Executive producer Forest Whitaker speaks about the change in Newark. Executive producers Marc Levin and Mark Benjamin discuss how they met Jayda and her relationship with Creep.
Executive producers / directors Marc Levin and Mark Benjamin talk about Forest Whitaker's involvement in BRICK CITY and Street Doctor's exceptional community work.
Forest Whitaker is one of Hollywood’s most accomplished actors, directors and producers. He has taken on a multitude of diverse and demanding roles in mainstream and independent cinema, television movies and series television.
In 2007, Whitaker received the Academy Award® for Best Actor for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, capping a winning streak that included the Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA Awards as well as honors from virtually every major critics’ society. Later in 2009, Whitaker will be seen in WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, director Spike Jonze’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book; REPOSSESSION MAMBO, with Jude Law; HURRICANE SEASON; and WINGED CREATURES. He recently wrapped filming on MY OWN LOVE SONG, directed by Olivier Dahan and co-starring Renee Zellweger. He is currently filming Rick Famuyiwa’s comedy, FAMILY WEDDING, opposite America Ferrera and Carlos Mencia.
Whitaker made his feature film debut in the classic 1982 comedy FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH. In 1988 he was named Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of jazz legend Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood’s BIRD, a role that also garnered him a Golden Globe nomination. He played the title role in Jim Jarmusch’s GHOST DOG: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI; the soundtrack was a co-venture with Whitaker’s multimedia production company Spirit Dance. He starred in and executive produced Timothy Lin Bui’s drama GREEN DRAGON, which won the Humanitas Award and Audience Award at the 2001 South by Southwest Film Festival.
He made his feature film directing debut with the 1995 critical and box office hit WAITING TO EXHALE. He first gained recognition as a director for the 1993 HBO original STRAPPED, for which he received the Best New Director award at the Toronto Film Festival. He later directed the romantic comedies HOPE FLOATS, starring Sandra Bullock, and FIRST DAUGHTER, starring Katie Holmes.
Among his many feature acting credits are THE GREAT DEBATERS, POWDER BLUE, VANTAGE POINT, STREET KINGS, A LITTLE TRIPE TO HEAVEN, MARY, PANIC ROOM, PHONE BOOTH, THE FOURTH ANGEL, LIGHT IT UP, PHENOMENON, SPECIES, SMOKE, READY TO WEAR, JASON'S LYRIC, BODY SNATCHERS, CONSENTING ADULTS, THE CRYING GAME, DIARY OF A HIT MAN, JOHNNY HANDSOME, DOWNTOWN, GOOD MORNING VIETNAM, STAKEOUT, PLATOON, THE COLOR OF MONEY, and VISION QUEST.
Television film credits include Showtime’s Last Light and Deacons for Defense and HBO’s Criminal Justice and Witness Protection. Whitaker starred in and executive produced the Emmy Award-winning mini-series Feast of All Saints and shared the Emmy for Outstanding Made for Television Movie as the co-executive producer of the TNT film DOOR TO DOOR. He won acclaim for recurring guest roles on The Shield and ER the latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
In 2006, Whitaker was presented with the “Hollywood Actor of the Year Award” at the 10th Annual Hollywood Film Festival as well as the “American Riviera Award” at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2007. That same year, he received the “Cinema for Peace Award” as well a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. An avid humanitarian, he works as a spokesperson for Hope North Orphanage in Northern Uganda and also is involved with Human Rights Watch. Last year, he participated in “Idol Gives Back,” in conjunction with Malaria No More. Also an animal rights’ activist, Whitaker has provided assistance to PETA and Farm Sanctuary.
