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.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · Exit Protocol as Isaac Florentine
- 2025 · Hostile Takeover as Pete
- 2025 · Trouble Man as Jaxen
- 2024 · One More Shot as Robert Jackson
- 2023 · Outlaw Johnny Black as Outlaw Johnny Black
- 2023 · MR-9: Do or Die as Duke
- 2023 · The Island as Mark
- 2022 · As Good as Dead as Bryant
- 2022 · The Commando as James Baker
- 2021 · Rogue Hostage as Sparks
- 2021 · Assault on VA-33 as Chief Malone
- 2020 · Welcome to Sudden Death as Jesse Freeman
- 2019 · Triple Threat as Devereaux
- 2019 · Dragged Across Concrete as 'Biscuit'
- 2018 · Carl Weber's The Family Business as Vegas Duncan
- 2018 · Accident Man as Mick
- 2017 · Cops and Robbers as Michael
- 2017 · S.W.A.T.: Under Siege as Scorpion
- 2016 · Insecure as Zeke
- 2016 · The Crooked Man as Milo
- 2016 · Never Back Down: No Surrender as Case Walker
- 2016 · The Asian Connection as Greedy Greg
- 2014 · Beyond the Game as Himself
- 2014 · black-ish as Vincent
- 2014 · Falcon Rising as John 'Falcon' Chapman
- 2013 · Teen Titans Go! as Don Jackson (voice)
- 2012 · Metal Hurlant Chronicles as Teague
- 2012 · Arrow as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger
- 2012 · Arrow as Ben Turner
- 2012 · Somebody's Child as Douglas
- 2012 · Black Dynamite as Black Dynamite
- 2011 · Tactical Force as Hunt
- 2011 · Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown as Case Walker
- 2011 · Mortal Kombat: Legacy as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
- 2010 · Why Did I Get Married Too? as Marcus
- 2009 · Blood and Bone as Isaiah Bone
- 2008 · Batman: The Brave and the Bold as Tattooed Man (voice)
- 2008 · The Legend of Bruce Lee as Ali
- 2008 · The Dark Knight as Gambol
- 2007 · Why Did I Get Married? as Marcus
- 2006 · Undisputed II: Last Man Standing as George Chambers
- 2004 · Justice League Unlimited as Doomsday (voice)
- 2004 · Silver Hawk as Morris
- 2002 · CSI: Miami as Roy Bailey
- 2002 · The Making of Exit Wounds as Self
- 2001 · Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes as Spawn (archive footage)
- 2001 · Justice League as Doomsday (voice)
- 2001 · Exit Wounds as Lewis Strutt
- 2000 · Boston Public as Darren Schofield
- 2000 · Static Shock as Osebo (voice)
- 1999 · Universal Soldier: The Return as SETH
- 1999 · Mutiny as Ben Cooper
- 1997 · Spawn as Al Simmons / Spawn
- 1996 · 2 Days in the Valley as Buck
- 1996 · Captive Heart: The James Mink Story as Elroy
- 1995 · JAG as Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
- 1995 · Tyson as Mike Tyson
- 1993 · Living Single as Steve
- 1992 · Renegade as Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
- 1991 · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze as Audience Man
- Future · Karate Ghost as
- 2024 · Scream Before You Die as Joe Washington
- 2024 · Don't Mess with Grandma as JT
- 2024 · Chuck Zito: An American Story as Self
- 2023 · Come Out Fighting as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
- 2023 · You're Not Alone as Keith Mitchell
- 2023 · A Snowy Day in Oakland as Reverend Carter
- 2022 · The Hit as Brooke
- 2022 · Dead Zone as Boss
- 2022 · Kingdom Business as Julius “Caesar” Jones
- 2021 · Black Friday as Archie
- 2021 · Take Back as Brian
- 2021 · Send It! as Coach
- 2021 · Bisping as Self
- 2021 · Batman: Soul of the Dragon as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
- 2020 · The Art of Action as Self
- 2019 · Undercover Brother 2 as Undercover Brother / Narrator
- 2019 · In Search of the Last Action Heroes as Himself
- 2019 · Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks as Self
- 2019 · Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare as Self
- 2019 · The Hard Way as Payne
- 2018 · Every Day Is Christmas as Justin
- 2018 · Making a Killing as Orlando Hudson
- 2016 · Vigilante Diaries as Barrington
- 2016 · Chocolate City: Vegas Strip as Princeton
- 2015 · Chain of Command as James Webster
- 2015 · Chocolate City as Princeton
- 2015 · The Real Miyagi as Self
- 2014 · Skin Trade as Reed
- 2014 · Android Cop as Hammond
- 2013 · Generation Iron as Self
- 2013 · Fedz as Big D
- 2012 · Metal Hurlant Chronicles as Balt
- 2012 · The Philly Kid as Arthur Letts
- 2012 · Freaky Deaky as Donnell Lewis
- 2012 · We the Party as Officer Davis
- 2011 · Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse as Marcus Williams
- 2010 · One Angry Juror as Derrick
- 2010 · Mortal Kombat: Rebirth as Jackson Briggs (Jax)
- 2009 · Black Dynamite as Black Dynamite
- 2009 · The Legend of Bruce Lee as Ali
- 2005 · Getting Played as Actor
- 2004 · UnConventional as Self
- 2004 · Clubhouse as Ellis Hayes
- 2003 · Justice as Tre
- 2002 · Pandora's Box as Hampton Hines
- 2000 · Wonderland as Derrick Hatcher
- 2000 · Freedom Song as Coleman Vaughnes
- 1999 · Thick as Thieves as Pointy
- 1999 · Breakfast of Champions as Howell
- 1998 · Ringmaster as Demond
- 1997 · The Making of 'Spawn' as Self
- 1997 · City of Industry as Odell Williams
- 1996 · Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal as Carpenter
- 1995 · Ballistic as Quint
- 1995 · Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike as Silvio
- 1994 · On Deadly Ground as Oil Worker (uncredited)
- 1993 · Full Contact as Low-Ball
- 1992 · Universal Soldier as Soldier
- 1991 · True Identity as
- 1989 · The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
- 1989 · Saved by the Bell as Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
- 1989 · The Toxic Avenger Part II as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
- Future · To Live and Die in the Midwest as
- Future · Why Did I Get Married Again? as Marcus
- Future · Spymasters as
- Future · Drive Through Fire as
- Future · Special Op: Rent-a-Cop as Brock Belfry