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He directed Whitney Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" music video.

Brother of actors Kenn Whitaker and Damon Whitaker.

Was set to direct a live-action film version of Fat Albert (2004) but disagreed with Bill Cosby and has since left the production. [April 2002]

Attended University of Southern California (USC) School of Theater.

Is a vegetarian.

He is the father of three children. He has two daughters, Sonnet Noel Whitaker (b. October 3rd 1996) and True Isabella Summer Whitaker (b. July 2nd 1998), by his wife, Keisha Whitaker and a son Ocean Whitaker (b. 1990), from a previous relationship. He also has Autumn (b. 1991), a stepdaughter through his marriage with Keisha.

Born with an eye condition called ptosis, which translates to "drooping eyelid."

Originally cast in the role of "Sawyer" on "Lost" (2004), but opted out of the role when 20th Century Fox green lighted his film First Daughter (2004).

Brother-in-law of Jeffrey Nash and Kidada Jones.

In 2003, Whitaker became Executive Director of the Nodance Film Festival, a festival that celebrates the alternative digital film culture with an emphasis on first-time filmmakers and digital filmmaking. Originally held in Park City, Utah, Nodance has recently relaunched in Los Angeles and holds the distinction of being the world's first DVD-projected film festival.

He tried to be as bulky as possible to play Big Harold in Platoon (1986), but the vigorous boot-camping training, bad food and rough shoot caused him to lose a lot of weight. When he noticed Whitaker was getting thinner, Oliver Stone said to him, "What are you doing? You're supposed to be 'Big' Harold".

Raised in Los Angeles by an insurance-salesman father and schoolteacher mother, the high school football star ditched his jersey and helmet after catching the acting bug in a production of Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood".

Whitaker hosted "Saturday Night Live" (1975) on February 10, 2007, during which his singing talent was featured in several sketches.

Met his wife actress Keisha Whitaker, nee Nash, on the set of Blown Away (1994).

Spent a total of three and a half months in Uganda researching and filming The Last King of Scotland (2006). Uganda was his ever first visit to Africa.

He and his daughter, True Whitaker, have recorded a public service announcement promoting vegetarianism on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003.

Won 23 major awards for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006) including all the awards that are considered the biggest (except Cannes). He was also nominated for one more award, and won BET's "Best Actor" for the same year (presumably for the same film).

He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March 2004 in Austin, Texas.

Attended Cal Poly Pomona University, just like fellow actor Eric Martic.

My Own Love Song (2009) (in production)

Where the Wild Things Are (2009) (post-production)(voice) .... Wild Thing

Repossession Mambo (2009) (post-production) .... Jake

Hurricane Season (2008/I) (post-production) .... Al Collins

Powder Blue (2008) (completed) .... Charlie

Winged Creatures (2008) .... Charlie Archenault

Street Kings (2008) .... Captain Jack Wander

Chasseurs de dragons (2008)(voice: English version) .... Lian-Chu

Vantage Point (2008) .... Howard Lewis

The Great Debaters (2007) .... Dr. James Farmer Sr.

American Dad! .... Turlington (1 episode, 2007)

The Shield.... Lt. Jon Kavanaugh (13 episodes, 2006-2007)

Ripple Effect (2007) .... Philip

The Air I Breathe (2007) .... Happiness

ER .... Curtis Ames (6 episodes, 2006-2007)

Everyone's Hero (2006)(voice) .... Lonnie Brewster

The Last King of Scotland (2006) .... Idi Amin

The Marsh (2006) .... Geoffrey Hunt

Even Money (2006/I) .... Clyde Snow

American Gun (2005) .... Carter

A Little Trip to Heaven (2005) .... Abe Holt

Mary (2005/I) .... Ted Younger

First Daughter (2004) (voice) .... Narrator

The Twilight Zone .... Host (18 episodes, 2002-2003)

