Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White

Biography: 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: Not available

Birthday: November 10, 1967

Deathday: N/A

Popularity:

36.899

Known For

You're Not Alone
You're Not Alone

2023-03-24

Spawn
Spawn

1997-07-31

Universal Soldier: The Return
Universal Soldier: The Return

1999-08-05

Blood and Bone
Blood and Bone

2009-02-07

Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite

2009-10-16

Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black

2023-09-15

Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth

2010-06-08

Why Did I Get Married Too?
Why Did I Get Married Too?

2010-04-02

Silver Hawk
Silver Hawk

2004-01-15

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing

2006-04-11

Ringmaster
Ringmaster

1998-11-25

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

1996-06-20

Why Did I Get Married?
Why Did I Get Married?

2007-10-12

Thick as Thieves
Thick as Thieves

1999-04-09

To Live and Die in the Midwest
To Live and Die in the Midwest

Getting Played
Getting Played

2005-12-10

Tyson
Tyson

1995-04-29

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown

2011-09-13

Tactical Force
Tactical Force

2011-12-01

The Island
The Island

2023-07-21

Dead Zone
Dead Zone

2022-07-29

We the Party
We the Party

2012-04-06

The Making of Exit Wounds
The Making of Exit Wounds

2002-03-14

Freaky Deaky
Freaky Deaky

2012-04-22

Generation Iron
Generation Iron

2013-09-20

Somebody's Child
Somebody's Child

2012-08-11

Android Cop
Android Cop

2014-02-04

Bisping
Bisping

2021-02-06

Falcon Rising
Falcon Rising

2014-09-05

City of Industry
City of Industry

1997-03-14

Mutiny
Mutiny

1999-01-01

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

1991-03-22

MR-9: Do or Die
MR-9: Do or Die

2023-08-25

One More Shot
One More Shot

2024-01-09

Trouble Man!
Trouble Man!

Scream Before You Die
Scream Before You Die

2024-12-01

The Toxic Avenger Part II
The Toxic Avenger Part II

1989-07-15

Pandora's Box
Pandora's Box

2002-08-09

The Philly Kid
The Philly Kid

2012-05-11

Skin Trade
Skin Trade

2014-11-07

Come Out Fighting
Come Out Fighting

2023-05-19

A Snowy Day in Oakland
A Snowy Day in Oakland

2023-03-17

Chocolate City
Chocolate City

2015-05-22

The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight

2008-07-16

Exit Wounds
Exit Wounds

2001-03-16

Freedom Song
Freedom Song

2000-02-27

As Good as Dead
As Good as Dead

2022-12-16

Chain of Command
Chain of Command

2015-08-30

One Angry Juror
One Angry Juror

2010-11-15

Fight Or Flight
Fight Or Flight

Justice
Justice

2003-05-08

Never Back Down: No Surrender
Never Back Down: No Surrender

2016-06-07

The Asian Connection
The Asian Connection

2016-05-13

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

1996-04-14

Vigilante Diaries
Vigilante Diaries

2016-09-01

Hostile Takeover
Hostile Takeover

The Crooked Man
The Crooked Man

2016-10-01

UnConventional
UnConventional

2004-10-01

Ballistic
Ballistic

1995-02-28

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

1989-11-24

Don't Mess with Grandma
Don't Mess with Grandma

2024-09-20

Breakfast of Champions
Breakfast of Champions

1999-02-18

Full Contact
Full Contact

1993-05-04

Triple Threat
Triple Threat

2019-03-19

Accident Man
Accident Man

2018-02-06

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege

2017-08-01

Dragged Across Concrete
Dragged Across Concrete

2019-02-21

Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip

2016-07-04

Cops and Robbers
Cops and Robbers

2017-12-12

Making a Killing
Making a Killing

2018-08-10

The Making of 'Spawn'
The Making of 'Spawn'

1997-07-15

The Legend of Bruce Lee
The Legend of Bruce Lee

2009-04-30

Every Day Is Christmas
Every Day Is Christmas

2018-11-24

Fedz
Fedz

2013-03-13

Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes

2001-12-23

In Search of the Last Action Heroes
In Search of the Last Action Heroes

2019-09-01

The Hard Way
The Hard Way

2019-03-05

Send It!
Send It!

2021-05-11

Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare

2019-08-01

Undercover Brother 2
Undercover Brother 2

2019-11-05

Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

2019-08-14

2 Days in the Valley
2 Days in the Valley

1996-09-11

True Identity
True Identity

1991-08-23

Universal Soldier
Universal Soldier

1992-07-10

Take Back
Take Back

2021-06-18

On Deadly Ground
On Deadly Ground

1994-02-18

Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Batman: Soul of the Dragon

2021-01-12

Welcome to Sudden Death
Welcome to Sudden Death

2020-09-09

The Commando
The Commando

2022-01-07

Black Friday
Black Friday

2021-11-19

Beyond the Game
Beyond the Game

2014-12-31

Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike

1995-02-28

Assault on VA-33
Assault on VA-33

2021-04-22

The Real Miyagi
The Real Miyagi

2015-02-20

Rogue Hostage
Rogue Hostage

2021-06-11

Drive Through Fire
Drive Through Fire

Chuck Zito: An American Story
Chuck Zito: An American Story

2024-05-01

The Hit
The Hit

2022-12-09

Mortal Kombat Legacy
Mortal Kombat Legacy

2011-04-12