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Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White

Acting

Born: November 10, 1967Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

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
Filmography
Oscar Shaw

Oscar Shaw

Oscar Shaw

2026
Exit Protocol

Exit Protocol

Isaac Florentine

2025
Hostile Takeover

Hostile Takeover

Pete

2025
Trouble Man

Trouble Man

Jaxen

2025
Scream Before You Die

Scream Before You Die

Joe Washington

2024
Don't Mess with Grandma

Don't Mess with Grandma

JT

2024
Chuck Zito: An American Story

Chuck Zito: An American Story

Self

2024
One More Shot

One More Shot

Robert Jackson

2024
Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023
MR-9: Do or Die

MR-9: Do or Die

Duke

2023
The Island

The Island

Mark

2023
Come Out Fighting

Come Out Fighting

Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron

2023
You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone

Keith Mitchell

2023
A Snowy Day in Oakland

A Snowy Day in Oakland

Reverend Carter

2023
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief

The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief

Himself

2023
As Good as Dead

As Good as Dead

Bryant

2022
The Hit

The Hit

Brooke

2022
Dead Zone

Dead Zone

Boss

2022
The Commando

The Commando

James Baker

2022
Black Friday

Black Friday

Archie

2021
Take Back

Take Back

Brian

2021
Rogue Hostage

Rogue Hostage

Sparks

2021
Send It!

Send It!

Coach

2021
Assault on VA-33

Assault on VA-33

Chief Malone

2021
Bisping

Bisping

Self

2021
Batman: Soul of the Dragon

Batman: Soul of the Dragon

Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)

2021
Welcome to Sudden Death

Welcome to Sudden Death

Jesse Freeman

2020
Undercover Brother 2

Undercover Brother 2

Undercover Brother / Narrator

2019
In Search of the Last Action Heroes

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

Self

2019
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

Self

2019
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare

Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare

Self

2019
Triple Threat

Triple Threat

Devereaux

2019
The Hard Way

The Hard Way

Payne

2019
Dragged Across Concrete

Dragged Across Concrete

'Biscuit'

2019
Every Day Is Christmas

Every Day Is Christmas

Justin

2018
Making a Killing

Making a Killing

Orlando Hudson

2018
Accident Man

Accident Man

Mick

2018
Cops and Robbers

Cops and Robbers

Michael

2017
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege

S.W.A.T.: Under Siege

Scorpion

2017
The Crooked Man

The Crooked Man

Milo

2016
Vigilante Diaries

Vigilante Diaries

Barrington

2016
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip

Chocolate City: Vegas Strip

Princeton

2016
Never Back Down: No Surrender

Never Back Down: No Surrender

Case Walker

2016
The Asian Connection

The Asian Connection

Greedy Greg

2016
Chain of Command

Chain of Command

James Webster

2015
Chocolate City

Chocolate City

Princeton

2015
The Real Miyagi

The Real Miyagi

Self

2015
Beyond the Game

Beyond the Game

Himself

2014
Skin Trade

Skin Trade

Reed

2014
Falcon Rising

Falcon Rising

John 'Falcon' Chapman

2014
Android Cop

Android Cop

Hammond

2014
Generation Iron

Generation Iron

Self

2013
Fedz

Fedz

Big D

2013
Somebody's Child

Somebody's Child

Douglas

2012
The Philly Kid

The Philly Kid

Arthur Letts

2012
Freaky Deaky

Freaky Deaky

Donnell Lewis

2012
We the Party

We the Party

Officer Davis

2012
Tactical Force

Tactical Force

Hunt

2011
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown

Case Walker

2011
One Angry Juror

One Angry Juror

Derrick

2010
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth

Mortal Kombat: Rebirth

Jackson Briggs

2010
Why Did I Get Married Too?

Why Did I Get Married Too?

Marcus

2010
Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite

2009
The Legend of Bruce Lee

The Legend of Bruce Lee

Ali

2009
Blood and Bone

Blood and Bone

Isaiah Bone

2009
The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

Gambol

2008
Why Did I Get Married?

Why Did I Get Married?

Marcus

2007
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing

George Chambers

2006
Getting Played

Getting Played

Actor

2005
UnConventional

UnConventional

Self

2004
Silver Hawk

Silver Hawk

Morris

2004
Justice

Justice

Tre

2003
Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box

Hampton Hines

2002
The Making of Exit Wounds

The Making of Exit Wounds

Self

2002
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes

Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes

Spawn (archive footage)

2001
Exit Wounds

Exit Wounds

Lewis Strutt

2001
Freedom Song

Freedom Song

Coleman Vaughnes

2000
Universal Soldier: The Return

Universal Soldier: The Return

SETH

1999
Thick as Thieves

Thick as Thieves

Pointy

1999
Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions

Howell

1999
Mutiny

Mutiny

Ben Cooper

1999
Ringmaster

Ringmaster

Demond

1998
Spawn

Spawn

Al Simmons / Spawn

1997

The Making of 'Spawn'

Self

1997
City of Industry

City of Industry

Odell Williams

1997
2 Days in the Valley

2 Days in the Valley

Buck

1996
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal

Carpenter

1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Elroy

1996
Tyson

Tyson

Mike Tyson

1995
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike

Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike

Silvio

1995
Ballistic

Ballistic

Quint

1995
On Deadly Ground

On Deadly Ground

Oil Worker (uncredited)

1994
Full Contact

Full Contact

Low-Ball

1993
Universal Soldier

Universal Soldier

Soldier

1992
True Identity

True Identity

Alley Guy #1

1991
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

Audience Man

1991
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie

Apocalypse, Inc. Executive

1989
The Toxic Avenger Part II

The Toxic Avenger Part II

Apocalypse Inc. Executive

1989