Michael Jai White(born November 10, 1967)[1][note 1]is an American actor, director, and martial artist.[3]Though he has appeared in a variety of genres, White is best known for hisactionandmartial arts films.[4]His first major starring role and breakout performance was in the 1995HBOfilmTysonas heavyweight boxerMike Tyson.He went on to portrayAl Simmonsin the 1997 movieSpawn,making him the firstAfrican Americanto portray a major comic booksuperheroin a major motion picture.[note 2][5]His work inSpawnearned him a nomination for theBlockbuster Entertainment Awardfor Best Male Newcomer. In 1999, White starred oppositeJean-Claude Van DammeinUniversal Soldier: The Return,and in 2001, he starred oppositeSteven SeagalinExit Wounds.
Michael Jai White | |
|---|---|
 White atGalaxyConRaleigh in 2024 | |
| Born | November 10, 1967[1] New York City,U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouses | Courtenay Chatman
(m.2005;div.2011)Gillian Iliana Waters
(m.2015) |
| Children | 7 |
He has appeared in the filmsThe Dark Knight(2008),Black Dynamite(2009),Accident Man(2018),Dragged Across Concrete(2019), andAs Good As Dead(2022), among others. He appeared as Marcus Williams in theTyler PerryfilmsWhy Did I Get Married?(2007) andWhy Did I Get Married Too?(2010), and starred as the character on theTBS/OWNcomedy-drama television seriesTyler Perry's For Better or Worse.He directed and starred inNever Back Down 2: The Beatdown(2011),Never Back Down: No Surrender(2016), andOutlaw Johnny Black(2023). His voice acting work includesJustice League Heroes(2006),Batman: Soul of the Dragon(2021), andMarvel's Midnight Suns(2022).
White has been training in martial arts since the age of 7, and specializes in the styles ofKyokushin,Taekwondo,Kobudo,Shotokan,andThe Superfoot System.[3]
Early life
editWhite is a martial artist trained in nine differentstyles:Shōtōkan,Goju-Ryu(for which he studied under Master Eddie Morales where he learned to sharpen his Goju karate technique),Taekwondo,Kobudō,Tang Soo Do,Wushu,Jujutsu,Kyokushin,andBoxing,[6][7]with a specific focus in Kyokushin Karate (although his style incorporates aspects of many different martial arts forms).[8]White started training in martial arts at the age of four inJujutsu.He next took upShōtōkanand moved on to other styles later.[9]White holds seven legitimate black belts in Kyokushin Karate, Goju-Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do,Kobudo,and Wushu.[6]
White is also a formerspecial educationteacher and taught students with behavioral problems for three years. He cites his history in education as the reason why, despite his personal love for the music genre on "a lot of levels", he cannot "in good [conscience]" have a positive opinion onhip-hopor "excuse some of [its] pervasive and destructive elements", mainly due to his experience with youngsters who had difficulty seeing the difference between it and real life.[10]
He graduated fromCentral High Schoolin Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1982.[11]
Career
editWhite's first major starring role was in the 1995HBOfilmTysonas heavyweight boxerMike Tyson.He portrayed the eponymous character in the 1997 filmSpawn,making him the firstAfrican Americanto portray a major comic booksuperheroin a major motion picture.[5]His work inSpawnearned him a nomination for theBlockbuster Entertainment Award.In 1999, White starred oppositeJean-Claude Van DammeinUniversal Soldier: The Return.A few years earlier, he acted inFull ContactwithJerry Trimble.In 2001, he starred opposite fellow martial artistSteven SeagalinExit Wounds.In 2003, he appeared inBusta RhymesandMariah Carey'smusic video"I Know What You Want".Since 2003, in addition to his on screen roles, White has been doing voice work, including inStatic ShockandJustice League.White showcases his martial arts skills in the direct-to-DVD filmUndisputed II: Last Man Standing.In 2004, he appeared in Michelle Yeoh'sSilver Hawk.That year, he also appeared inKill Bill: Volume 2,although his role was cut from the theatrical release.[12]He also appeared inUndisputed II: Last Man Standing(2006) andBlood and Bone(2009).[13]His filmWhy Did I Get Married?opened at number one at the box office on October 12, 2007.
