Forest Whitaker
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 as a Senior Research Scholar at Rutgers University
- 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
- 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: "(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: "'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: "'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
- Played football at California State Polytechnic University
- Took alto sax lessons to prepare for his role in "Bird․"
Awards
- 1988Best ActorWinner
- 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 AwardNominated
- 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 AwardWinner
- 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 AwardNominated
- 2014Movies for Grownups Award - Best Grownup Love Story:Nominated
- 2014Movies for Grownups Award - Best Actor:Nominated
- 2014Hollywood Award - Best Ensemble Cast:Nominated
- 2014Hollywood Award - Movie of the Year:Nominated
- 2014Hollywood Award - Best Actor:Nominated
- 2014Hollywood Award - Best Ensemble Cast:Nominated
- 2014Hollywood Award - Artist of the Year: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 AwardWinner
- 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 AwardNominated
- 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
- 2026Image Award - Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series:Nominated