Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White (born November 10, 1967) is an American actor and professional martial artist, who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African-American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. White was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved as a teen to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he graduated from Central High School in 1988. White started martial arts training at the age of seven and is now an accomplished martial artist, holding seven legitimate black belts in Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Kobudo, Goju Ryu, Tang Soo Do, Wushu and Kyokushin, with a specific focus in Kyokushin (although his style incorporates aspects of many different martial arts forms). His first major starring role and breakout performance was in the 1995 HBO film Tyson, as heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson. In 1997, he portrayed the eponymous character in the 1997 movie Spawn. His work in Spawn earned him a nomination for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Male Newcomer. White starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier: The Return. In 2001, he also starred opposite fellow martial artist Steven Seagal in Exit Wounds. In 2003, he starred in Busta Rhymes' and Mariah Carey's music video "I Know What You Want". Since 2003, in addition to his on screen roles, White has been doing voice work, including Static Shock, Justice League, and the Spawn animated series. White showcases his martial arts skills in the direct-to-DVD film Undisputed II: Last Man Standing. He also appears in Michelle Yeoh's Silver Hawk in 2004. His film, Why Did I Get Married? opened at number one at the box office on October 12, 2007. White played the role of the mob boss Gambol in the 2008 film The Dark Knight. He also starred in the film Blood and Bone and the Blaxploitation homage Black Dynamite, both released in 2009. White wrote the scripts for both Black Dynamite and his upcoming 3 Bullets in which he stars with Bokeem Woodbine. White will make his directorial debut and star in Never Back Down 2, which is slated for a 2011 release. In August 2005 he wed his girlfriend of two years, Courtenay Chatman. The couple have a daughter named Morgan Michelle who was born on December 24, 2008. Michael has two sons from a previous relationship. He is an avid chess player, as seen in his movie Blood and Bone.
132 acting credits · 4 directing credits
Acting · 132
CSI: Miami
2002
Arrow
2012
JAG
1995
Teen Titans Go!
2013
The Dark Knight
2008
black-ish
2014
Renegade
1992
Boston Public
2000
Martin
1992
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
2008
Insecure
2016
Justice League Unlimited
2004
Saved by the Bell
1989
Static Shock
2000
Living Single
1993
Justice League
2001
Oscar Shaw
2026
Carl Weber's The Family Business
2018
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
2011
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse
2011
Never Back Down: No Surrender
2016
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
2006
Hostile Takeover
2025
Blood and Bone
2009
Windfall
2006
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
2011
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991
The Art of Action
2020
The Legend of Bruce Lee
2008
Black Dynamite
2012
Universal Soldier
1992
Clubhouse
2004
Wonderland
2000
Spawn
1997
Don't Mess with Grandma
2024
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
2012
Dragged Across Concrete
2019
Universal Soldier: The Return
1999
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
2017
Accident Man
2018
The Island
2023
As Good as Dead
2022
2 Days in the Valley
1996
Exit Protocol
2025
On Deadly Ground
1994
Triple Threat
2019
Exit Wounds
2001
Falcon Rising
2014
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
2001
Skin Trade
2014
One More Shot
2024
The Hard Way
2019
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
2019
MR-9: Do or Die
2023
Trouble Man
2025
Silver Hawk
2004
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
1989
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
2021
Why Did I Get Married?
2007
Kingdom Business
2022
The Toxic Avenger Part II
1989
Why Did I Get Married Too?
2010
Rogue Hostage
2021
Black Friday
2021
The Philly Kid
2012
Tyson
1995
Welcome to Sudden Death
2020
Black Dynamite
2009
Take Back
2021
The Asian Connection
2016
The Commando
2022
City of Industry
1997
Vigilante Diaries
2016
The Legend of Bruce Lee
2009
Ringmaster
1998
Come Out Fighting
2023
Outlaw Johnny Black
2023
Tactical Force
2011
Breakfast of Champions
1999
Assault on VA-33
2021
Freaky Deaky
2012
The Crooked Man
2016
Chain of Command
2015
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
2019
The Secret Between Us
2026
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
2019
True Identity
1991
Dead Zone
2022
Cops and Robbers
2017
Generation Iron
2013
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
2016
Getting Played
2005
Undercover Brother 2
2019
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996
Freedom Song
2000
Beyond the Game
2014
We the Party
2012
Mutiny
1999
Send It!
2021
Bisping
2021
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1996
Ballistic
1995
A Snowy Day in Oakland
2023
Pandora's Box
2002
Chuck Zito: An American Story
2024
Fedz
2013
Every Day Is Christmas
2018
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
1995
Android Cop
2014
Justice
2003
Somebody's Child
2012
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
2010
You're Not Alone
2023
One Angry Juror
2010
The Real Miyagi
2015
Full Contact
1993
The Making of Exit Wounds
2002
The Making of 'Spawn'
1997
Thick as Thieves
1999
Karate Ghost
—
Chocolate City
2015
UnConventional
2004
Making a Killing
2018
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
—
Why Did I Get Married Again?
—
Spymasters
—
Scream Before You Die
2024
The Hook
—
The Hit
2022
To Live and Die in the Midwest
—
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
2023
Drive Through Fire
—