Michael Jai White
Known for Acting · 132 credits
- Born
- 1967-11-10 (age 58)
- Place of birth
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
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
TV Shows (26)
CSI: Miami
2002
as Roy Bailey
Arrow
2012
as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger
JAG
1995
as Peter Quinn / Martin Payne
Teen Titans Go!
2013
as Don Jackson (voice)
black-ish
2014
as Vincent
Renegade
1992
as Luther - Dawn's boyfriend
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
2008
as Tattooed Man (voice)
Boston Public
2000
as Darren Schofield
Martin
1992
as Valdez
Insecure
2016
as Zeke
Justice League Unlimited
2004
as Doomsday (voice)
Static Shock
2000
as Osebo (voice)
Saved by the Bell
1989
as Military Police Man #2 (uncredited)
Living Single
1993
as Steve
Justice League
2001
as Doomsday (voice)
Carl Weber's The Family Business
2018
as Vegas Duncan
Mortal Kombat: Legacy
2011
as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse
2011
as Marcus Williams
The Legend of Bruce Lee
2008
as Ali
Windfall
2006
as Michael
Black Dynamite
2012
as Black Dynamite
The Art of Action
2020
as Self
Wonderland
2000
as Derrick Hatcher
Clubhouse
2004
as Ellis Hayes
Metal Hurlant Chronicles
2012
as Teague / Balt
Kingdom Business
2022
as Julius “Caesar” Jones
Movies (106)
The Dark Knight
2008
as Gambol
Oscar Shaw
2026
as Oscar Shaw
Hostile Takeover
2025
as Pete
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
Blood and Bone
2009
as Isaiah Bone
Universal Soldier
1992
as Soldier
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991
as Audience Man
Spawn
1997
as Al Simmons / Spawn
Exit Wounds
2001
as Lewis Strutt
Don't Mess with Grandma
2024
as JT
Accident Man
2018
as Mick
Dragged Across Concrete
2019
as 'Biscuit'
Exit Protocol
2025
as Isaac Florentine
The Island
2023
as Mark
Triple Threat
2019
as Devereaux
Universal Soldier: The Return
1999
as SETH
S.W.A.T.: Under Siege
2017
as Scorpion
Falcon Rising
2014
as John 'Falcon' Chapman
Skin Trade
2014
as Reed
On Deadly Ground
1994
as Oil Worker (uncredited)
Trouble Man
2025
as Jaxen
As Good as Dead
2022
as Bryant
MR-9: Do or Die
2023
as Duke
Silver Hawk
2004
as Morris
Batman: Soul of the Dragon
2021
as Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger (voice)
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
2019
as Self
The Hard Way
2019
as Payne
Black Friday
2021
as Archie
2 Days in the Valley
1996
as Buck
Black Dynamite
2009
as Black Dynamite
One More Shot
2024
as Robert Jackson
The Commando
2022
as James Baker
Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes
2001
as Spawn (archive footage)
Take Back
2021
as Brian
Why Did I Get Married?
2007
as Marcus
Rogue Hostage
2021
as Sparks
Vigilante Diaries
2016
as Barrington
Bisping
2021
as Self
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
1989
as Apocalypse, Inc. Executive
Tyson
1995
as Mike Tyson
Why Did I Get Married Too?
2010
as Marcus
Assault on VA-33
2021
as Chief Malone
Welcome to Sudden Death
2020
as Jesse Freeman
The Crooked Man
2016
as Milo
Breakfast of Champions
1999
as Howell
Mutiny
1999
as Ben Cooper
The Toxic Avenger Part II
1989
as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
The Asian Connection
2016
as Greedy Greg
Tactical Force
2011
as Hunt
The Philly Kid
2012
as Arthur Letts
City of Industry
1997
as Odell Williams
Ballistic
1995
as Quint
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
2019
as Self
Freaky Deaky
2012
as Donnell Lewis
Come Out Fighting
2023
as Sergeant AJ 'Red' McCarron
Outlaw Johnny Black
2023
as Outlaw Johnny Black
Freedom Song
2000
as Coleman Vaughnes
The Legend of Bruce Lee
2009
as Ali
Ringmaster
1998
as Demond
Dead Zone
2022
as Boss
Getting Played
2005
as Actor
Justice
2003
as Tre
Android Cop
2014
as Hammond
Send It!
2021
as Coach
Shaughnessy: The Iron Marshal
1996
as Carpenter
Beyond the Game
2014
as Himself
Ring of Fire III: Lion Strike
1995
as Silvio
True Identity
1991
as Alley Guy #1
The Secret Between Us
2026
as Jack Frazier
Chain of Command
2015
as James Webster
Chocolate City: Vegas Strip
2016
as Princeton
A Snowy Day in Oakland
2023
as Reverend Carter
Undercover Brother 2
2019
as Undercover Brother / Narrator
Chuck Zito: An American Story
2024
as Self
Cops and Robbers
2017
as Michael
Fedz
2013
as Big D
You're Not Alone
2023
as Keith Mitchell
We the Party
2012
as Officer Davis
Generation Iron
2013
as Self
Thick as Thieves
1999
as Pointy
Pandora's Box
2002
as Hampton Hines
Karate Ghost
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996
as Elroy
The Making of 'Spawn'
1997
as Self
UnConventional
2004
as Self
Every Day Is Christmas
2018
as Justin
The Real Miyagi
2015
as Self
Chocolate City
2015
as Princeton
The Making of Exit Wounds
2002
as Self
One Angry Juror
2010
as Derrick
Full Contact
1993
as Low-Ball
Hidden Colors 5: The Art of Black Warfare
2019
as Self
Mortal Kombat: Rebirth
2010
as Jackson Briggs
Making a Killing
2018
as Orlando Hudson
Somebody's Child
2012
as Douglas
Why Did I Get Married Again?
as Marcus
Spymasters
Scream Before You Die
2024
as Joe Washington
The Hit
2022
as Brooke
Special Op: Rent-a-Cop
2026
as Brock Belfry
The Hook
as Malcolm Miller
Drive Through Fire
To Live and Die in the Midwest
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
2023
as Himself
About Michael Jai White
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 mar… With 132 credits spanning from 1989 to 2026, Michael Jai White has appeared in 106 films and 26 TV shows.
Fans searching for Michael Jai White movies, Michael Jai White filmography, or the latest projects starring Michael Jai White can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Michael Jai White Movies
- The Dark Knight (2008) — as Gambol
- Oscar Shaw (2026) — as Oscar Shaw
- Hostile Takeover (2025) — as Pete
- Never Back Down: No Surrender (2016) — as Case Walker
- Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011) — as Case Walker
Where to Watch Michael Jai White Films
Most Michael Jai White movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Michael Jai White, check our movies catalogue and browse page.