White played the role of mob boss Gambol in the 2008 filmThe Dark Knight.He also starred in the filmBlood and Boneand theblaxploitationhomageBlack Dynamite,both released in 2009. White wrote the scripts for bothBlack Dynamiteand3 Bulletsin which he stars withBokeem Woodbine.
On March 30, 2010, White appeared onThe Mo'Nique Showto promote his filmWhy Did I Get Married Too?.The two joked about the acclaim that comes with winning anOscar.In May of that year, he appeared in the music video forToni Braxton's new song "Hands Tied" from her albumPulse,as well as theNicki Minajmusic video for "Your Love"as Nicki's sensei and love interest.
He also starred inKevin Tancharoen's short filmMortal Kombat: Rebirth[14]asJax Briggs,and reprised the role inMortal Kombat: Legacy,a web series from the same director. He posted onTwitterthat he would not be returning to the role for the second season, but would return for the 2013 film.
White made hisdirectorial debutand starred inNever Back Down 2: The Beatdown,which was released on home video on September 13, 2011.[15]
White also provided the voice ofGreen Lanternin the video gameJustice League Heroes.[16]
In October 2019, White announced that the spiritual successor toBlack DynamitetitledOutlaw Johnny Blackhad officially entered pre-production. Despite theIndiegogocampaign not reaching its goal, he was still able to secure enough backers and additional donors to get the project off the ground. In July 2023, its trailer was released.[17]Its theatrical release date was September 15, 2023.[18]
In October 2020, White's latest filmWelcome to Sudden Deathdebuted onNetflixand became one of the most watched films on the platform.[19]TheUniversal Pictures Home Entertainmentrelease is a remake of the 1995 filmSudden DeathstarringJean-Claude Van Damme.
On July 12, 2021, White laid out a vision for starting a film studio inNew Haven, Connecticutcalled "Jaigantic Studios".[20]He wants to create a studio district on New Haven'sQuinnipiac Riverwaterfront.[21]
Personal life
edit
From 2005 to 2011, White was married to Courtenay Chatman and together they have a daughter named Morgan. In addition, White has two sons.[22][23]In February 2014, White announced his engagement to actress Gillian Iliana Waters.[23]In April 2015, White penned an open letter viaFacebookentitled "Apologies to My Ex's", where he credited Waters for helping him become "the very best version of myself."[24]In July 2015, White married Waters in Thailand.[25]They appeared together in the martial arts thriller movieTake Back(2021),[26]with Gillian White starring as the female lead.[27]
In 2014, White was honored with the Fists of Legends Decade Award at the Urban Action Showcase & Expo at HBO.[28]In 2015, he was inducted into theInternational Sports Hall of Fame.[29]On November 8, 2019, he assumed the "Mantle of The Black Dragon" fromRon van Clief,Don "The Dragon" Wilson,Cynthia Rothrock,andTaimak,in a ceremony at the 2019 Urban Action Showcase & Expo at AMC 25, New York City.[30]
White briefly dated actressAngela Bassettduring the 1990s.[31]
White is a cousin of comedian and actressKym Whitley.[32]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Toxic Avenger Part II | Apocalypse Inc. Executive | |
| The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie | |||
| 1991 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze | Audience Man | |
| True Identity | Alley Guy #1 | ||
| 1992 | Universal Soldier | Soldier | |
| 1993 | Full Contact | Low-Ball | |
| 1994 | On Deadly Ground | Oil Worker | |
| Lion Strike | Silvio | ||
| 1995 | Tyson | Mike Tyson | |
| Ballistic | Quint | ||
| 1996 | 2 Days in the Valley | Buck | |
| 1997 | City of Industry | Odell Williams | |
| Spawn | Al Simmons / Spawn | ||
| 1998 | Ringmaster | Demond | |
| Thick as Thieves | Pointy | ||
| 1999 | Breakfast of Champions | Howell | |
| Universal Soldier: The Return | S.E.T.H. Super UniSol | [33] | |
| 2000 | The Bus Stop | Unknown | Short |
| 2001 | Exit Wounds | Sergeant Lewis Strutt | |
| 2002 | Trois 2: Pandora's Box | Hampton Hines | |
| 2003 | Justice | Tre | |
| 2004 | Silver Hawk | Morris | |
| Kill Bill: Volume 2 | Martial Artist | Scene deleted | |
| 2006 | Undisputed II: Last Man Standing | George "The Iceman" Chambers | Video |
| 2007 | Why Did I Get Married? | Marcus | |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Gambol | |
| 2009 | Black Dynamite | Black Dynamite | Also writer |
| The Legend of Bruce Lee | Ali | Video | |
| Blood and Bone | Isaiah Bone | ||
| Three Bullets | The Man | Short; also writer | |
| 2010 | Why Did I Get Married Too? | Marcus | |
| Mortal Kombat: Rebirth | Jackson "Jax" Briggs | Video short[34] | |
| 2011 | Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown | Casey "Case" Walker Jr. | Video; also director |
| Tactical Force | SWAT Sergeant Tony Hunt | ||
| 2012 | We the Party | Officer Davis | |
| Freaky Deaky | Donnell Lewis | ||
| The Philly Kid | Arthur Letts | ||
| 2013 | Fedz | "Big D" | |
| 2014 | Android Cop | Hammond | |
| Falcon Rising | John "Falcon" Chapman | ||
| Skin Trade | FBI Agent Reed | ||
| 2015 | Chocolate City | Princeton | |
| Chain of Command | James Webster | ||
| 2016 | Vigilante Diaries | Barrington | [35][36] |
| The Asian Connection | Greg "Greedy Greg" | ||
| Never Back Down: No Surrender | Casey "Case" Walker Jr. | Video; also writer and director | |
| 2017 | S.W.A.T.: Under Siege | "Scorpion" | |
| Chocolate City: Vegas Strip | Princeton | ||
| Cops and Robbers | Michael | ||
| 2018 | Accident Man | Mick | |
| Making a Killing | Orlando Hudson | ||
| Dragged Across Concrete | "Biscuit" | ||
| 2019 | The Hard Way | Payne | |
| Triple Threat | Devereaux | ||
| Undercover Brother 2 | Undercover Brother | ||
| 2020 | Welcome to Sudden Death | Jesse | Video |
| 2021 | Batman: Soul of the Dragon | Bronze Tiger | Voice[33] |
| Assault on VA-33 | Chief Malone | ||
| Take Back | Brian | ||
| Send It! | Coach | ||
| Rogue Hostage | Sparks | ||
| Black Friday | Archie | ||
| 2022 | The Commando | James Baker | |
| Dead Zone | Boss | Tubioriginal | |
| The Hit | Brooke | ||
| As Good as Dead | Bryant | Also writer | |
| Come Out Fighting | Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron | Direct-to-video | |
| 2023 | You're Not Alone | Keith Mitchell | Tubi original |
| A Snowy Day in Oakland | Reverend Carter | Direct-to-video | |
| The Island | Mark | ||
| MR-9: Do or Die | Duke | Direct-to-video | |
| Outlaw Johnny Black | Johnny Black | Also writer and director | |
| 2024 | One More Shot | Robert Jackson | Direct-to-video |
| Take Cover | Assassin | Direct-to-video; cameo | |
| Don't Mess With Grandma | Jasper | Tubioriginal[37] |
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Saved by the Bell | Military Police Man #2 | Episode: "Wrestling with the Future" |
| 1993 | Renegade | Luther, Dawn's Boyfriend | Episode: "Vanished" |
| 1994 | Martin | Valdez | Episode: "Arms Are for Hugging" |
| Living Single | Steve | Episode: "Hot Fun in the Wintertime" | |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Officer Reggie Fancy | 2 episodes |
| JAG | Navy Petty Officer Peter Quinn / Lieutenant Martin Payne | Episode: "Brig Break" | |
| Tyson | Mike "Iron Mike" Tyson | Television film | |
| 1996 | Captive Heart: The James Mink Story | Elroy | Television film |
| Shaughnessy | Carpenter | Television film | |
| 1999 | Mutiny | Ben Cooper | Television film |
| 2000 | Wonderland | Dr. Derrick Hatcher | Main cast |
| Freedom Song | Coleman Vaughnes | Television film | |
| 2001 | Boston Public | Darren Schofield | Episode: "Chapter Eighteen" |
| Soul Food | Russell Banks | Episode: "Who Do You Know?" | |
| 2003 | CSI: Miami | Officer Roy Bailey | Episode: "Hard Time" |
| Justice League | Doomsday | Voice; episode: "A Better World, Part 1"[33] | |
| Hotel | Unknown | Television film | |
| 2003–2004 | Static Shock | Osebo | Voice, 2 episodes[33] |
