Michael Jai White
Acting
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.
TV Shows(26)
Kingdom Business
Julius “Caesar” Jones
2022
The Art of Action
Self
2020
Carl Weber's The Family Business
Vegas Duncan
2018
Insecure
Zeke
2016
black-ish
Vincent
2014
Teen Titans Go!
Don Jackson (voice)
2013
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
Teague
2012
Arrow
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger
2012
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
2012
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse
Marcus Williams
2011
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
2011
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Tattooed Man (voice)
2008
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Ali
2008
Windfall
Michael
2006
Clubhouse
Ellis Hayes
2004
Justice League Unlimited
Doomsday (voice)
2004
CSI: Miami
Roy Bailey
2002
Justice League
Doomsday (voice)
2001
Boston Public
Darren Schofield
2000
Static Shock
Osebo (voice)
2000
Wonderland
Derrick Hatcher
2000
JAG
Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
1995
Living Single
Steve
1993
Renegade
Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
1992
Martin
Valdez
1992
Saved by the Bell
Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
1989
Movies(105)
The Secret Between Us
Jack Frazier
2026
Oscar Shaw
Oscar Shaw
2026
Exit Protocol
Isaac Florentine
2025
Hostile Takeover
Pete
2025
Trouble Man
Jaxen
2025
Scream Before You Die
Joe Washington
2024
Don't Mess with Grandma
JT
2024
Chuck Zito: An American Story
Self
2024
One More Shot
Robert Jackson
2024
Outlaw Johnny Black
Outlaw Johnny Black
2023
MR-9: Do or Die
Duke
2023
The Island
Mark
2023
Come Out Fighting
Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
2023
You're Not Alone
Keith Mitchell
2023
A Snowy Day in Oakland
Reverend Carter
2023
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
Himself
2023
As Good as Dead
Bryant
2022
The Hit
Brooke
2022
Dead Zone
Boss
2022
The Commando
James Baker
2022
Black Friday
Archie
2021
Take Back
Brian
2021
Rogue Hostage
Sparks
2021
Send It!
Coach
2021
Assault on VA-33
Chief Malone
2021
Bisping
Self
2021
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
2021
Welcome to Sudden Death
Jesse Freeman
2020
Undercover Brother 2
Undercover Brother / Narrator
2019
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
Self
2019
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Self
2019
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
Self
2019
Triple Threat
Devereaux
2019
The Hard Way
Payne
2019
Dragged Across Concrete
'Biscuit'
2019
Every Day Is Christmas
Justin
2018
Making a Killing
Orlando Hudson
2018
Accident Man
Mick
2018
Cops and Robbers
Michael
2017
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
Scorpion
2017
The Crooked Man
Milo
2016
Vigilante Diaries
Barrington
2016
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
Princeton
2016
Never Back Down: No Surrender
Case Walker
2016
The Asian Connection
Greedy Greg
2016
Chain of Command
James Webster
2015
Chocolate City
Princeton
2015
The Real Miyagi
Self
2015
Beyond the Game
Himself
2014
Skin Trade
Reed
2014
Falcon Rising
John 'Falcon' Chapman
2014
Android Cop
Hammond
2014
Generation Iron
Self
2013
Fedz
Big D
2013
Somebody's Child
Douglas
2012
The Philly Kid
Arthur Letts
2012
Freaky Deaky
Donnell Lewis
2012
We the Party
Officer Davis
2012
Tactical Force
Hunt
2011
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
Case Walker
2011
One Angry Juror
Derrick
2010
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
Jackson Briggs
2010
Why Did I Get Married Too?
Marcus
2010
Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite
2009
The Legend of Bruce Lee
Ali
2009
Blood and Bone
Isaiah Bone
2009
The Dark Knight
Gambol
2008
Why Did I Get Married?
Marcus
2007
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
George Chambers
2006
Getting Played
Actor
2005
UnConventional
Self
2004
Silver Hawk
Morris
2004
Justice
Tre
2003
Pandora's Box
Hampton Hines
2002
The Making of Exit Wounds
Self
2002
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
Spawn (archive footage)
2001
Exit Wounds
Lewis Strutt
2001
Freedom Song
Coleman Vaughnes
2000
Universal Soldier: The Return
SETH
1999
Thick as Thieves
Pointy
1999
Breakfast of Champions
Howell
1999
Mutiny
Ben Cooper
1999
Ringmaster
Demond
1998
Spawn
Al Simmons / Spawn
1997
The Making of 'Spawn'
Self
1997
City of Industry
Odell Williams
1997
2 Days in the Valley
Buck
1996
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
Carpenter
1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Elroy
1996
Tyson
Mike Tyson
1995
Ballistic
Quint
1995
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
Silvio
1995
On Deadly Ground
Oil Worker (uncredited)
1994
Full Contact
Low-Ball
1993
Universal Soldier
Soldier
1992
True Identity
Alley Guy #1
1991
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Audience Man
1991
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
1989
The Toxic Avenger Part II
Apocalypse Inc. Executive
1989
To Live and Die in the Midwest
Drive Through Fire
Spymasters
Karate Ghost
Why Did I Get Married Again?
Marcus
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
Brock Belfry