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.
Known For
Keith Mitchell
You're Not Alone
Al Simmons / Spawn
Spawn
SETH
Universal Soldier: The Return
Isaiah Bone
Blood and Bone
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black
Jackson Briggs
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
Marcus
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Morris
飞鹰
George Chambers
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
Demond
Ringmaster
Carpenter
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Marcus
Why Did I Get Married?
Pointy
Thick as Thieves
To Live and Die in the Midwest
Actor
Getting Played
Mike Tyson
Tyson
Case Walker
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
Hunt
Tactical Force
Mark
The Island
Boss
Dead Zone
Officer Davis
We the Party
Self
The Making of Exit Wounds
Donnell Lewis
Freaky Deaky
Self
Generation Iron
Douglas
Somebody's Child
Hammond
Android Cop
Self
Bisping
John 'Falcon' Chapman
Falcon Rising
Odell Williams
City of Industry
Ben Cooper
Mutiny
Audience Man
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Duke
মাসুদ রানা: ধ্বংস পাহাড়
Robert Jackson
One More Shot
Joe Washington
Scream Before You Die
Jaxen
Trouble Man!
Apocalypse Inc. Executive
The Toxic Avenger Part II
Hampton Hines
Trois 2: Pandora's Box
Arthur Letts
The Philly Kid
Reed
Skin Trade
Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
Come Out Fighting
Reverend Carter
A Snowy Day in Oakland
Princeton
Chocolate City
Gambol
The Dark Knight
Lewis Strutt
Exit Wounds
Coleman Vaughnes
Freedom Song
Bryant
As Good as Dead
James Webster
Chain of Command
Derrick
One Angry Juror
Fight Or Flight
Tre
Justice
Case Walker
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Greedy Greg
The Asian Connection
Elroy
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Barrington
Vigilante Diaries
Pete
Hostile Takeover
Milo
The Crooked Man
Self
UnConventional
Quint
Ballistic
Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
JT
Don't Mess with Grandma
Howell
Breakfast of Champions
Low-Ball
Full Contact
Devereaux
Triple Threat
Mick
Accident Man
Scorpion
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
'Biscuit'
Dragged Across Concrete
Princeton
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
Michael
Cops and Robbers
Orlando Hudson
Making a Killing
Self
The Making of 'Spawn'
Ali
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Justin
Every Day Is Christmas
Big D
Fedz
Spawn (archive footage)
De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros
Himself
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
Payne
The Hard Way
Coach
Send It!
Self
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
Undercover Brother / Narrator
Undercover Brother 2
Self
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Buck
2 Days in the Valley
True Identity
Soldier
Universal Soldier
Brian
Take Back
Oil Worker (uncredited)
On Deadly Ground
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Jesse Freeman
Welcome to Sudden Death
James Baker
The Commando
Archie
Black Friday
Himself
Beyond the Game
Silvio
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
Chief Malone
Assault on VA-33
Self
The Real Miyagi
Sparks
Rogue Hostage
Drive Through Fire
Self
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Brooke
The Hit
Al Simons / Spawn
Spawn The Director's Cut
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
99
Gender
Male
Birthday
1967-11-10
Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Also Known As
麥可・傑・懷特