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.
Known for
Acting133
movieSpecial Op: Rent-a-Cop
2026
Brock Belfry
movieThe Secret Between Us
2026
Jack Frazier
movieOscar Shaw
2026
Oscar Shaw
movieExit Protocol
2025
Isaac Florentine
movieTrouble Man
2025
Jaxen
movieScream Before You Die
2024
Joe Washington
movieOne More Shot
2024
Robert Jackson
movieOutlaw Johnny Black
2023
Outlaw Johnny Black
movieCome Out Fighting
2023
Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
movieYou're Not Alone
2023
Keith Mitchell
movieA Snowy Day in Oakland
2023
Reverend Carter
movieAs Good as Dead
2022
Bryant
movieThe Hit
2022
Brooke
tvKingdom Business
2022
Julius “Caesar” Jones
movieThe Commando
2022
James Baker
movieBlack Friday
2021
Archie
movieTake Back
2021
Brian
movieRogue Hostage
2021
Sparks
movieSend It!
2021
Coach
movieAssault on VA-33
2021
Chief Malone
movieBisping
2021
Self
movieBatman: Soul of the Dragon
2021
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
movieWelcome to Sudden Death
2020
Jesse Freeman
movieUndercover Brother 2
2019
Undercover Brother / Narrator
movieTriple Threat
2019
Devereaux
movieDragged Across Concrete
2019
'Biscuit'
tvCarl Weber's The Family Business
2018
Vegas Duncan
movieMaking a Killing
2018
Orlando Hudson
movieCops and Robbers
2017
Michael
movieS.W.A.T.: Under Siege
2017
Scorpion
tvInsecure
2016
Zeke
movieVigilante Diaries
2016
Barrington
movieChocolate City: Vegas Strip
2016
Princeton
movieNever Back Down: No Surrender
2016
Case Walker
movieThe Asian Connection
2016
Greedy Greg
movieChain of Command
2015
James Webster
movieChocolate City
2015
Princeton
movieBeyond the Game
2014
Himself
tvblack-ish
2014
Vincent
movieFalcon Rising
2014
John 'Falcon' Chapman
movieAndroid Cop
2014
Hammond
tvTeen Titans Go!
2013
Don Jackson (voice)
movieFedz
2013
Big D
tvMetal Hurlant Chronicles
2012
Teague / Balt
tvArrow
2012
Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger / Ben Turner
movieSomebody's Child
2012
Douglas
tvBlack Dynamite
2012
Black Dynamite
movieThe Philly Kid
2012
Arthur Letts
movieFreaky Deaky
2012
Donnell Lewis
movieWe the Party
2012
Officer Davis
tvTyler Perry's For Better or Worse
2011
Marcus Williams
movieNever Back Down 2: The Beatdown
2011
Case Walker
tvMortal Kombat: Legacy
2011
Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
movieOne Angry Juror
2010
Derrick
movieMortal Kombat: Rebirth
2010
Jackson Briggs
movieBlack Dynamite
2009
Black Dynamite
movieBlood and Bone
2009
Isaiah Bone
tvBatman: The Brave and the Bold
2008
Tattooed Man (voice)
movieThe Dark Knight
2008
Gambol
tvWindfall
2006
Michael
movieUndisputed II: Last Man Standing
2006
George Chambers
tvClubhouse
2004
Ellis Hayes
tvJustice League Unlimited
2004
Doomsday (voice)
movieSilver Hawk
2004
Morris
tvCSI: Miami
2002
Roy Bailey
moviePandora's Box
2002
Hampton Hines
movieOnce Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
2001
Spawn (archive footage)
tvJustice League
2001
Doomsday (voice)
movieExit Wounds
2001
Lewis Strutt
tvBoston Public
2000
Darren Schofield
tvStatic Shock
2000
Osebo (voice)
tvWonderland
2000
Derrick Hatcher
movieFreedom Song
2000
Coleman Vaughnes
movieMutiny
1999
Ben Cooper
movieRingmaster
1998
Demond
movieSpawn
1997
Al Simmons / Spawn
movieCity of Industry
1997
Odell Williams
tvJAG
1995
Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
movieTyson
1995
Mike Tyson
movieBallistic
1995
Quint
movieOn Deadly Ground
1994
Oil Worker (uncredited)
tvLiving Single
1993
Steve
movieFull Contact
1993
Low-Ball
tvRenegade
1992
Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
tvMartin
1992
Valdez
movieUniversal Soldier
1992
Soldier
movieTrue Identity
1991
Alley Guy #1
movieThe Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
1989
Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
tvSaved by the Bell
1989
Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
movieThe Toxic Avenger Part II
1989
Apocalypse Inc. Executive
movieThe Hook
Malcolm Miller
Production5
movieOutlaw Johnny Black
2023
Producer
movieAs Good as Dead
2022
Producer
movieThe Commando
2022
Executive Producer
movieBlood and Bone
2009
Co-Producer
moviePVC-1
2008
Executive Producer
Writing5
Directing4
movieTrouble Man
2025
Director
movieOutlaw Johnny Black
2023
Director
Crew2
tvBlack Dynamite
2012
Creator
Creator1
tvBlack Dynamite
2012
Creator