Profile photo of Forest Whitaker

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.

Filmography

2025
Havoc

as Lawrence Beaumont

Movie
2025
The King of Kings

as Peter (voice)

Movie
2018
How It Ends

as Tom

Movie
2018
Black Panther

as Zuri

Movie
2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

as Saw Gerrera

Movie
2016
Arrival

as Colonel Weber

Movie
2015
Southpaw

as Titus 'Tick' Wills

Movie
2014
Taken 3

as Inspector Frank Dotzler

Movie
2008
Street Kings

as Captain Jack Wander

Movie
2008
Vantage Point

as Howard Lewis

Movie
2003
Phone Booth

as Captain Ramey

Movie
1995
Species

as Dan Smithson, Empath

Movie
1992
Article 99

as Dr. Sid Handleman

Movie
1990
Criminal Justice

as Jessie Williams

Movie
1988
Bloodsport

as Rawlins

Movie
1986
Platoon

as Big Harold

Movie
1982
Fast Times at Ridgemont High

as Charles Jefferson

Movie