
Forest Whitaker
Biography
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.
TV Shows(30)

The Emperor of Ocean Park
Judge Oliver Garland

My Generation
Self - Narrator (voice)

Hollywood Black
Self

Extrapolations
Auggie Bolo

Cannes Festival
Self - Guest

Andor
Saw Gerrera

The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self

Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy
Self

By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem
Self

Godfather of Harlem
Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson

Steve
Self

Star Wars: Go Rogue
Saw Gerrera (voice)

Roots
Fiddler

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self

Empire
Eddie Barker

Star Wars Rebels
Saw Gerrera (voice)

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Sam Cooper

American Dad!
Turlington (voice)

Criminal Minds
Sam Cooper

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self