| 2004–2005 | Clubhouse | Ellis Hayes | Recurring cast |
| 2005 | Justice League Unlimited | Doomsday | Voice, episode: "The Doomsday Sanction"[33] |
| 2006 | Windfall | Michael | Episode: "Priceless" |
| Getting Played | Actor | Television film | |
| 2008 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Bryan | Recurring cast, season 3 |
| 2010 | The Boondocks | Bushido Brown / Cop | Voice, episode: "Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy" |
| One Angry Juror | Derrick | Television film | |
| 2011 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Tattooed Man | Voice, episode: "The Scorn of the Star Sapphire!"[33] |
| 2011–2017 | Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse | Marcus Williams | Main cast |
| 2011–2015 | Black Dynamite | Black Dynamite | Voice, main cast; also creator[33] |
| 2012 | Aqua Something You Know Whatever | Zucotti Manicotti | Voice, episode: "Zucotti Manicotti" |
| Somebody's Child | Douglas | Television film | |
| 2013–2014, 2018–2019 |
Arrow | Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger | Guest (season 2), recurring (season 7); 10 episodes |
| 2016 | The Crooked Man | Milo | Television film |
| 2017 | Insecure: Due North | Zeke | Episode: "201" |
| Insecure | Zeke | 2 episodes | |
| 2018 | Every Day Is Christmas | Justin | Television film |
| 2018–present | The Family Business | Vegas Duncan | Recurring cast |
| 2020 | Black-ish | Vincent | Episode: "Dad Bod-y of Work" |
| Pump | Eric | Main cast | |
| 2022–present | Kingdom Business | Julius "Caesar" Jones | Main cast |
| 2025 | The Family Business: New Orleans | Vegas Duncan |
Music videos
edit| Year | Video | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "I Know What You Want" | Busta RhymesandMariah CareyfeaturingThe Flipmode Squad |
| 2010 | "Your Love" | Nicki Minaj |
| 2010 | "Hands Tied" | Toni Braxton |
| 2012 | "Let's Go" | Calvin HarrisfeaturingNe-Yo |
| 2021 | "Where I Belong" | Busta RhymesandMariah Carey |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Voice role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Justice League Heroes | John Stewart[33] |
| 2007 | The Underground Bounty Hunter | Hatch |
| 2022 | Marvel's Midnight Suns | Eric Brooks / Blade[33] |
Web series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Mortal Kombat: Legacy | Jackson "Jax" Briggs | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Métal Hurlant Chronicles | Teague | Episode: "King's Crown" |
| 2014 | Métal Hurlant Chronicles | Balt | Episode: "The Endomorphe" |
| 2016 | Enter the Dojo | Himself | Episode: "How to Fight a Clown" |
Notes
edit- ^The Associated Press has listed his birth year as 1964.[2]
- ^Spawnwas released on August 1, 1997, two weeks before the release ofSteel,which starredNBAbasketball playerShaquille O'Neal.Robert TownsendandDamon Wayansalso starred in the superhero filmsThe Meteor Man(1993) andBlankman(1994), respectively, both parodies.
References
edit- ^abWho's Who Among African Americans(31st ed.). Gale. 2016. p. 1107.ISBN9781410317292.
- ^"Celebrity birthdays for the week of Nov. 10-16".November 4, 2024.RetrievedNovember 11,2024.
- ^abThorp, Charles (September 26, 2023)."Michael Jai White Is Still Shredded at 55 Thanks to This Martial Art, the Pinnacle of Performance".www.mensjournal.com.RetrievedDecember 21,2024.
- ^Symchuk, Adam (May 11, 2024)."How Michael Jai White Incorporates Real Martial Arts Into His Movies".www.movieweb.com.RetrievedDecember 21,2024.
- ^ab"Michael Jai White is first Black comic superhero to star on the movie screen in 'Spawn.'".Jetmagazine.September 22, 1997. Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2012.RetrievedOctober 17,2009.
- ^ab"Male Celebs Who Practice Martial Arts",Jetmagazine, Sept. 24, 2001, at pp. 38-39.
- ^Pollard, Edward."Michael Jai White Ignites Black Dynamite".Black Belt Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon January 2, 2010.RetrievedDecember 27,2009.
