Acting
Michael Jai White
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.
Filmography
Drive Through Fire
Film · 2026
Why Did I Get Married Again?
Film · 2026
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
Film · 2026
Oscar Shaw
Film · 2026
The Secret Between Us
Film · 2026
Trouble Man
Film · 2025
Exit Protocol
Film · 2025
Hostile Takeover
Film · 2025
One More Shot
Film · 2024
Scream Before You Die
Film · 2024
Don't Mess with Grandma
Film · 2024
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Film · 2024
You're Not Alone
Film · 2023
Outlaw Johnny Black
Film · 2023
The Island
Film · 2023
MR-9: Do or Die
Film · 2023
Come Out Fighting
Film · 2023
A Snowy Day in Oakland
Film · 2023
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
Film · 2023
Dead Zone
Film · 2022
As Good as Dead
Film · 2022
The Commando
Film · 2022
The Hit
Film · 2022
Kingdom Business
Series · 2022
Bisping
Film · 2021
Send It!
Film · 2021
Take Back
Film · 2021
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Film · 2021
Black Friday
Film · 2021
Assault on VA-33
Film · 2021
Rogue Hostage
Film · 2021
Welcome to Sudden Death
Film · 2020
The Art of Action
Series · 2020
Triple Threat
Film · 2019
Dragged Across Concrete
Film · 2019
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
Film · 2019
The Hard Way
Film · 2019
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
Film · 2019
Undercover Brother 2
Film · 2019
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Film · 2019
Accident Man
Film · 2018
Making a Killing
Film · 2018
Every Day Is Christmas
Film · 2018
Carl Weber's The Family Business
Series · 2018
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
Film · 2017
Cops and Robbers
Film · 2017
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Film · 2016
The Asian Connection
Film · 2016
Vigilante Diaries
Film · 2016
The Crooked Man
Film · 2016
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
Film · 2016
Insecure
Series · 2016
Chocolate City
Film · 2015
Chain of Command
Film · 2015
The Real Miyagi
Film · 2015
Android Cop
Film · 2014
Falcon Rising
Film · 2014
Skin Trade
Film · 2014
Beyond the Game
Film · 2014
black-ish
Series · 2014
Generation Iron
Film · 2013
Fedz
Film · 2013
Teen Titans Go!
Series · 2013
We the Party
Film · 2012
Freaky Deaky
Film · 2012
Somebody's Child
Film · 2012
The Philly Kid
Film · 2012
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Series · 2012
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Series · 2012
Arrow
Series · 2012
Black Dynamite
Series · 2012
Arrow
Series · 2012
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
Film · 2011
Tactical Force
Film · 2011
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Series · 2011
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse
Series · 2011
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Film · 2010
One Angry Juror
Film · 2010
Blood and Bone
Film · 2009
Black Dynamite
Film · 2009
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Film · 2009
The Dark Knight
Film · 2008
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Series · 2008
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Series · 2008
Why Did I Get Married?
Film · 2007
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
Film · 2006
Windfall
Series · 2006
Getting Played
Film · 2005
The Boondocks
Series · 2005
Silver Hawk
Film · 2004
UnConventional
Film · 2004
Justice League Unlimited
Series · 2004
Clubhouse
Series · 2004
Justice
Film · 2003
The Making of Exit Wounds
Film · 2002
Pandora's Box
Film · 2002
CSI: Miami
Series · 2002
Exit Wounds
Film · 2001
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
Film · 2001
Justice League
Series · 2001
Freedom Song
Film · 2000
Static Shock
Series · 2000
Wonderland
Series · 2000
Boston Public
Series · 2000
Universal Soldier: The Return
Film · 1999
Thick as Thieves
Film · 1999
Mutiny
Film · 1999
Breakfast of Champions
Film · 1999
Ringmaster
Film · 1998
Spawn
Film · 1997
City of Industry
Film · 1997
The Making of 'Spawn'
Film · 1997
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Film · 1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Film · 1996
2 Days in the Valley
Film · 1996
Tyson
Film · 1995
Ballistic
Film · 1995
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
Film · 1995
JAG
Series · 1995
On Deadly Ground
Film · 1994
Full Contact
Film · 1993
Living Single
Series · 1993
Universal Soldier
Film · 1992
Renegade
Series · 1992
Martin
Series · 1992
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Film · 1991
True Identity
Film · 1991
The Toxic Avenger Part II
Film · 1989
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
Film · 1989
Saved by the Bell
Series · 1989
To Live and Die in the Midwest
Film
Spymasters
Film
Karate Ghost
Film
The Hook
Film
Paper Made
Film