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 - ROBOTS IN DISGUISE
Suggested by ivaneavendano
In an animated mid-1980s' Seattle, high school students Spike, Miko, and Raquel with Spike's Dad, encounter a group of cybernetic aliens called the Autobots led by Optimus Prime. They were forced to be exiled on Earth after their home planet, Cybertron, was ravaged by a surge of dark energon through the efforts of the vile Decepticon leader, Megatron. Eventually the Autobots are tracked down by their enemies, and the kids are caught into a covert war between the two alien factions. While a shadowy government agency named Sector Seven meddles in it. Optimus Prime himself is captured by Sector Seven Agents with HIVE mercenaries and he is held captive in a mountain secret base. Before long Megatron reunites with his archenemy during a raid on the base. And they fight until an explosion sends them to the forests below. Optimus is heavily damaged and Megatron aims his gun at him. Autobots with the teens gang up on Megatron before Optimus gets up and shoots Megatron in the heart revealing a dark energon crystal within it. He reveals that with the power of Unicron, he will never die. Arcee tears the crystal from him and he falls to the ground. The Autobots send the body to Decepticons as an ultimatum to surrender or else face their wrath. The movie ends with the teens going back to School as Optimus reflects on the nature of humanity in his end movie monologue.
