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