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.
100 movies · 26 shows
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
2026·0.0
The Secret Between Us
2026·9.0
Oscar Shaw
2026·6.9
Exit Protocol
2025·7.1
Hostile Takeover
2025·6.9
Trouble Man
2025·6.2
Scream Before You Die
2024·1.7
Don't Mess with Grandma
2024·6.5
Chuck Zito: An American Story
2024·2.0
One More Shot
2024·6.5
Outlaw Johnny Black
2023·5.4
MR-9: Do or Die
2023·6.4
The Island
2023·6.3
Come Out Fighting
2023·4.5
You're Not Alone
2023·3.4
A Snowy Day in Oakland
2023·6.8
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
2023·2.0
As Good as Dead
2022·6.1
The Hit
2022·3.2
Dead Zone
2022·5.2
The Commando
2022·5.7
Black Friday
2021·4.9
Take Back
2021·5.9
Rogue Hostage
2021·5.6
Send It!
2021·5.9
Assault on VA-33
2021·5.5
Bisping
2021·5.9
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
2021·6.7
Welcome to Sudden Death
2020·6.1
Undercover Brother 2
2019·4.4
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
2019·7.0
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
2019·6.8
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
2019·6.3
Triple Threat
2019·6.4
The Hard Way
2019·5.5
Dragged Across Concrete
2019·6.6
Every Day Is Christmas
2018·4.9
Making a Killing
2018·5.2
Accident Man
2018·6.3
Cops and Robbers
2017·5.3
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
2017·5.9
The Crooked Man
2016·4.6
Vigilante Diaries
2016·4.2
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
2016·5.8
Never Back Down: No Surrender
2016·7.0
The Asian Connection
2016·3.9
Chain of Command
2015·5.1
Chocolate City
2015·5.2
The Real Miyagi
2015·6.5
Beyond the Game
2014·5.2
Skin Trade
2014·6.1
Falcon Rising
2014·6.3
Android Cop
2014·4.0
Generation Iron
2013·6.7
Fedz
2013·3.0
Somebody's Child
2012·5.3
The Philly Kid
2012·5.4
Freaky Deaky
2012·5.1
We the Party
2012·4.7
Tactical Force
2011·5.5
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
2011·6.5
One Angry Juror
2010·4.2
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
2010·5.8
Why Did I Get Married Too?
2010·6.5
Black Dynamite
2009·7.1
The Legend of Bruce Lee
2009·5.5
Blood and Bone
2009·7.4
The Dark Knight
2008·8.5
Why Did I Get Married?
2007·6.5
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
2006·7.4
Getting Played
2005·6.0
UnConventional
2004·5.3
Silver Hawk
2004·5.5
Justice
2003·5.0
Pandora's Box
2002·5.7
The Making of Exit Wounds
2002·0.0
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
2001·6.9
Exit Wounds
2001·5.9
Freedom Song
2000·5.7
Universal Soldier: The Return
1999·5.9
Thick as Thieves
1999·6.0
Breakfast of Champions
1999·5.0
Mutiny
1999·4.9
Ringmaster
1998·4.2
Spawn
1997·5.5
The Making of 'Spawn'
1997·7.7
City of Industry
1997·5.5
2 Days in the Valley
1996·6.2
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1996·7.0
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996·5.1
Tyson
1995·6.0
Ballistic
1995·3.5
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
1995·5.1
On Deadly Ground
1994·5.2
Full Contact
1993·5.1
Universal Soldier
1992·6.4
True Identity
1991·5.6
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991·6.2
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
1989·5.0
The Toxic Avenger Part II
1989·5.4