Born name

Forest Steven Whitaker III

nickname

forest

Sun sign

Cancer

Place of birth

Longview, Texas, USA

nationality

training

Whitaker got his school from Cal Poly Pomona or California State Polytechnic University , Pomona as it is now known. He got a football scholarship but switched his major to music after suffering a back injury. He later changed his major to drama.

He then attended the Conservatory of Music at the University of Southern California , where he studied opera as a tenor. He later attended the drama conservatory at the university.

In 1982, Whitaker graduated from USC and received a scholarship to pursue higher studies at USC Drama Studio London “S California Wing.

He also attended New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study to earn a degree in The Heart of Conflict: Studies in Peace and Reconciliation.

occupation

Actor, film producer, film director

family

• Father – Forest Steven Jr. (Insurance Salesman)
• Mother – Laura Francis (née Smith) (teacher)
• Siblings – Kenn Whitaker (younger brother), Damon Whitaker (younger brother), Deborah Whitaker (older sister)

Manager

His career is managed by Brillstein Entertainment Partners .

To build

Average

Height

188 cm (6ft 2in)

weight

92 kg or 203 pounds

girlfriend/spouse

Whitaker dated and married –

1. Keisha Nash (1994-2018) – Whitaker first met actress Keisha Nash on the set of Knocked Away in 1994, and they married in 1996. The couple have four children (3 biological children) – two daughters, Sonnet and True, and one son, Sergio Hyatt and one Daughter Autumn from Keisha’s previous relationship. They split at the end of 2018.

race/ethnicity

Black

Wald has African American ancestry.

hair colour

Black

eye color

dark brown

sexual orientation

Just

distinguishing features

• Left eye ptosis
• Lazy, thoughtful look
• Mostly seen in roles of politicians, leaders, historical figures and government agents

measurements

Forest Whitaker body specifications can be:

• Chest – 46 inches or 117 cm
• Arms/biceps – 38 cm or 15 inches
• W aist – 102 cm or 40 inches

shoe size

11 (US) or 44 (EU)

brand promotion

Whitaker has lent his voice to Citibank’s television advertisement for Citi credit cards.

He lent his voice to USAFootball.com’s Heads Up Football Coaches Certification television commercial in 2013.

In October 2014, he provided his voice for the Health Partners campaign TV commercial for Cigna Insurance.

Whitaker recorded a nonprofit ad promoting vegetarianism with daughter True at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) .

religion

spiritual

Known for

He is best known for films like Bird (1988), Train (1986), Ghost Dog: The Path of the Samurai (1999), The Butler (2013) and many others.

The Last King of Scotland (2006) was a milestone in his career and he played Uganda’s dictator Idi Amin in the film.

His role as LAPD Internal Affairs Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh in The Shield TV series was also praised.

first movie

His first film was Tag: The Assassination Game in 1982 when he played the role of Gowdy’s bodyguard.

First TV show

His first television appearance was in Making the Grade in 1982. Whitaker was seen in the Marriage David Style episode of that short-lived series.

First direction

In 1993, Whitaker became a film director while directing the 1993 HBO crime/drama film Strapped Down .

First stage performance

In 2016, Whitaker made his Broadway debut in Hughie , a play by Eugene O’Neill. The stage performance took place at the Booth Theater under the direction of Michael Grandage.

Personal trainer

Whitaker practices yoga and has a black belt in kenpo. He trains in the Filipino martial arts of Kali under the tutelage of Dan Inosanto, who was the teacher of late martial arts expert and actor Bruce Lee.

Forest Whitaker favorite things

• game – football
• Food – vegetarian

Forest Whitaker Facts

1. Whitaker has worked with many famous directors and actors and also in video films with Lil Wayne, Maggie Grace, 50 Cent, TI and others.
2. For the role of the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006), he won the Oscar, British Academy Film Award, Golden Globe, National Board of Review Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and others. He won a total of 23 awards for the film.
3. Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi produced the film Fruitvale Station , which won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Choice Award for US Dramatic Film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. They also co-produced Penance (2014) and Dope (2015).
4. Whitaker assumed the role of co-chair at JuntoBox Films in March 2012.
5. He received the Hollywood Actor of the Year award at the 10th Annual Hollywood Film Festival in 2006.
6. On April 16, 2007, he became 2,335. Actor who received Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
7. In 2009 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Xavier University of Louisiana during the 82nd Inaugural Ceremony.
8. In May 2015, the actor also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from California State University , Dominguez Hills.
9. He is a humanitarian and supports Hope North, a boarding school and vocational training center in northern Uganda for refugee child soldiers, orphans and other young victims of the civil war.
10. Whitaker is the chief of the Igbo community of Nkwerre and was given the title Nwannedinamba of Nkwerre meaning he is a brother in a foreign land .
11. The United Nations appointed Whitaker as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation on 21 June 2011 at a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters.
12. In 2010, Whitaker received the Artist-Citizen of the World Award in France.
13. In May 2011, Whitaker co-founded the International Institute for Peace (IIP) at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey.
14. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.