Michael Jai White
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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
Credits
The Dark Knight (2008)
as Gambol
Oscar Shaw (2026)
as Oscar Shaw
Exit Protocol (2025)
as Isaac Florentine
Never Back Down: No Surrender (2016)
as Case Walker
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)
as Case Walker
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)
as George Chambers
Spawn (1997)
as Al Simmons / Spawn
Hostile Takeover (2025)
as Pete
Blood and Bone (2009)
as Isaiah Bone
Accident Man (2018)
as Mick
Universal Soldier (1992)
as Soldier
Dragged Across Concrete (2019)
as 'Biscuit'
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
as Audience Man
The Secret Between Us (2026)
as Jack Frazier
Triple Threat (2019)
as Devereaux
Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
as SETH
Dead Zone (2022)
as Boss
On Deadly Ground (1994)
as Oil Worker (uncredited)
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege (2017)
as Scorpion
Exit Wounds (2001)
as Lewis Strutt
MR-9: Do or Die (2023)
as Duke
Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)
as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
Skin Trade (2014)
as Reed
Falcon Rising (2014)
as John 'Falcon' Chapman
One More Shot (2024)
as Robert Jackson
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
as Buck
Thick as Thieves (1999)
as Pointy
As Good as Dead (2022)
as Bryant
Freaky Deaky (2012)
as Donnell Lewis
Black Dynamite (2009)
as Black Dynamite
Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)
as Marcus
Welcome to Sudden Death (2020)
as Jesse Freeman
The Island (2023)
as Mark
Paper Made (—)
Actor
City of Industry (1997)
as Odell Williams
The Commando (2022)
as James Baker
Breakfast of Champions (1999)
as Howell
Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
as Marcus
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike (1995)
as Silvio
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip (2016)
as Princeton
Vigilante Diaries (2016)
as Barrington
The Crooked Man (2016)
as Milo
The Hard Way (2019)
as Payne
The Asian Connection (2016)
as Greedy Greg
Black Friday (2021)
as Archie
Rogue Hostage (2021)
as Sparks
Tactical Force (2011)
as Hunt
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks (2019)
as Self
The Legend of Bruce Lee (2009)
as Ali
Take Back (2021)
as Brian
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes (2001)
as Spawn (archive footage)
Getting Played (2005)
as Actor
Undercover Brother 2 (2019)
as Undercover Brother / Narrator
Come Out Fighting (2023)
as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989)
as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)
as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
Assault on VA-33 (2021)
as Chief Malone
Trouble Man (2025)
as Jaxen
Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)
as Outlaw Johnny Black
Why Did I Get Married Again? (2026)
as Marcus
UnConventional (2004)
as Self
Don't Mess with Grandma (2024)
as JT
Silver Hawk (2004)
as Morris
Tyson (1995)
as Mike Tyson
Chuck Zito: An American Story (2024)
as Self
Cops and Robbers (2017)
as Michael
Send It! (2021)
as Coach
The Philly Kid (2012)
as Arthur Letts
A Snowy Day in Oakland (2023)
as Reverend Carter
You're Not Alone (2023)
as Keith Mitchell
Pandora's Box (2002)
as Hampton Hines
Ballistic (1995)
as Quint
True Identity (1991)
as Alley Guy #1
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story (1996)
as Elroy
Spymasters (—)
Actor
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth (2010)
as Jackson Briggs
Scream Before You Die (2024)
as Joe Washington
Every Day Is Christmas (2018)
as Justin
Generation Iron (2013)
as Self
Chocolate City (2015)
as Princeton
The Hook (—)
as Malcolm Miller
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal (1996)
as Carpenter
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop (2026)
as Brock Belfry
Chain of Command (2015)
as James Webster
Android Cop (2014)
as Hammond
One Angry Juror (2010)
as Derrick
Making a Killing (2018)
as Orlando Hudson
Beyond the Game (2014)
as Himself
Ringmaster (1998)
as Demond
Mutiny (1999)
as Ben Cooper
The Real Miyagi (2015)
as Self
Karate Ghost (—)
Actor
Bisping (2021)
as Self
We the Party (2012)
as Officer Davis
The Making of 'Spawn' (1997)
as Self
Full Contact (1993)
as Low-Ball
In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)
as Self
Somebody's Child (2012)
as Douglas
The Making of Exit Wounds (2002)
as Self
Freedom Song (2000)
as Coleman Vaughnes
Fedz (2013)
as Big D
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief (2023)
as Himself
Drive Through Fire (—)
Actor
Justice (2003)
as Tre
The Hit (2022)
as Brooke
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare (2019)
as Self
To Live and Die in the Midwest (—)
Actor