
Michael Jai White
Known for ActingBorn 1967-11-10 (age 58)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.Read more
Movies & web series
★ 10.0Find where to watch →
The Secret Between Us
2026 · Movie
★ 8.5Find where to watch →
Carl Weber's The Family Business
2018 · Series
★ 8.5Find where to watch →
The Dark Knight
2008 · Movie
★ 8.4Find where to watch →
The Art of Action
2020 · Series
★ 8.3Find where to watch →
Justice League Unlimited
2004 · Series
★ 8.2Find where to watch →
Justice League
2001 · Series
★ 8.0Find where to watch →
Static Shock
2000 · Series
★ 8.0Find where to watch →
Living Single
1993 · Series
★ 7.7Find where to watch →
CSI: Miami
2002 · Series
★ 7.6Find where to watch →
Black Dynamite
2012 · Series
★ 7.8Find where to watch →
Saved by the Bell
1989 · Series
★ 7.6Find where to watch →
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
2008 · Series
The Making of 'Spawn'
★ 7.7Find where to watch →
The Making of 'Spawn'
1997 · Movie
★ 7.6Find where to watch →
Boston Public
2000 · Series
★ 7.4Find where to watch →
Kingdom Business
2022 · Series
★ 7.6Find where to watch →
Martin
1992 · Series
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
Blood and Bone
2009 · Movie
★ 7.4Find where to watch →
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing
2006 · Movie
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse
2011 · Series
★ 7.1Find where to watch →
Insecure
2016 · Series
★ 7.1Find where to watch →
black-ish
2014 · Series
★ 7.3Find where to watch →
JAG
1995 · Series
★ 7.1Find where to watch →
Never Back Down: No Surrender
2016 · Movie
★ 7.2Find where to watch →
Wonderland
2000 · Series
★ 6.9Find where to watch →
Exit Protocol
2025 · Movie
★ 7.1Find where to watch →
Black Dynamite
2009 · Movie
★ 7.0Find where to watch →
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
2019 · Movie
★ 6.9Find where to watch →
Hostile Takeover
2025 · Movie
★ 7.0Find where to watch →
The Legend of Bruce Lee
2008 · Series
★ 6.9Find where to watch →
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
2011 · Series
★ 6.8Find where to watch →
A Snowy Day in Oakland
2023 · Movie
★ 6.7Find where to watch →
Oscar Shaw
2026 · Movie
★ 7.0Find where to watch →
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1996 · Movie
★ 6.8Find where to watch →
Arrow
2012 · Series
★ 6.8Find where to watch →
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
2019 · Movie
★ 6.7Find where to watch →
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
2021 · Movie
★ 6.9Find where to watch →
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
2001 · Movie
★ 6.6Find where to watch →
Dragged Across Concrete
2019 · Movie
★ 6.5Find where to watch →
One More Shot
2024 · Movie
★ 6.6Find where to watch →
Generation Iron
2013 · Movie
★ 6.5Find where to watch →
Don't Mess with Grandma
2024 · Movie
★ 6.7Find where to watch →
Renegade
1992 · Series
★ 6.5Find where to watch →
The Real Miyagi
2015 · Movie
★ 6.5Find where to watch →
Why Did I Get Married Too?
2010 · Movie
★ 6.4Find where to watch →
MR-9: Do or Die
2023 · Movie
★ 6.4Find where to watch →
Triple Threat
2019 · Movie
★ 6.5Find where to watch →
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
2011 · Movie
★ 6.5Find where to watch →
Teen Titans Go!
2013 · Series