peter Quinn / Martin Payne · 1 ep
On Deadly Ground
Movie · as Oil Worker (uncredited)
Full Contact
Movie · as Low-Ball
Living Single
TV · as Steve · 1 ep
Universal Soldier
Movie · as Soldier
Renegade
TV · as Luther - Dawn's boyfriend · 1 ep
Martin
TV · as Valdez · 1 ep
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Movie · as Audience Man
True Identity
Movie · as Alley Guy #1
The Toxic Avenger Part II
Movie · as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
Movie · as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
Saved by the Bell
TV · as Military Police Man #2 (uncredited) · 1 ep