Michael Jai White
Born: 1967-11-10 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
2025
- Hostile Takeover as Pete
- Trouble Man as Jaxen
- Exit Protocol as Isaac Florentine
2024
- One More Shot as Robert Jackson
- Don't Mess with Grandma as JT
- Chuck Zito: An American Story as Self
- Scream Before You Die as Joe Washington
2023
- The Island as Mark
- MR-9: Do or Die as Duke
- Come Out Fighting as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
- A Snowy Day in Oakland as Reverend Carter
- You're Not Alone as Keith Mitchell
- Outlaw Johnny Black as Outlaw Johnny Black
2022
- As Good as Dead as Bryant
- The Commando as James Baker
- The Hit as Brooke
- Kingdom Business as Julius “Caesar” Jones
- Dead Zone as Boss
2021
- Rogue Hostage as Sparks
- Send It! as Coach
- Bisping as Self
- Take Back as Brian
- Black Friday as Archie
- Batman: Soul of the Dragon as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
- Assault on VA-33 as Chief Malone
2020
- Welcome to Sudden Death as Jesse Freeman
- The Art of Action as Self
2019
- Triple Threat as Devereaux
- The Hard Way as Payne
- Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks as Self
- Dragged Across Concrete as 'Biscuit'
- Undercover Brother 2 as Undercover Brother / Narrator
- Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare as Self
- In Search of the Last Action Heroes as Himself
2018
- Carl Weber's The Family Business as Vegas Duncan
- Accident Man as Mick
- Making a Killing as Orlando Hudson
- Every Day Is Christmas as Justin
2017
- Cops and Robbers as Michael
- S.W.A.T.: Under Siege as Scorpion
2016
- Insecure as Zeke
- Never Back Down: No Surrender as Case Walker
- The Asian Connection as Greedy Greg
- Vigilante Diaries as Barrington
- The Crooked Man as Milo
- Chocolate City: Vegas Strip as Princeton
2015
- Chocolate City as Princeton
- The Real Miyagi as Self
- Chain of Command as James Webster
2014
- black-ish as Vincent
- Falcon Rising as John 'Falcon' Chapman
- Skin Trade as Reed
- Beyond the Game as Himself
- Android Cop as Hammond
2013
- Teen Titans Go! as Don Jackson (voice)
- Generation Iron as Self
- Fedz as Big D
2012
- Arrow as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger
- Black Dynamite as Black Dynamite
- Somebody's Child as Douglas
- The Philly Kid as Arthur Letts
- Freaky Deaky as Donnell Lewis
- Metal Hurlant Chronicles as Teague
- We the Party as Officer Davis
2011
- Tactical Force as Hunt
- Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown as Case Walker
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
- Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse as Marcus Williams
2010
- Mortal Kombat: Rebirth as Jackson Briggs
- Why Did I Get Married Too? as Marcus
- One Angry Juror as Derrick
2009
- Blood and Bone as Isaiah Bone
- Black Dynamite as Black Dynamite
- The Legend of Bruce Lee as Ali
2008
- The Dark Knight as Gambol
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold as Tattooed Man (voice)
- The Legend of Bruce Lee as Ali
2007
- Why Did I Get Married? as Marcus
- PVC-1 ... (Executive Producer)
2006
- Undisputed II: Last Man Standing as George Chambers
- Windfall as Michael
2005
- Getting Played as Actor
2004
- Justice League Unlimited as Doomsday (voice)
- UnConventional as Self
- Silver Hawk as Morris
- Clubhouse as Ellis Hayes
2003
- Justice as Tre
2002
- CSI: Miami as Roy Bailey
- Pandora's Box as Hampton Hines
- The Making of Exit Wounds as Self
2001
- Exit Wounds as Lewis Strutt
- Justice League as Doomsday (voice)
- Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes as Spawn (archive footage)
2000
- Static Shock as Osebo (voice)
- Boston Public as Darren Schofield
- Wonderland as Derrick Hatcher
- Freedom Song as Coleman Vaughnes
1999
- Mutiny as Ben Cooper
- Universal Soldier: The Return as SETH
- Breakfast of Champions as Howell
- Thick as Thieves as Pointy
1998
- Ringmaster as Demond
1997
- Spawn as Al Simmons / Spawn
- City of Industry as Odell Williams
- The Making of 'Spawn' as Self
1996
- 2 Days in the Valley as Buck
- Captive Heart: The James Mink Story as Elroy
- Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal as Carpenter
1995
- JAG as Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
- Tyson as Mike Tyson
- Ballistic as Quint
- Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike as Silvio
1994
- On Deadly Ground as Oil Worker (uncredited)
1993
- Living Single as Steve
- Full Contact as Low-Ball
1992
- Renegade as Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
- Martin as Valdez
- Universal Soldier as Soldier
1991
- True Identity
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze as Audience Man
1989
- Saved by the Bell as Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
- The Toxic Avenger Part II as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
- The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive