Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Forest Whitaker Biography

Birth Name:Forest Steven Whitaker

Birth Place:Longview, Texas, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director, Music department

Fast Facts

Founded and served as CEO of The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative to help disadvantaged and fragile communities around the world
Has served on the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Is a global UN Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation
Received a Cinema for Peace Award for his ongoing advocacy for child soldiers and inner-city youths
Received the Humanitas Prize twice
Served as a Special Envoy of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016
Has served as a Senior Research Scholar at Rutgers University
Graduated from the University of Southern California
Transferred to the University of Southern California to study opera and drama after being sidelined due to a back injury at California State Polytechnic University
Quote: "'I can play a man who's despicable․ But I'll still look inside him to find a point of connection․ If I can find that kernel, audiences will relate to me․'"
Quote: "(Speaking at the World Humanitarian Summit) 'Education is on the front line of conflict - it should be at the forefront of building peace․'"
Quote: "'I always try to remain aware that what affects others affects me too․'"
Quote: "'It’s important to me to connect with people, with feelings․ That’s always been a goal in my work․'"
Made his Broadway debut at The Booth Theatre in Eugene O'Neill's "Hughie․"
Lectured as a professor at Ringling College of Art and Design
Took alto sax lessons to prepare for his role in "Bird․"
Played football at California State Polytechnic University

Awards

1988Best Actor-: winner
1989Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1989Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): winner
1992Special Mention-Fiction: Actor: winner
1992CableACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1993Critics Award-: nominated
1993International Critics' Award (FIPRESCI)-: winner
1994CableACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1994Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1994NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1997Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama: winner
1997Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1999Black Film Award-Best Director: nominated
2000Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Hairstyle: winner
2001Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
2003Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2003Christopher Award-Television & Cable: winner
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: winner
2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2004Black Reel-Film: Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2004Black Reel-Television: Best Actor: winner
2004Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special: nominated
2004Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2004Vision Award-Best Dramatic Performance: nominated
2006AAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2006ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2006BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2006British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2006DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2006FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2006Hollywood Film Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2006ICP Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2006KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2006Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
2006LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2006NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
2006NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2006NYFCO Award-Best Actor: winner
2006OFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2006PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2006SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2006SLFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2006TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: nominated
2006WAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2007BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2007BET Award-Best Actor: winner
2007Black Reel-Best Actor: winner
2007Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Special Award: Most Valuable Film Actor of the Year: winner
2007Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
2007Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
2007Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2007Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
2007Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2007INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2007IFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2007IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): nominated
2007ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2007Vision Award-Best Actor - Drama: winner
2007NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2007NTFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2007OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2007OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2007American Riviera Award-: winner
2007VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2008IDA Award-Feature Documentary: nominated
2009IOFCP Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2010Black Reel-Best Voice Performance: nominated
2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor of the Decade: nominated
2010IDA Award-Continuing Series: nominated
2010Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2013AAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2013Audience Award-: nominated
2014Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
2014Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Artist of the Year: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Movie of the Year: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2014BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Motion Picture: nominated
2014Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
2014Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2014Stanley Kramer Award-: winner
2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series: nominated
2016Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2017Blimp Award-#SQUAD: nominated
2017Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
2018Audience Award-: nominated
2018The BAM Award-Best Cast: winner
2019Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
2019Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
2019Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2019Image Award-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
2019OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Drama Series: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
2020Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2021Black Reel-Outstanding Original Song: nominated
2021Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Feature: nominated
2021GMS Award-Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film: nominated
2021Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2022BAFTA Film Award-Outstanding British Film of the Year: nominated
2022BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Motion Picture: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Drama Series: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Grace Award-Most Inspiring Performance in Movies: nominated
2024Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2025Independent Spirit Award-Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series: winner
2025Gotham TV Award-Breakthrough Nonfiction Series: nominated
2025News and Documentary Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary: nominated
2025OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated