Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, producer, director, and activist. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
After making his film debut in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Whitaker went on to earn a reputation for intensive character study work for films, such as Platoon (1986), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bird (1988), The Crying Game (1992), Phenomenon (1996), Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), The Great Debaters (2007), The Butler (2013), Arrival (2016), and Respect (2021). He has also appeared in blockbusters, such as Panic Room (2002), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) as Saw Gerrera, and Black Panther (2018) as Zuri. For his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the British historical drama film The Last King of Scotland (2006), Whitaker won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Whitaker made his directorial debut with the television film Strapped (1993), and directed the films Waiting to Exhale (1995), Hope Floats (1998), and First Daughter (2004).
Apart from his film career, Whitaker is also known for his humanitarian work and activism. In 2011, he was inducted as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, later receiving a promotion to Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, and serves as the CEO of Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), a non-profit outreach program.
53Credits23 TV · 30 films
1978–2025Years activefirst to latest
10.0 Highest ratedTo Live and Die and Live
7.3 Average ratingacross 51 titles
Top TV shows 23best Forest Whitaker shows
- 1
Criminal MindsSam Cooper · 1 ep · 2005 - 2
AndorSaw Gerrera · 5 eps · 2022 - 3
The ShieldJon Kavanaugh · 13 eps · 2002 - 4
Godfather of HarlemEllsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson · 40 eps · 2019 - 5
ERCurtis Ames · 4 eps · 1994 - 6
Star Wars RebelsSaw Gerrera (voice) · 4 eps · 2014 - 7
The HireThe Employer · 1 ep · 2001 - 8
Hill Street Blues1 ep · 1981 - 9
North and SouthCuffey · 8 eps · 1985 - 10
Amazing StoriesJerry · 1 ep · 1985 - 11
Criminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorSam Cooper · 13 eps · 2011 - 12
EmpireEddie Barker · 11 eps · 2015 - 13
Diff'rent Strokes1 ep · 1978 - 14
American Dad!Turlington (voice) · 3 eps · 2005 - 15
Cagney & LaceyNight Manager · 1 ep · 1982 - 16
RootsFiddler · 4 eps · 2016 - 17
Star Wars: Go RogueSaw Gerrera (voice) · 4 eps · 2016 - 18
The Emperor of Ocean ParkJudge Oliver Garland · 10 eps · 2024 - 19
ExtrapolationsAuggie Bolo · 1 ep · 2023 - 20
Hollywood BlackExecutive Producer · 4 eps · 2024 - 21
By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of HarlemExecutive Producer · 4 eps · 2020 - 22Brick CityExecutive Producer · 11 eps · 2009
- 23Rise of the EmpressExecutive Producer
Top movies 30best Forest Whitaker movies
- 1
To Live and Die and LiveProducer · 2025 - 2
Devil's Pie: D'AngeloProducer · 2019 - 3
A Little Off MarkThanks · 1986 - 4
The King of KingsPeter (voice) · 2025 - 5
The PaperboyNarrator · 2000 - 6
PlatoonBig Harold · 1986 · Drama - 7
ArrivalColonel Weber · 2016 · Drama - 8
Big George ForemanDoc Broadus · 2023 - 9
Door to DoorCo-Executive Producer · 2002 - 10
Rogue One: A Star Wars StorySaw Gerrera · 2016 · Action - 11
The Last King of ScotlandIdi Amin · 2006 - 12
Black PantherZuri · 2018 - 13
SouthpawTitus 'Tick' Wills · 2015 · Action - 14
Andor: A Disney+ Day Special LookSaw Gerrera (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2022 - 15
Fruitvale StationProducer · 2013 - 16
The ButlerCecil Gaines · 2013 · Drama - 17
Good Morning, VietnamEdward Garlick · 1987 · Comedy - 18
Ghost Dog: The Way of the SamuraiGhost Dog · 1999 - 19
The Great DebatersDr. James Farmer Sr. · 2007 - 20
SmokeCyrus Cole · 1995 - 21
Mysteries of the Unseen WorldNarrator · 2013 - 22
Lush LifeBuddy Chester · 1993 - 23
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultMr. Rucker · 1996 - 24
Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to LifeLion · 2010 - 25
BloodsportRawlins · 1988 - 26
DopeThe Narrator (voice) · 2015 - 27
Phone BoothCaptain Ramey · 2003 · Thriller - 28
Panic RoomBurnham · 2002 · Crime - 29
Taken 3Inspector Frank Dotzler · 2014 · Thriller - 30
The Last StandAgent John Bannister · 2013 · Action
