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Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White

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.

Scream Before You Die

Scream Before You Die

2024

as Joe Washington

Don't Mess with Grandma

Don't Mess with Grandma

2024

Chuck Zito: An American Story

Chuck Zito: An American Story

2024

as Self

One More Shot

One More Shot

2024

as Robert Jackson

Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023

as Outlaw Johnny Black

MR-9: Do or Die

MR-9: Do or Die

2023

as Duke

The Island

The Island

2023

as Mark

Come Out Fighting

Come Out Fighting

2023

as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron

You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone

2023

as Keith Mitchell

A Snowy Day in Oakland

A Snowy Day in Oakland

2023

as Reverend Carter

As Good as Dead

As Good as Dead

2022

as Bryant

Dead Zone

Dead Zone

2022

as Boss

Kingdom Business

Kingdom Business

2022

as Julius “Caesar” Jones

The Commando

The Commando

2022

as James Baker

Black Friday

Black Friday

2021

as Archie

Take Back

Take Back

2021

as Brian

Rogue Hostage

Rogue Hostage

2021

as Sparks

Send It!

Send It!

2021

as Coach

Assault on VA-33

Assault on VA-33

2021

as Chief Malone

Bisping

Bisping

2021

as Self

Batman: Soul of the Dragon

Batman: Soul of the Dragon

2021

as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)

Welcome to Sudden Death

Welcome to Sudden Death

2020

as Jesse Freeman

Undercover Brother 2

Undercover Brother 2

2019

as Undercover Brother / Narrator

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

2019

as Himself

Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

2019

as Self

Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare

Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare

2019

as Self

Triple Threat

Triple Threat

2019

as Devereaux

The Hard Way

The Hard Way

2019

as Payne

Dragged Across Concrete

Dragged Across Concrete

2019

as 'Biscuit'

Every Day Is Christmas

Every Day Is Christmas

2018

as Justin

Carl Weber's The Family Business

Carl Weber's The Family Business

2018

as Vegas Duncan

Making a Killing

Making a Killing

2018

as Orlando Hudson

Accident Man

Accident Man

2018

as Mick

Cops and Robbers

Cops and Robbers

2017

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege

2017

as Scorpion

Insecure

Insecure

2016

as Zeke

The Crooked Man

The Crooked Man

2016

as Milo

Vigilante Diaries

Vigilante Diaries

2016

as Barrington

Chocolate City: Vegas Strip

Chocolate City: Vegas Strip

2016

as Princeton

Never Back Down: No Surrender

Never Back Down: No Surrender

2016

as Case Walker

The Asian Connection

The Asian Connection

2016

as Greedy Greg

Chain of Command

Chain of Command

2015

as James Webster

Chocolate City

Chocolate City

2015

as Princeton

The Real Miyagi

The Real Miyagi

2015

as Self

Beyond the Game

Beyond the Game

2014

as Himself

Skin Trade

Skin Trade

2014

as Reed

black-ish

black-ish

2014

as Vincent

Falcon Rising

Falcon Rising

2014

as John 'Falcon' Chapman

Android Cop

Android Cop

2014

as Hammond

Generation Iron

Generation Iron

2013

as Self

Fedz

Fedz

2013

as Big D (as Micheal White)

Metal Hurlant Chronicles

Metal Hurlant Chronicles

2012

as Teague

Metal Hurlant Chronicles

Metal Hurlant Chronicles

2012

as Balt

Arrow

Arrow

2012

as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger

Arrow

Arrow

2012

as Ben Turner

Somebody's Child

Somebody's Child

2012

as Douglas

Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite

2012

as Black Dynamite

The Philly Kid

The Philly Kid

2012

as Arthur Letts

Freaky Deaky

Freaky Deaky

2012

as Donnell Lewis

We the Party

We the Party

2012

as Officer Davis

Tactical Force

Tactical Force

2011

as Hunt

For Better or Worse

For Better or Worse

2011

as Marcus Williams

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown

2011

as Case Walker

Mortal Kombat: Legacy

Mortal Kombat: Legacy

2011

as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs

Mortal Kombat: Legacy

Mortal Kombat: Legacy

2011

as self

One Angry Juror

One Angry Juror

2010

as Derrick

Mortal Kombat: Rebirth

Mortal Kombat: Rebirth

2010

as Jackson Briggs

Why Did I Get Married Too?

Why Did I Get Married Too?

2010

as Marcus

Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite

2009

as Black Dynamite

The Legend of Bruce Lee

The Legend of Bruce Lee

2009

as Ali

Blood and Bone

Blood and Bone

2009

as Isaiah Bone

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

2008

as Tattooed Man (voice)

The Legend of Bruce Lee

The Legend of Bruce Lee

2008

as Ali

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

2008

as Gambol

Why Did I Get Married?

Why Did I Get Married?

2007

as Marcus

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing

2006

as George Chambers

Getting Played

Getting Played

2005

as Actor

UnConventional

UnConventional

2004

as Self

Clubhouse

Clubhouse

2004

as Ellis Hayes

Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited

2004

as Doomsday (voice)

Silver Hawk

Silver Hawk

2004

as Morris

Justice

Justice

2003

as Tre

CSI: Miami

CSI: Miami

2002

as Roy Bailey

Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box

2002

as Hampton Hines

The Making of Exit Wounds

The Making of Exit Wounds

2002

as Self

Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes

Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes

2001

as Spawn (archive footage)

Justice League

Justice League

2001

as Doomsday (voice)

Exit Wounds

Exit Wounds

2001

as Lewis Strutt

Static Shock

Static Shock

2000

as Osebo (voice)

Wonderland

Wonderland

2000

as Dr. Derrick Hatcher

Freedom Song

Freedom Song

2000

as Coleman Vaughnes

Universal Soldier: The Return

Universal Soldier: The Return

1999

as SETH

Thick as Thieves

Thick as Thieves

1999

as Pointy

Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions

1999

as Howell

Mutiny

Mutiny

1999

as Ben Cooper

Ringmaster

Ringmaster

1998

as Demond

Spawn

Spawn

1997

as Al Simmons / Spawn

The Making of 'Spawn'

The Making of 'Spawn'

1997

as Self

City of Industry

City of Industry

1997

as Odell Williams

2 Days in the Valley

2 Days in the Valley

1996

as Buck

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

1996

as Carpenter

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

1996

as Elroy

JAG

JAG

1995

as Peter Quinn / Martin Payne

Tyson

Tyson

1995

as Mike Tyson

Ballistic

Ballistic

1995

as Quint

Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike

Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike

1995

as Silvio

On Deadly Ground

On Deadly Ground

1994

as Oil Worker (uncredited)

Full Contact

Full Contact

1993

as Low-Ball

Renegade

Renegade

1992

as Luther - Dawn's boyfriend

Universal Soldier

Universal Soldier

1992

as Soldier

True Identity

True Identity

1991

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

1991

as Audience Man

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

1989

as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive

Saved by the Bell

Saved by the Bell

1989

as Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)

The Toxic Avenger Part II

The Toxic Avenger Part II

1989

as Apocalypse Inc. Executive

To Live and Die in the Midwest

To Live and Die in the Midwest

Trouble Man!

Trouble Man!

as Jaxen

Fight Or Flight

Fight Or Flight

Hostile Takeover

Hostile Takeover

as Pete

Drive Through Fire

Drive Through Fire