Michael Jai White
Acting
Born: November 10, 1967 (age 58) · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Highest Rated
Biography
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.
Known for
The Dark Knight
2008
Arrow
2012
Universal Soldier
1992
CSI: Miami
2002
Spawn
1997
Universal Soldier: The Return
1999
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991
Dragged Across Concrete
2019
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
2006
Blood and Bone
2009
Justice League Unlimited
2004
Saved by the Bell
1989
Photos (1)
Movies (88)
The Dark Knight
Gambol
Oscar Shaw
Oscar Shaw
Exit Protocol
Isaac Florentine
Universal Soldier
Soldier
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
George Chambers
Dragged Across Concrete
'Biscuit'
Blood and Bone
Isaiah Bone
Accident Man
Mick
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
Case Walker
Exit Wounds
Lewis Strutt
Triple Threat
Devereaux
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Case Walker
Universal Soldier: The Return
SETH
Spawn
Al Simmons / Spawn
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Audience Man
Hostile Takeover
Pete
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
One More Shot
Robert Jackson
On Deadly Ground
Oil Worker (uncredited)
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
Spawn (archive footage)
The Island
Mark
Falcon Rising
John 'Falcon' Chapman
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
Scorpion
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Marcus
City of Industry
Odell Williams
Skin Trade
Reed
As Good as Dead
Bryant
The Commando
James Baker
Why Did I Get Married?
Marcus
Vigilante Diaries
Barrington
MR-9: Do or Die
Duke
Thick as Thieves
Pointy
The Asian Connection
Greedy Greg
Welcome to Sudden Death
Jesse Freeman
2 Days in the Valley
Buck
The Secret Between Us
Jack Frazier
Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black
Don't Mess with Grandma
JT
Freaky Deaky
Donnell Lewis
The Philly Kid
Arthur Letts
Black Friday
Archie
Getting Played
Actor
Breakfast of Champions
Howell
The Hard Way
Payne
Rogue Hostage
Sparks
Android Cop
Hammond
Dead Zone
Boss
Come Out Fighting
Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
Trouble Man
Jaxen
The Crooked Man
Milo
Assault on VA-33
Chief Malone
The Toxic Avenger Part II
Apocalypse Inc. Executive
Tyson
Mike Tyson
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
Send It!
Coach
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
Princeton
True Identity
Alley Guy #1
Tactical Force
Hunt
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Ali
Take Back
Brian
Chain of Command
James Webster
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
Silvio
Ringmaster
Demond
Silver Hawk
Morris
Undercover Brother 2
Undercover Brother / Narrator
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
Brock Belfry
Chocolate City
Princeton
A Snowy Day in Oakland
Reverend Carter
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
Jackson Briggs
Full Contact
Low-Ball
Making a Killing
Orlando Hudson
You're Not Alone
Keith Mitchell
Cops and Robbers
Michael
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Carpenter
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Elroy
Ballistic
Quint
Mutiny
Ben Cooper
Pandora's Box
Hampton Hines
Justice
Tre
The Hit
Brooke
Every Day Is Christmas
Justin
Scream Before You Die
Joe Washington
Freedom Song
Coleman Vaughnes
We the Party
Officer Davis
One Angry Juror
Derrick
Somebody's Child
Douglas
Fedz
Big D
TV Shows (27)
Teen Titans Go!
Don Jackson (voice) · 1 eps
CSI: Miami
Roy Bailey · 1 eps
Arrow
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger · 7 eps
Arrow
Ben Turner · 3 eps
JAG
Peter Quinn / Martin Payne · 1 eps
black-ish
Vincent · 1 eps
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Tattooed Man (voice) · 1 eps
Renegade
Luther - Dawn's boyfriend · 1 eps
Boston Public
Darren Schofield · 1 eps
Justice League Unlimited
Doomsday (voice) · 1 eps
Martin
Valdez · 1 eps
Insecure
Zeke · 2 eps
Living Single
Steve · 1 eps
Static Shock
Osebo (voice) · 2 eps
Justice League
Doomsday (voice) · 1 eps
Saved by the Bell
Military Police Man #2 (uncredited) · 1 eps
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs · 2 eps
Carl Weber's The Family Business
Vegas Duncan · 21 eps
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse
Marcus Williams · 135 eps
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Ali · 50 eps
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite · 19 eps
Windfall
Michael · 1 eps
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Teague · 1 eps
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Balt · 1 eps
Clubhouse
Ellis Hayes · 1 eps
Kingdom Business
Julius “Caesar” Jones · 8 eps
Wonderland
Derrick Hatcher · 8 eps
Self / Appearances (12)
The Art of Action
Self · 1 eps
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Self
UnConventional
Self
The Real Miyagi
Self
Generation Iron
Self
Beyond the Game
Himself
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Self
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
Self
Bisping
Self
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
Self
The Making of Exit Wounds
Self
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
Himself