- ^Taco the Town: Michael Jai WhiteArchivedJune 10, 2010, at theWayback Machine
- ^Howlett, Sandy (August 27, 2014)."The Kyokushin Karate Roots of Michael Jai White".www.blackbeltmag.com.Black Belt Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon January 4, 2018.
- ^Black Dynamite Interview with Michael Jai White and Scott Sanders.Midcmedia. February 11, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.RetrievedDecember 17,2019.
- ^"Central High Distinguished Alumni".Bridgeport Central High School.Archived fromthe originalon June 10, 2003.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^Hood, Cooper (August 8, 2021)."Kill Bill 2: Michael Jai White's Cut Role Explained".www.screenrant.com.RetrievedJanuary 24,2025.
- ^Kariuki, Timothy (October 19, 2022)."Best Michael Jai White Movies, Ranked".www.movieweb.com.RetrievedDecember 21,2024.
- ^"New Mortal Kombat Promotional Featurette Delivers the Goods".dreadcentral.com.June 8, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon February 22, 2014.
- ^Morales, Wilson (September 13, 2011)."Never Back Down 2: Michael Jai White".Blackfilm.com.RetrievedDecember 11,2011.
- ^"Justice League Heroes (Video Game 2006)".IMDb.RetrievedDecember 17,2019.
- ^Fuge, Jonathan (July 13, 2023)."Outlaw Johnny Black Trailer Sees Michael Jai White Wage War in the Wild West".MovieWeb.RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.
- ^"Outlaw Johnny Black".Samuel Goldwyn Films.RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.
- ^Mendelson, Scott (October 3, 2020)."A Michael Jai White Remake Of A Van Damme Bomb Is Now One Of Netflix's Most-Watched Movies".Forbes.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^Reisman, Lisa (July 12, 2021)."Movie Superhero Lays Out" Jaigantic "Community Vision".RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^Gellman, Lucy (August 11, 2021)."Jaigantic Vision Pitched on River Street Walkthrough".RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"Michael Jai White's Adorable Baby Girl".Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 23,2009.
- ^abBailey-Tureaud, Kimberly (February 3, 2014)."Michael Jai White and fiancée Gillian Iliana Waters share the secret to their romance".Las Vegas Black Image.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
- ^Williams, Brennan (April 15, 2015)."Michael Jai White Writes Letter Of Apology To His Ex-Girlfriends: 'I Believed All Women Were Crazy'".The Huffington Post.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
- ^Caslin, Yvette (July 8, 2015)."Exclusive: Michael Jai White and Gillian Iliana Waters tie the knot".Rolling Out.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
- ^Blueskye, Brian (June 18, 2021)."Duo filmed action movie in the Coachella Valley during pandemic".The Desert Sun.Palm Springs. pp. 3A, 4A.RetrievedNovember 28,2022– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Hoad, Phil (March 23, 2021)."Take Back review – dusty martial arts thriller looks cramped".The Guardian.RetrievedNovember 28,2022.
- ^2014 Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival & Honoree Awards.YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 27,2014.
- ^Dr. Robert Goldman (March 13, 2015)."2015 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees".www.sportshof.org.RetrievedJuly 14,2023.
- ^Zirogiannis, Marc (November 9, 2019)."Michael Jai White Assumes The Mantle of the Black Dragon".Tae Kwon Do Life Magazine.RetrievedNovember 9,2019.
- ^"Michael Jai White on Taraji P Henson Crying Over Low Wages: She Has to Sing for Her Supper".
- ^"Hey Family, Michael Jai White and Kym Whitley are Cousins".
- ^abcdefghi"Michael Jai White (visual voices guide)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedOctober 7,2023.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^Roush, George 'El Guapo' (June 8, 2010)."Mortal Kombat Fans, This Is The Hard 'R' MK Movie You've Been Waiting For".latinoreview.com.Archived fromthe originalon June 11, 2010.
- ^Sesma, Christian (June 24, 2016),Vigilante Diaries,retrievedAugust 29,2016
- ^Taylor, Kelly (June 22, 2016)."Michael Jai White on new film 'Vigilante Diaries' and finding his soul mate".Fox.Archivedfrom the original on May 1, 2017.RetrievedAugust 29,2016.
- ^Thurman, Trace (September 22, 2024)."'Don't Mess With Grandma' Review – Home Invasion Goes Awry in Violent Comedy [FF 2024] ".Bloody Disgusting.RetrievedJanuary 24,2025.