Birthplace: Longview, TX
Birthname: Forest Stephen Whitaker

theOscarSite Bio: Forest Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220-lb frame. The athletically-inclined Whitaker initially found his way into college via a football scholarship. Later, however, he transferred to USC where he set his concentration on music and earned two more scholarships training as an operatic tenor. This, in turn, led to another scholarship at Berkeley with a renewed focus on acting and the performing stage.

Whitaker made his film debut at the age of 21 in the raucous comedy FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) wherein he played, quite naturally, a footballer. He went on to play another student pigskin player in his second film WISION QUEST (1985). Gaining experience on TV as well with featured spots on such varied shows as "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Cagney & Lacey," not to mention the TV-movie Civil War epic "North and South" (1985) (mini) and its sequel, the movie that truly put him on the map, however, was THE COLOR OF MONEY (1986). His one big scene as a naive-looking pool player who out-hustles Paul Newman's Fast Eddie Felson was pure electric. This led to more visible roles in the "A" class films PLATOON (1986), STAKEOUT and GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (both 1987), which culminated in his breakout lead portrayal of the tortured jazz icon Charlie "Bird" Parker in Clint Eastwood's passion project BIRD (1988), for which Whitaker won the Cannes Film Festival award for "best actor" and a Golden Globe nomination.

While his "gentle giant" characters typically display innocence, indecision and timidity along with a strong underlying humanity, he has certainly not shied away from the edgier, darker corners of life as his various hitmen and other menacing streetwise types can attest. Although in only the first section of the film, he was memorable as the IRA-captured British soldier whose bizarre relationship with a mysterious femme fatale serves as the catalyst for the critically-lauded drama THE CRYING GAME (1992). Always a willing participant to push the envelope, he's gone on to enhance a number of lesser films. Among those was his plastic surgeon in JOHNNY HANDSOME (1989), gay clothing designer in Robert Altman's PRÊT-Á-PORTER (1994), alien hunter in SPECIES (1995), absentee father confronted by his estranged son in SMOKE (1995), and Mafia hitman who models himself after the samurai warrior in GHOST DOG (1999), among many others. As would be expected, he's also had his share of epic-sized bombs, notoriously the L. Ron Hubbard sci-fi disaster BATTLEFIELD EARTH (2000). On the TV front, he was the consulting producer and host of a revamped Rod Serling's cult series classic "The Twilight Zone" (2002), which lasted a disappointing one season.

In the early 1990s Whitaker widened his horizons to include producing/directing and has since developed respect name behind the camera. He started things off co-producing the violent gangster film A RAGE IN HARLEM (1991), in which he co-starred with Gregory Hines and Robin Givens, then made his successful directorial debut with the soulful WAITING TO EXHALE (1995) showcasing a legion of distaff black stars. He also directed co-star Whitney Houston's music video of the movie's theme song ("Shoop Shoop"). Most recently he scored with audiences helming the fluffy romantic comedy FIRST DAUGHTER (2004) with Katie Holmes and Michael Keaton.

Since 2000, Whitaker's film acting credits include FOUR DOGS PLAYING POKER (2000), GREEN DRAGON, THE FOLLOW and THE FOURTH ANGEL (all 2001), PANIC ROOM and PHONE BOOTH (both 2002), MARY, A LITTLE TRIP TO HEAVEN and AMERICAN GUN (all 2005), EVEN MONEY, THE MARSH, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and EVERYONE'S HERO (voice) (all 2006), RIPPLE EFFECT, THE AIR I BREATHE and THE GREAT DEBATERS (all 2007), VANTAGE POINT, STREET KINGS, POWDER BLUE, WINGED CREATURES and PATIOTS (all 2008), and REPOSSESSION MAMBO, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and MY OWN LOVE SONG (all scheduled for release in 2009). He also had recurring roles on the TV series "The Shield" and "ER".

He is married to actress Keisha Whitaker and has two children with her, in addition to another child from a previous relationship. His younger brothers Kenn Whitaker and Damon Whitaker are both actors as well. Whitaker's multimedia company, Spirit Dance Entertainment, includes film, television and music production. Whitaker works closely with a number of charitable organizations. He has also given back to his community, serving as an Honorary Board Member for Penny Lane, an organization that provides assistance to abused teenagers, while committing himself to both 4-D All-Stars, a motivational mentor program for teenagers, and The Watts Cinema Project.

· Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2006: THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND