Acting · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA · Born November 10, 1967
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.
MovieWhy Did I Get Married Again?
2026
as Marcus
MovieSpecial Op: Rent-a-Cop
2026
as Brock Belfry
MovieThe Secret Between Us
2026
as Jack Frazier
MovieOscar Shaw
2026
as Oscar Shaw
MovieExit Protocol
2025
as Isaac Florentine
MovieHostile Takeover
2025
as Pete
MovieTrouble Man
2025
as Jaxen
MovieScream Before You Die
2024
as Joe Washington
MovieDon't Mess with Grandma
2024
as JT
MovieChuck Zito: An American Story
2024
as Self
MovieOne More Shot
2024
as Robert Jackson
MovieOutlaw Johnny Black
2023
as Outlaw Johnny Black
MovieMR-9: Do or Die
2023
as Duke
MovieThe Island
2023
as Mark
MovieCome Out Fighting
2023
as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
MovieYou're Not Alone
2023
as Keith Mitchell
MovieA Snowy Day in Oakland
2023
as Reverend Carter
MovieThe Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
2023
as Himself
MovieAs Good as Dead
2022
as Bryant
MovieThe Hit
2022
as Brooke
MovieDead Zone
2022
as Boss
TVKingdom Business
2022
as Julius “Caesar” Jones
MovieThe Commando
2022
as James Baker
MovieBlack Friday
2021
as Archie
MovieTake Back
2021
as Brian
MovieRogue Hostage
2021
as Sparks
MovieSend It!
2021
as Coach
MovieAssault on VA-33
2021
as Chief Malone
MovieBisping
2021
as Self
MovieBatman: Soul of the Dragon
2021
as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
MovieWelcome to Sudden Death
2020
as Jesse Freeman
TVThe Art of Action
2020
as Self
MovieUndercover Brother 2
2019
as Undercover Brother / Narrator
MovieIn Search of the Last Action Heroes
2019
as Self
MovieIron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
2019
as Self
MovieHidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
2019
as Self
MovieTriple Threat
2019
as Devereaux
MovieThe Hard Way
2019
as Payne
MovieDragged Across Concrete
2019
as 'Biscuit'
MovieEvery Day Is Christmas
2018
as Justin
TVCarl Weber's The Family Business
2018
as Vegas Duncan
MovieMaking a Killing
2018
as Orlando Hudson
MovieAccident Man
2018
as Mick
MovieCops and Robbers
2017
as Michael
MovieS.W.A.T.: Under Siege
2017
as Scorpion
TVInsecure
2016
as Zeke
MovieThe Crooked Man
2016
as Milo
MovieVigilante Diaries
2016
as Barrington
MovieChocolate City: Vegas Strip
2016
as Princeton
MovieNever Back Down: No Surrender
2016
as Case Walker
MovieThe Asian Connection
2016
as Greedy Greg
MovieChain of Command
2015
as James Webster
MovieChocolate City
2015
as Princeton
MovieThe Real Miyagi
2015
as Self
MovieBeyond the Game
2014
as Himself
MovieSkin Trade
2014
as Reed
TVblack-ish
2014
as Vincent
MovieFalcon Rising
2014
as John 'Falcon' Chapman
MovieAndroid Cop
2014
as Hammond
MovieGeneration Iron
2013
as Self
TVTeen Titans Go!
2013
as Don Jackson (voice)
MovieFedz
2013
as Big D
TVMetal Hurlant Chronicles
2012
as Teague
TVArrow
2012
as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger
MovieSomebody's Child
2012
as Douglas
TVBlack Dynamite
2012
as Black Dynamite
MovieThe Philly Kid
2012
as Arthur Letts
MovieFreaky Deaky
2012
as Donnell Lewis
MovieWe the Party
2012
as Officer Davis
MovieTactical Force
2011
as Hunt
TVTyler Perry's For Better or Worse
2011
as Marcus Williams
MovieNever Back Down 2: The Beatdown
2011
as Case Walker
TVMortal Kombat: Legacy
2011
as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
MovieOne Angry Juror
2010
as Derrick
MovieMortal Kombat: Rebirth
2010
as Jackson Briggs
MovieWhy Did I Get Married Too?
2010
as Marcus
MovieBlack Dynamite
2009
as Black Dynamite
MovieThe Legend of Bruce Lee
2009
as Ali
MovieBlood and Bone
2009
as Isaiah Bone
TVBatman: The Brave and the Bold
2008
as Tattooed Man (voice)
TVThe Legend of Bruce Lee
2008
as Ali
MovieThe Dark Knight
2008
as Gambol
MovieWhy Did I Get Married?
2007
as Marcus
TVWindfall
2006
as Michael
MovieUndisputed II: Last Man Standing
2006
as George Chambers
MovieGetting Played
2005
as Actor
MovieUnConventional
2004
as Self
TVClubhouse
2004
as Ellis Hayes
TVJustice League Unlimited
2004
as Doomsday (voice)
MovieSilver Hawk
2004
as Morris
MovieJustice
2003
as Tre
TVCSI: Miami
2002
as Roy Bailey
MoviePandora's Box
2002
as Hampton Hines
MovieThe Making of Exit Wounds
2002
as Self
MovieOnce Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
2001
as Spawn (archive footage)
TVJustice League
2001
as Doomsday (voice)
MovieExit Wounds
2001
as Lewis Strutt
TVBoston Public
2000
as Darren Schofield
TVStatic Shock
2000
as Osebo (voice)
TVWonderland
2000
as Derrick Hatcher
MovieFreedom Song
2000
as Coleman Vaughnes
MovieUniversal Soldier: The Return
1999
as SETH
MovieThick as Thieves
1999
as Pointy
MovieBreakfast of Champions
1999
as Howell
MovieMutiny
1999
as Ben Cooper
MovieRingmaster
1998
as Demond
MovieSpawn
1997
as Al Simmons / Spawn
The Making of 'Spawn'
1997
as Self
MovieCity of Industry
1997
as Odell Williams
Movie2 Days in the Valley
1996
as Buck
MovieShaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1996
as Carpenter
MovieCaptive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996
as Elroy
TVJAG
1995
as Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
MovieTyson
1995
as Mike Tyson
MovieBallistic
1995
as Quint
MovieRing of Fire III: Lion Strike
1995
as Silvio
MovieOn Deadly Ground
1994
as Oil Worker (uncredited)
TVLiving Single
1993
as Steve
MovieFull Contact
1993
as Low-Ball
TVRenegade
1992
as Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
TVMartin
1992
as Valdez
MovieUniversal Soldier
1992
as Soldier
MovieTrue Identity
1991
as Alley Guy #1
MovieTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991
as Audience Man
MovieThe Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
1989
as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
TVSaved by the Bell
1989
as Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
MovieThe Toxic Avenger Part II
1989
as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
MovieTo Live and Die in the Midwest
Drive Through Fire
Spymasters
Karate Ghost
MovieThe Hook
as Malcolm Miller
Paper Made
