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
Optimus Prime
for Optimus Prime in TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON Alternate Version
Suggested by user_341478
After the negative reception of Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen and mainly due to the negative stereotypes with Skids and Mudflap, Crude portrayal of women, black people, little people, and unfunny adult humor, Paramount and Michael Bay decided to make an Alternate Version for Transformers Dark Of The Moon. With the Alternate Version made changes were made by giving two lead roles to Yumiko Shaku along with Shia Labeouf and several characters having their voice actors recasted. The alternate version would make the the movie more serious and be given a dark tone unlike it's predecessors and would cut out much of the humor seen in Michael Bay's original direction. Movie Premise: 4 years after the events of Revenge Of The Fallen, Yukio Minami, N.E.S.T. field commander, takes part with Sam Witwicky in the final days of the war between Autobots and Decepticons as they battle to obtain a powerful device that can restore their Planet, Cybertron. But the Decepticons are planning to take over earth and it's up to Yukio, N.E.S.T. Sam Witwicky, Mikaela Banes and the Autobots to stop this threat. Mikaela Banes stays as Sam’s girlfriend in Alternate Version, however her actress “Megan Fox” has been replaced by another actress as Carly does not exist in this version.
