Age: 58
male
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.
Michael Jai White
Darth Vader
for Darth Vader in Kenobi: A Star Wars Story
Suggested by ivaneavendano
The film opens with a figure standing over a ledge and watching a young boy play. While this opening scene is taking place the word "Tatooine" flashes on the screen to show the audience the current location. The camera focuses on the figure's face, which we quickly realize is Obi-Wan Kenobi. We are to assume the young boy is a four year old Luke Skywalker. Obi-Wan has watched over Luke over the past four years; just as he promised Yoda he would. Before ascending to Tatooine, Yoda taught Obi-Wan the ways of the force ghosts. After four years of complete exile, Qui-Gon finally appears as a force ghost before Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon helps Obi-Wan complete his master training, and teaches him special apparatuses that only the legendary Jedi Masters know. He introduces Obi-Wan to the power of meditation, and how to vision fate. Qui-Gon tells Obi-Wan that there lies one last delegation between him and the new hope. The film flashes back sixteen years ago as Darth Maul is falling down the reactor shaft after his battle with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet Naboo. Maul uses the force to reach out and grab a hanging air vent and save himself. He is able to drag his lifeless body to a nearby trash container. The trash container is later dumped on the junk planet of Lotho Minor. Maul replaces his legs with a six-legged machine and is able to walk again. The film returns back to the original setting of Tatooine. Obi-Wan is awakned during the night. He finds a teenage boy going through his things. He assumes the boy is a filthy scavenger, and appears before him; demanding him to hoult. The boy introduces himself as Ezra Bridger, a young Padawan. Ezra explains to Obi-Wan that he came to Tatooine searching for him, because he knew with his help that they could defeat the Sith. Obi-Wan is now much to wise to believe Ezra; he knows the last trained Jedi was Anakin, but Qui-Gon's voice tells Obi-Wan that he must follow the boy. He told the boy to leave, and followed him. Obi-Wan hide as he watched Ezra walk away. The hum of a lightsaber is heard behind Obi-Wan and a red glare shadows across his backside. He turns around to see Darth Maul. Ezra was sent by Maul as a ploy to get Obi-Wan out of hiding. Maul had returned to face the Jedi who bested him and changed his fate with the dark side forever. Obi-Wan and Darth Maul dueled a furious battle in the dead of the night. Obi-Wan ended the long duel with a fatal stroke to the chest of Darth Maul. The former Sith collapses in the arms of Obi-Wan. The camera focuses in as the dying Maul raises his hand upon the shoulder of his former enemy. Maul's final words are "Luke is our fate. Teach him the ways, Obi. Don't let him be like his father. Don't let him be like me...". The movie fastforwards sixteen years later. Obi-Wan Kenobi is seen standing on the ledge that over looks Owen's moisture farm. A sandcrawler arrives. Obi-Wan watches as Jawas depart the crawler along with many droid units. He recalls seeing two of the droids from his time in the council. Luke, now twenty years old, approaches the crawler. Qui-Gon appears before Obi-Wan and tells him, "My time here is through. You are ready to train a strong Jedi of the light. It is time, Obi. May the Force be with you". Obi-Wan departs back into the desert of Tatooine. As he walks away the screen slowly turns black and the credits begin to roll.
