Biography
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.
Filmography
all 112
Movies 92
TV Shows 20
self 11
Voice 4
Narrator 1
Scream Before You Die (2024)
One More Shot (2024)
Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)
MR-9: Do or Die (2023)
The Island (2023)
Come Out Fighting (2023)
You're Not Alone (2023)
A Snowy Day in Oakland (2023)
As Good as Dead (2022)
Dead Zone (2022)
Kingdom Business (2022)
The Commando (2022)
Black Friday (2021)
Take Back (2021)
Rogue Hostage (2021)
Send It! (2021)
Assault on VA-33 (2021)
Bisping (2021)
Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)
Welcome to Sudden Death (2020)
The Art of Action (2020)
Undercover Brother 2 (2019)
In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks (2019)
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare (2019)
Triple Threat (2019)
The Hard Way (2019)
Every Day Is Christmas (2018)
Carl Weber's The Family Business (2018)
Dragged Across Concrete (2018)
Making a Killing (2018)
Accident Man (2018)
Cops and Robbers (2017)
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege (2017)
The Crooked Man (2016)
Vigilante Diaries (2016)
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip (2016)
Never Back Down: No Surrender (2016)
The Asian Connection (2016)
Chain of Command (2015)
Chocolate City (2015)
The Real Miyagi (2015)
Beyond the Game (2014)
Skin Trade (2014)
black-ish (2014)
Falcon Rising (2014)
Android Cop (2014)
Generation Iron (2013)
Fedz (2013)
Metal Hurlant Chronicles (2012)
Arrow (2012)
Somebody's Child (2012)
Black Dynamite (2012)
The Philly Kid (2012)
Freaky Deaky (2012)
We the Party (2012)
For Better or Worse (2011)
Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse (2011)
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)
Tactical Force (2011)
Mortal Kombat: Legacy (2011)
One Angry Juror (2010)
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth (2010)
Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)
Black Dynamite (2009)
The Legend of Bruce Lee (2009)
Blood and Bone (2009)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008)
The Legend of Bruce Lee (2008)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)
Getting Played (2005)
UnConventional (2004)
Clubhouse (2004)
Justice League Unlimited (2004)
Silver Hawk (2004)
Justice (2003)
CSI: Miami (2002)
Pandora's Box (2002)
The Making of Exit Wounds (2002)
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes (2001)
Justice League (2001)
Exit Wounds (2001)
Static Shock (2000)
Wonderland (2000)
Freedom Song (2000)
Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
Breakfast of Champions (1999)
Thick as Thieves (1999)
Mutiny (1999)
Ringmaster (1998)
Spawn (1997)
The Making of 'Spawn' (1997)
City of Industry (1997)
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal (1996)
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story (1996)
JAG (1995)
Tyson (1995)
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike (1995)
Ballistic (1995)
On Deadly Ground (1994)
Full Contact (1993)
Universal Soldier (1992)
True Identity (1991)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989)
Saved by the Bell (1989)
The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)
Trouble Man!
To Live and Die in the Midwest
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1967-11-10 (56 years old)
Birth NameMichael Richard Jai White
Birth PlaceBrooklyn, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
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