Denzel Dominique Whitaker(born June 15, 1990) is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, he acted in the filmsTraining Day(2001) andThe Ant Bully(2006) before portrayingJames Farmer Jr.inThe Great Debaters(2007), earning anNAACP Image Awardfor his work in the film. His other film work includesMy Soul to Take(2010),Abduction(2011) andBlack Panther(2018).
Denzel Whitaker | |
|---|---|
 Whitaker at the 2018San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Denzel Dominique Whitaker June 15, 1990 Torrance, California,U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2001–present |
On television, Whitaker was a cast member onNickelodeon'sAll Thatbetween 2004 and 2005. He has appeared in recurring roles onBrothers & Sisters(2009) andThe Purge(2019), in addition to guest roles on various series.
Early life
editWhitaker was born on June 15, 1990,[1]inTorrance,California, the son of Younalanda and Dale Whitaker.[2][3]He went toPalos Verdes Peninsula High School,[2]but while acting as a teenager he would receive and conduct schoolwork viaemailcorrespondence.[4]
He was named after actorDenzel Washington.[5]Whitaker disputed this fact onThe Oprah Winfrey Showwhile promoting the movieThe Great Debaters,only to learn later from his father that, in fact, Washington was his namesake.[6]Washington would later serve as an acting mentor for Whitaker onThe Great Debaters.[7]
Career
editWhitaker made his acting debut in the 2001 filmTraining Dayas Dimitri.[8]He was a regular cast member during the tenth and final season of theNickelodeonsketch-comedy seriesAll That.[9]
He portrayedJames Farmer Jr.inThe Great Debaters(2007).[10]Whitaker's acting in this film was well received, with one reviewer praising his "sweetness and vulnerability"[11]and another describing him as a standout among the younger actors in the film.[12]For his performance as James, Whitaker won the 2008NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture,[13]and received aYoung Artist Awardnomination.[14]
Whitaker played Sheldon in theDisney Channel Original MovieDadnapped(2009).[15]Whitaker was a blind teenager named Jerome inWes Craven'sMy Soul to Take(2010).[16]In 2011, he performed in two feature films, portraying Gilly in thrillerAbduction[17]and appearing in sports dramaWarrior.[18]
Whitaker appeared as Eddie in thrillerSubmerged(2016)[19]and was a youngZuriin the 2018 superhero filmBlack Panther.[20]He portrayed Andre, an aspiring musician, in the 2020 filmCut Throat City,directed by rapperRZA.[21]
His television work includesER,The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,The War at Home,[22]Rizzoli & IslesandBlue Bloods.Whitaker also appeared inWerner Herzog'sBad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.
As a voice actor, Whitaker provided the voice of Albert inThe Ant Bully(2006) and portrayed Kyle in preschool seriesHandy Manny.[23]In the third season ofThe Boondocks,Whitaker gave voice to Sgt. Gutte, and onBlack Dynamite: The Animated Serieshe played Donald the Accountant.
He has also worked as an assistant voice director for the 2010 filmFreaknik: The Musical.Whitaker has directed films and music videos as well.[24]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Training Day | Dimitri | |
| 2006 | The Ant Bully | Albert (voice) | |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters | James Farmer Jr. | NAACP Image Award,Outstanding Supporting Actor |
| 2009 | Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans | Daryl | |
| 2010 | My Soul to Take | Jerome | |
| 2011 | Abduction | Gilly | |
| Warrior | Stephon | ||
| 2015 | Back to School Mom | Noah Riley | |
| 2016 | Submerged | Eddie | |
| 2018 | Black Panther | YoungZuri | |
| 2019 | U Shoot Videos? | Moji | Short film |
| 2019 | Will 'The Machine' | Joe Walker | Short film |
| 2020 | Cut Throat City | Andre | |
| 2020 | No Escape | Thomas | |
| 2021 | 5150 | — | Short film; director and writer[25] |
| 2023 | The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster | Kango |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | One on One | Young Duane | Episode: "You Don't Have to Go Home..." |
| 2004–2005 | All That | Denzel | 6 episodes |
| 2005 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Jake / Kid (voice) | Episode: "Camp Comeoniwannascareya" |
| All That: 10th Anniversary Reunion Special | Denzel | Television special | |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | Background Fish Character (voice) |
Uncredited | |
| ER | Hassan | Episode: "Wake Up" | |
| 2006 | The War at Home | Jeff | 2 episodes |
| Teachers | Martin Sanders | Episode: "Schoolympics" | |
| 2007 | Handy Manny | Kyle (voice) | Episode: "Join the Club" |
| The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Trent | Episode: "Back in the Game" | |
| 2009 | House Rules | Peter Chiba | Television film |
| Dadnapped | Sheldon | ||
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Frankie Kirkland | Episode: "No Way Out" | |
| Brothers & Sisters | Carter | 3 episodes | |
| 2010 | R U There? | Max | Television film |
| Freaknik: The Musical | Fruit Bowl Boys Member (voice) | ||
| The Boondocks | Sgt. Gutter (voice) | Episode: "Bitches to Rags" | |
| 2012 | Black Dynamite | Donald the Accountant (voice) | Episode: "Taxes and Death or Get Him to the Sunset Strip" |
| Rizzoli & Isles | Trevor | Episode: "Virtual Love" | |
| 2013 | Monday Mornings | Nick Villanueva | Episode: "Communion" |
| Legit | Clay | 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | Blue Bloods | Curtis Turner | |
| 2019 | The Purge | Darren Moore | 7 episodes |
References
edit- ^"Today's Birthdays".Rome News-Tribune.June 15, 2008. p. 2A.
- ^ab"PENHI student graces the big screen in 'The Great Debaters'".
- ^"SacObserver [SOUL] Getting To Know Young" Debaters "Actors".
- ^"5 Questions For... Denzel Washington".Ebony.Johnson Publishing Company.February 2008. p. 40.
- ^Epstein, Dwayne (December 4, 2009).Denzel Washington.Greenhaven Publishing. pp. 81−82.ISBN9781420501575.
- ^"Denzel Washington: A Debater's Destiny",in Essence
- ^Smiley, Tavis(January 18, 2008)."Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Washington".Public Broadcasting Station.Archived fromthe originalon May 27, 2010.RetrievedNovember 5,2022.
- ^Willis, John;Lynch, Tom (November 2002).Screen World 2002.Applause Theatre & Cinema Book Publishers. p. 108.ISBN9781557835994.
- ^Brooks, Tim;Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009).The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present.Random House Publishing Group.p. 37.ISBN9780307483201.
- ^Christian, Margena A. (January 7, 2008)."'The Great Debaters': Film Shows Art Of War With Words ".Jet.Johnson Publishing Company.pp. 52−55.
- ^Lemire, Christy(December 27, 2007). "Strong persuaders".Star-News.
- ^Smith, Christopher (December 31, 2007). "Strong young actors help give power to Washington's 'Great Debaters'".Bangor Daily News.p. C8.
- ^"Denzel Whitaker eager to act again".Los Angeles Daily News.February 19, 2008.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^"twentyninth annual awards".Young Artist Awards.Archived fromthe originalon July 6, 2008.RetrievedNovember 5,2022.
- ^Marill, Alvin H. (October 11, 2010).Movies Made for Television: 2005-2009.Scarecrow Press.p. 23.ISBN9780810876590.
- ^Goldstein, Gary (October 9, 2010)."Movie review: 'My Soul to Take'".The Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^Holden, Stephen(September 22, 2011)."At Least His Abs Get a Workout".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^Honeycutt, Kirk (August 9, 2011)."Warrior: Film Review".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^Webster, Andy (November 26, 2015)."Review: In 'Submerged,' a Limo Ride Hits Rough Waters".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^McVey, Ciara (February 16, 2018)."'Black Panther' Stars Share Their Favorite Marvel Super Powers ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^Gleiberman, Owen(August 17, 2020)."'Cut Throat City' Review: The RZA Directs a Tale of Gangsta Desperation in Post-Katrina New Orleans ".Variety.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^Welkos, Robert W. (December 24, 2007)."Denzel looks to Denzel for direction".The Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^"Denzel Whitaker (visual voices guide)".Behind the Voice Actors.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^Haring, Bruce (April 29, 2021)."The 2021 Tribeca Festival Unveils Plans For TV, Episodic And Creator's Market, Including Live Events With Tina Fey, KISS".Deadline.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
- ^"5150 - Short Film".