Forest Whitaker
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Name: Forest Whitaker
Birth Name: Forest Steven Whitaker
Birthdate: July 15, 1961
Birthplace: Longview, Texas
Whitaker's career got off to an auspicious start; he received a scholarship through John Gielgud's program at Berkeley, worked with Paul Newman in 1984's The Color of Money and Clint Eastwood in 1988's Bird. His breakthrough role was in 1992 when he appeared as a British soldier in The Crying Game. He's enjoyed TV success, starring in FX's hit series The Shield. He's earned kudos for his work behind the camera as well with 1995's Waiting to Exhale and 1998's Hope Floats. In 2006, he earned raves — and, oh yes, a Best Actor Oscar — for playing Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.
1. He has a black belt in Kenpo karate.
2. He got into college on a football scholarship; then transferred to USC and concentrated on music, training as an operatic tenor.
3. His first role was playing a football player.
4. Literally a starving actor, his role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High required him to go on an ice cream diet until he could afford pizza to gain weight.
5. He was arrested in 1996 for suspicion of DUI.
"I'm a lucky man. I get to live in my imagination."
— Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 8, 2006
Wife: Keisha Nash, actress, married May 1996
Daughter: (with Nash) True
Daughter: (with Nash) Sonnet
Stepdaughter: (mother: Nash) Autumn
Son: (mother: name unknown) Ocean
2007: Academy Award: Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland; Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), The Last King of Scotland
1989: Golden Globe nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), Bird
Vantage Point - (2008) - Actor
Winged Creatures - (2008) - Actor
Street Kings - (2008) - Actor
Even Money - (2007) - Actor
The Great Debaters - (2007) - Actor
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http://www.geocities.com/forest_whitaker/
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