Forest Whitaker

Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, producer, director, and activist. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. After making his film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Whitaker went on to earn a reputation for intensive character study work for films, such as Platoon (1986), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bird (1988), The Crying Game (1992), Phenomenon (1996), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), The Great Debaters (2007), The Butler (2013), Arrival (2016), and Respect (2021). He has also appeared in blockbusters, such as Panic Room (2002), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) as Saw Gerrera, and Black Panther (2018) as Zuri. For his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the British historical drama film The Last King of Scotland (2006), Whitaker won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Whitaker made his directorial debut with the television film Strapped (1993), and directed the films Waiting to Exhale (1995), Hope Floats (1998), and First Daughter (2004). Apart from his film career, Whitaker is also known for his humanitarian work and activism. In 2011, he was inducted as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, later receiving a promotion to Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, and serves as the CEO of Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), a non-profit outreach program. Description above from the ...

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Freelancers (2012)

The son of a slain NYPD officer joins the force, where he falls in with his father's former partner and a team of rogue cops. His new boss, Sarcone, will see if he has what it takes to be rogue through many trials and tribulations of loyalty, trust and respect. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jessy Terrero
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Dana Delany  •  Beau Garrett

The son of a slain NYPD officer joins the force, where he falls in with his father's former partner and a team of rogue cops. His new boss, Sarcone, will see if he has what it takes to be rogue through many trials and tribulations of loyalty, trust and respect. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jessy Terrero
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Dana Delany  •  Beau Garrett

A Little Trip to Heaven (2005)

Insurance investigator Abraham Holt travels to a tiny town in rural Minnesota to look into a particularly unusual insurance claim stemming from a horrific car accident. As Holt examines the scene of the wreck, it all seems a bit too perfect. And when he interviews ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Baltasar Kormákur
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Julia Stiles  •  Peter Coyote  •  Jeremy Renner

Insurance investigator Abraham Holt travels to a tiny town in rural Minnesota to look into a particularly unusual insurance claim stemming from a horrific car accident. As Holt examines the scene of the wreck, it all seems a bit too perfect. And when he interviews ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Baltasar Kormákur
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Julia Stiles  •  Peter Coyote  •  Jeremy Renner

American Gun (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Seemingly disparate portraits of people -- among them a single mother, a high school principal, and an ace student -- Distinctly American -- all affected by the proliferation of guns in American society.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aric Avelino
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  Donald Sutherland  •  Lisa Long

Seemingly disparate portraits of people -- among them a single mother, a high school principal, and an ace student -- Distinctly American -- all affected by the proliferation of guns in American society.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aric Avelino
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  Donald Sutherland  •  Lisa Long

Bloodsport (1988)

Uplifting

U.S. soldier Frank Dux has come to Hong Kong to be accepted into the Kumite, a highly secret and extremely violent martial arts competition. While trying to gain access into the underground world of clandestine fighters, he also has to avoid military officers who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Newt Arnold
CAST:  Jean-Claude Van Damme  •  Donald Gibb  •  Bolo Yeung  •  Leah Ayres

U.S. soldier Frank Dux has come to Hong Kong to be accepted into the Kumite, a highly secret and extremely violent martial arts competition. While trying to gain access into the underground world of clandestine fighters, he also has to avoid military officers who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Newt Arnold
CAST:  Jean-Claude Van Damme  •  Donald Gibb  •  Bolo Yeung  •  Leah Ayres

Blown Away (1994)

Blown Away tells the story of Jimmy Dove who works for the Boston bomb squad. Shortly after Dove leaves the force his partner is killed by a bomb that Dove thinks might have been made by someone he knows.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Hopkins
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Lloyd Bridges  •  Forest Whitaker

Blown Away tells the story of Jimmy Dove who works for the Boston bomb squad. Shortly after Dove leaves the force his partner is killed by a bomb that Dove thinks might have been made by someone he knows.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Hopkins
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Lloyd Bridges  •  Forest Whitaker

Body Snatchers (1993)

When Environmental Protection Agency inspector Steve Malone travels to a remote military base in order to check for toxic materials, he brings his family along for the ride. After arriving at the base, his teenage daughter Marti befriends Jean Platt, daughter of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abel Ferrara
CAST:  Gabrielle Anwar  •  Terry Kinney  •  Billy Wirth  •  Christine Elise

When Environmental Protection Agency inspector Steve Malone travels to a remote military base in order to check for toxic materials, he brings his family along for the ride. After arriving at the base, his teenage daughter Marti befriends Jean Platt, daughter of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abel Ferrara
CAST:  Gabrielle Anwar  •  Terry Kinney  •  Billy Wirth  •  Christine Elise

The Experiment (2010)

Thought provokingPowerfulReal

20 men are chosen to participate in the roles of guards and prisoners in a psychological study that ultimately spirals out of control.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Scheuring
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Cam Gigandet  •  Adrien Brody  •  Maggie Grace

20 men are chosen to participate in the roles of guards and prisoners in a psychological study that ultimately spirals out of control.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Scheuring
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Cam Gigandet  •  Adrien Brody  •  Maggie Grace

Everyone's Hero (2006)

A boy begins a grand journey to return Babe Ruth's baseball bat before the deciding game of the 1932 World Series comes to a close.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dan St. Pierre  •  Christopher Reeve  •  Colin Brady
CAST:  William H. Macy  •  Rob Reiner  •  Brian Dennehy  •  Ritchie Allen

A boy begins a grand journey to return Babe Ruth's baseball bat before the deciding game of the 1932 World Series comes to a close.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dan St. Pierre  •  Christopher Reeve  •  Colin Brady
CAST:  William H. Macy  •  Rob Reiner  •  Brian Dennehy  •  Ritchie Allen

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

FunnyMindlessRealCrude

Based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times follows a group of high school students growing up in Southern California. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy Heckerling
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Judge Reinhold  •  Robert Romanus

Based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times follows a group of high school students growing up in Southern California. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy Heckerling
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Judge Reinhold  •  Robert Romanus

First Daughter (2004)

Samantha MacKenzie, the daughter of the president of the United States, arrives at college with a group of Secret Service agents. Samantha, however, resents their presence and decides she wants to attend school just like a normal student. Her father agrees to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Forest Whitaker
CAST:  Katie Holmes  •  Marc Blucas  •  Michael Keaton  •  Margaret Colin

Samantha MacKenzie, the daughter of the president of the United States, arrives at college with a group of Secret Service agents. Samantha, however, resents their presence and decides she wants to attend school just like a normal student. Her father agrees to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Forest Whitaker
CAST:  Katie Holmes  •  Marc Blucas  •  Michael Keaton  •  Margaret Colin

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

ViolentTragicClassicHeartbreaking

An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of ancient Japan finds himself targeted for death by the mob.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jim Jarmusch
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Cliff Gorman  •  Tricia Vessey  •  Henry Silva

An African-American Mafia hit man who models himself after the samurai of ancient Japan finds himself targeted for death by the mob.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jim Jarmusch
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Cliff Gorman  •  Tricia Vessey  •  Henry Silva

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

BrainyCharmingCleverDramatic

A disk jockey goes to Vietnam to work for the Armed Forces Radio Service. While he becomes popular among the troops, his superiors disapprove of his humour.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Levinson
CAST:  Robin Williams  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Tung Thanh Tran  •  Chintara Sukapatana

A disk jockey goes to Vietnam to work for the Armed Forces Radio Service. While he becomes popular among the troops, his superiors disapprove of his humour.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Levinson
CAST:  Robin Williams  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Tung Thanh Tran  •  Chintara Sukapatana

Hope Floats (1998)

Birdee Pruitt has been humiliated on live television by her best friend, Connie, who's been sleeping with Birdee's husband, Bill. Birdee tries starting over with her daughter, Bernice, by returning to her small Texas hometown, but she's faced with petty old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Forest Whitaker
CAST:  Sandra Bullock  •  Harry Connick Jr.  •  Gena Rowlands  •  Mae Whitman

Birdee Pruitt has been humiliated on live television by her best friend, Connie, who's been sleeping with Birdee's husband, Bill. Birdee tries starting over with her daughter, Bernice, by returning to her small Texas hometown, but she's faced with petty old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Forest Whitaker
CAST:  Sandra Bullock  •  Harry Connick Jr.  •  Gena Rowlands  •  Mae Whitman

Jason's Lyric (1994)

ViolentDarkDramaticHeartbreaking

The story of a young man who must confront his own fears about love as well as his relationships with family and friends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Doug McHenry
CAST:  Allen Payne  •  Jada Pinkett Smith  •  Bokeem Woodbine  •  Eddie Griffin

The story of a young man who must confront his own fears about love as well as his relationships with family and friends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Doug McHenry
CAST:  Allen Payne  •  Jada Pinkett Smith  •  Bokeem Woodbine  •  Eddie Griffin

Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)

In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Herek
CAST:  Richard Dreyfuss  •  Glenne Headly  •  Jay Thomas  •  Olympia Dukakis

In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Herek
CAST:  Richard Dreyfuss  •  Glenne Headly  •  Jay Thomas  •  Olympia Dukakis

Panic Room (2002)

ThrillingIntenseGrippingOriginal

Trapped in their New York brownstone's panic room, a hidden chamber built as a sanctuary in the event of break-ins, newly divorced Meg Altman and her young daughter Sarah play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with three intruders - Burnham, Raoul and Junior - during ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Fincher
CAST:  Jodie Foster  •  Kristen Stewart  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Dwight Yoakam

Trapped in their New York brownstone's panic room, a hidden chamber built as a sanctuary in the event of break-ins, newly divorced Meg Altman and her young daughter Sarah play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with three intruders - Burnham, Raoul and Junior - during ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Fincher
CAST:  Jodie Foster  •  Kristen Stewart  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Dwight Yoakam

Phenomenon (1996)

An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Turteltaub
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Kyra Sedgwick  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Robert Duvall

An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Turteltaub
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Kyra Sedgwick  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Robert Duvall

Phone Booth (2003)

A slick New York publicist who picks up a ringing receiver in a phone booth is told that if he hangs up, he'll be killed... and the little red light from a laser rifle sight is proof that the caller isn't kidding.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Schumacher
CAST:  Colin Farrell  •  Kiefer Sutherland  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Radha Mitchell

A slick New York publicist who picks up a ringing receiver in a phone booth is told that if he hangs up, he'll be killed... and the little red light from a laser rifle sight is proof that the caller isn't kidding.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Schumacher
CAST:  Colin Farrell  •  Kiefer Sutherland  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Radha Mitchell

Platoon (1986)

Action-packedViolentDisturbingIntense

As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Tom Berenger  •  Charlie Sheen  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Forest Whitaker

As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Stone
CAST:  Tom Berenger  •  Charlie Sheen  •  Willem Dafoe  •  Forest Whitaker

Ready to Wear (1994)

During Paris Fashion Week, models, designers and industry hot shots gather to work, mingle, argue and try to seduce one another.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Altman
CAST:  Marcello Mastroianni  •  Sophia Loren  •  Jean-Pierre Cassel  •  Chiara Mastroianni

During Paris Fashion Week, models, designers and industry hot shots gather to work, mingle, argue and try to seduce one another.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Altman
CAST:  Marcello Mastroianni  •  Sophia Loren  •  Jean-Pierre Cassel  •  Chiara Mastroianni
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