1967-11-10 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
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.
![]() |
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop | Brock Belfry | 2026-04-14 |
![]() |
Oscar Shaw | Oscar Shaw | 2026-01-09 |
![]() |
The Secret Between Us | Jack Frazier | 2026-04-03 |
![]() |
Trouble Man | Jaxen | 2025-08-01 |
![]() |
Exit Protocol | Isaac Florentine | 2025-11-07 |
![]() |
Hostile Takeover | Pete | 2025-08-08 |
![]() |
Don't Mess with Grandma | JT | 2024-09-20 |
![]() |
One More Shot | Robert Jackson | 2024-01-09 |
![]() |
Scream Before You Die | Joe Washington | 2024-12-01 |
![]() |
Chuck Zito: An American Story | Self | 2024-05-01 |
![]() |
You're Not Alone | Keith Mitchell | 2023-03-24 |
![]() |
A Snowy Day in Oakland | Reverend Carter | 2023-03-17 |
![]() |
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief | Himself | 2023-01-01 |
![]() |
Come Out Fighting | Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron | 2023-05-19 |
![]() |
The Island | Mark | 2023-07-21 |
![]() |
Outlaw Johnny Black | Outlaw Johnny Black | 2023-09-15 |
![]() |
মাসুদ রানা: ধ্বংস পাহাড় | Duke | 2023-08-25 |
![]() |
The Commando | James Baker | 2022-01-07 |
![]() |
Dead Zone | Boss | 2022-07-29 |
![]() |
As Good as Dead | Bryant | 2022-12-16 |
![]() |
The Hit | Brooke | 2022-12-09 |
![]() |
Bisping | Self | 2021-02-06 |
![]() |
Take Back | Brian | 2021-06-18 |
![]() |
Black Friday | Archie | 2021-11-19 |
![]() |
Send It! | Coach | 2021-05-11 |
![]() |
Rogue Hostage | Sparks | 2021-06-11 |
![]() |
Batman: Soul of the Dragon | Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice) | 2021-01-12 |
![]() |
Assault on VA-33 | Chief Malone | 2021-04-22 |
![]() |
Welcome to Sudden Death | Jesse Freeman | 2020-09-09 |
![]() |
Triple Threat | Devereaux | 2019-03-19 |
![]() |
In Search of the Last Action Heroes | Self | 2019-09-01 |
![]() |
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare | Self | 2019-08-01 |
![]() |
The Hard Way | Payne | 2019-03-05 |
![]() |
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks | Self | 2019-08-14 |
![]() |
Dragged Across Concrete | 'Biscuit' | 2019-02-21 |
![]() |
Undercover Brother 2 | Undercover Brother / Narrator | 2019-11-05 |
![]() |
Every Day Is Christmas | Justin | 2018-11-24 |
![]() |
Making a Killing | Orlando Hudson | 2018-08-10 |
![]() |
Accident Man | Mick | 2018-02-06 |
![]() |
Cops and Robbers | Michael | 2017-12-12 |
![]() |
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege | Scorpion | 2017-08-01 |
![]() |
Never Back Down: No Surrender | Case Walker | 2016-06-07 |
![]() |
The Crooked Man | Milo | 2016-10-01 |
![]() |
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip | Princeton | 2016-07-04 |
![]() |
The Asian Connection | Greedy Greg | 2016-05-13 |
![]() |
Vigilante Diaries | Barrington | 2016-09-01 |
![]() |
Chocolate City | Princeton | 2015-05-22 |
![]() |
Chain of Command | James Webster | 2015-08-30 |
![]() |
The Real Miyagi | Self | 2015-02-20 |
![]() |
Skin Trade | Reed | 2014-11-07 |
![]() |
Falcon Rising | John 'Falcon' Chapman | 2014-09-05 |
![]() |
Android Cop | Hammond | 2014-02-04 |
![]() |
Beyond the Game | Himself | 2014-12-31 |
![]() |
Fedz | Big D | 2013-03-13 |
![]() |
Generation Iron | Self | 2013-09-20 |
![]() |
Freaky Deaky | Donnell Lewis | 2012-04-22 |
![]() |
Somebody's Child | Douglas | 2012-08-11 |
![]() |
We the Party | Officer Davis | 2012-04-06 |
![]() |
The Philly Kid | Arthur Letts | 2012-05-11 |
![]() |
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown | Case Walker | 2011-09-13 |
![]() |
Tactical Force | Hunt | 2011-12-01 |
![]() |
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth | Jackson Briggs | 2010-06-08 |
![]() |
One Angry Juror | Derrick | 2010-11-15 |
![]() |
Why Did I Get Married Too? | Marcus | 2010-04-02 |
![]() |
Blood and Bone | Isaiah Bone | 2009-02-07 |
![]() |
The Legend of Bruce Lee | Ali | 2009-04-30 |
![]() |
Black Dynamite | Black Dynamite | 2009-10-16 |
![]() |
The Dark Knight | Gambol | 2008-07-16 |
![]() |
Why Did I Get Married? | Marcus | 2007-10-12 |
![]() |
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing | George Chambers | 2006-04-11 |
![]() |
Getting Played | Actor | 2005-12-10 |
![]() |
飞鹰 | Morris | 2004-01-15 |
![]() |
UnConventional | Self | 2004-10-01 |
![]() |
Justice | Tre | 2003-05-08 |
![]() |
The Making of Exit Wounds | Self | 2002-03-14 |
![]() |
Trois 2: Pandora's Box | Hampton Hines | 2002-08-09 |
![]() |
Exit Wounds | Lewis Strutt | 2001-03-16 |
![]() |
De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros | Spawn (archive footage) | 2001-12-23 |
![]() |
Freedom Song | Coleman Vaughnes | 2000-02-27 |
![]() |
Breakfast of Champions | Howell | 1999-02-18 |
![]() |
Universal Soldier: The Return | SETH | 1999-08-05 |
![]() |
Thick as Thieves | Pointy | 1999-04-09 |
![]() |
Mutiny | Ben Cooper | 1999-01-01 |
![]() |
Ringmaster | Demond | 1998-11-25 |
![]() |
The Making of 'Spawn' | Self | 1997-07-15 |
![]() |
City of Industry | Odell Williams | 1997-03-14 |
![]() |
Spawn | Al Simmons / Spawn | 1997-07-31 |
![]() |
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story | Elroy | 1996-04-14 |
![]() |
2 Days in the Valley | Buck | 1996-09-11 |
![]() |
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal | Carpenter | 1996-06-20 |
![]() |
Ballistic | Quint | 1995-02-28 |
![]() |
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike | Silvio | 1995-02-28 |
![]() |
Tyson | Mike Tyson | 1995-04-29 |
![]() |
On Deadly Ground | Oil Worker (uncredited) | 1994-02-18 |
![]() |
Full Contact | Low-Ball | 1993-05-04 |
![]() |
Universal Soldier | Soldier | 1992-07-10 |
![]() |
True Identity | Alley Guy #1 | 1991-08-23 |
![]() |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze | Audience Man | 1991-03-22 |
![]() |
The Toxic Avenger Part II | Apocalypse Inc. Executive | 1989-07-15 |
![]() |
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie | Apocalypse, Inc. Executive | 1989-11-24 |
![]() |
The Hook | Malcolm Miller | |
![]() |
Paper Made | ||
![]() |
Spymasters | ||
![]() |
Karate Ghost | ||
![]() |
Drive Through Fire | ||
![]() |
Why Did I Get Married Again? | Marcus | |
![]() |
To Live and Die in the Midwest |