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
Danny Wilson / Vanguard
for Danny Wilson / Vanguard in Phantom Ronin
Suggested by misterwolf
Phantom Ronin is a 2027 American science fiction action martial arts film based on the character of the same name from Midnight Shroud. Produced by Legendary Pictures and The Stone Quarry and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the second installment in the Global Ninja Warrior Universe and a prequel to Midnight Shroud. Directed by Colin Trevorrow and written by Chad Stahelski and Zack Snyder, the film stars Rina Sawayama, reprising her role as Akira Takahashi / Phantom Ronin, with Anna Akana returning as Haruna Okamoto / Kurokage, alongside Willem Dafoe, Sydney Sweeney, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Kelsey Grammer, Jeremy Renner, David Harbour, Michael Jai White, and Ken Watanabe. Set in the Afghanistan War during the 2010s, the film explores Akira's origin story and depicts her early, close relationship with her sister Haruna, who, as Kurokage, would endure as the archenemy of Phantom Ronin, and also explores her relationship with Aurelia Kane. The film had its world premiere at the 84th Venice International Film Festival on November 6th, 2027, and opened in theaters on December 10th; the film was met with largely positive reviews, with praise for the tone, the performances of Sawayama and Akana, action sequences, score, direction, and thematic elements, with many deeming the film to be both "emotionally draining" and one of the best origin stories. Phantom Ronin was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and has been named as one of Sawayama's greatest performances as Phantom Ronin. A follow-up, which will be a sequel to Midnight Shroud, is in development.