Deacons for Defense (2003) (TV) .... Marcus Clay

Phone Booth (2002) .... Captain Ed Ramey

Panic Room (2002) .... Burnham

Feast of All Saints (2001) (TV) .... Daguerreotypist Picard

The Fourth Angel (2001) .... Agent Jules Bernard

The Follow (2001)]] (uncredited) .... The Employer

Green Dragon (2001) .... Addie

Four Dogs Playing Poker (2000) .... Mr. Ellington

Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 (2000) .... Ker

Witness Protection (1999) (TV) .... Steven Beck

Light It Up (1999) .... Officer Dante Jackson

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) .... Ghost Dog

Body Count (1998) .... Crane

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996) (TV) .... Mr. Rucker

Phenomenon (1996) .... Nate Pope

Species (1995) .... Dan Smithson, Empath

Smoke (1995) .... Cyrus Cole

Prêt-à-Porter (1994) .... Cy Bianco

Jason's Lyric (1994) .... Maddog

Blown Away (1994) .... Anthony Franklin

The Enemy Within (1994) (TV) .... Colonel MacKenzie 'Mac' Casey

Bank Robber (1993) .... Officer Battle

Lush Life (1993) (TV) .... Buddy Chester

Last Light (1993) (TV) .... Fred Whitmore

Body Snatchers (1993) .... Major Collins

Consenting Adults (1992) .... David Duttonville

The Crying Game (1992) .... Jody

Article 99 (1992) .... Dr. Sid Handleman

Diary of a Hitman (1991) .... Dekker

A Rage in Harlem (1991) .... Jackson

Criminal Justice (1990)]] (TV) .... Jessie Williams

Downtown (1990) .... Dennis Curren

Johnny Handsome (1989) .... Dr. Steven Fisher

Bird (1988) .... Charlie 'Bird' Parker

Bloodsport (1988) .... Rawlins

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) .... Edward Garlick

Stakeout (1987) .... Det. Jack Pismo

Hands of a Stranger (1987) (TV) .... Sergeant Delaney

Platoon (1986) .... Big Harold

The Color of Money (1986) .... Amos

North and South, Book II (1986) TV mini-series .... Cuffey

Amazing Stories .... Jerry (1 episode, 1986)

North and South (1985) TV mini-series .... Cuffey

Diff'rent Strokes .... Herman (1 episode, 1985)

The Fall Guy .... Friend (1 episode, 1985)

Vision Quest (1985) .... Balldozer

The Grand Baby (1985) ]] (TV)

"Hill Street Blues" .... Floyd Green (1 episode, 1984)

Trapper John, M.D. .... Lewis Jordan (1 episode, 1984)

Cagney & Lacey .... Night Manager (1 episode, 1983)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) .... Charles Jefferson

Tag: The Assassination Game (1982) .... Gowdy's Bodyguard

Making the Grade (1 episode, 1982)

Academy Awards, USA

2007 Won Oscar Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Acapulco Black Film Festival

1999 Nominated Black Film Award Best Director for: Hope Floats (1998)

BAFTA Awards

2007 Won BAFTA Film Award Best Actor in a Leading Role for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

BET Awards

2007 Won BET Award Best Actor

Black Reel Awards

2007 Won Black Reel Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

2004 Won Black Reel Television: Best Actor for: Deacons for Defense (2003) (TV)

Nominated Black Reel Film: Best Supporting Actor for: Phone Booth (2002)

2003 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor for: Panic Room (2002)

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

1997 Won Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama for: Phenomenon (1996)

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards

2006 Won BSFC Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

British Independent Film Awards

2006 Nominated British Independent Film Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2007 Won Critics Choice Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Cannes Film Festival

1988 Won Best Actor for: Bird (1988)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Won CFCA Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Won DFWFCA Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Deauville Film Festival

1993 Nominated Critics Award for: Strapped (1993) (TV)

Emmy Awards

2007 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for: "ER" (1994)

2003 Won Emmy Outstanding Made for Television Movie for: Door to Door (2002) (TV) Shared with: David A. Rosemont (executive producer) Dan Angel (executive producer) Billy Brown (executive producer) Robert J. King (co-executive producer) Warren Carr (producer)

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

2006 Won FFCC Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Golden Globes, USA

2007 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

1989 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for: Bird (1988)

Hollywood Film Festival

2006 Won Hollywood Film Award Actor of the Year

Image Awards

2008 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for: The Great Debaters (2007)

2007 Won Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

2004 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special for: Deacons for Defense (2003) (TV)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for: Phone Booth (2002)

1997 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for: Phenomenon (1996)

Independent Spirit Awards

2007 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead for: American Gun (2005)

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards

2007 Won KCFCC Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2006 Won Sierra Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

London Critics Circle Film Awards

2007 Won ALFS Award Actor of the Year for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Won LAFCA Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

NAMIC Vision Awards

2007 Won Vision Award Best Actor - Drama for: "The Shield" (2002)

National Board of Review, USA

2006 Won NBR Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

1994 Won NBR Award Best Acting by an Ensemble for: Prêt-à-Porter (1994) Shared with: Marcello Mastroianni Sophia Loren Jean-Pierre Cassel Kim Basinger Chiara Mastroianni Stephen Rea Anouk Aimée Rupert Everett Rossy de Palma Tara Leon Georgianna Robertson Lili Taylor Ute Lemper Tom Novembre Richard E. Grant Anne Canovas Julia Roberts Tim Robbins Lauren Bacall Lyle Lovett Tracey Ullman Sally Kellerman Linda Hunt Teri Garr Danny Aiello Jean Rochefort Michel Blanc

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA

2007 Won NSFC Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

2006 Won NYFCC Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2007 Won OFCS Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2006 Won PFCS Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Razzie Awards

2001 Nominated Razzie Award Worst Supporting Actor for: Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 (2000)

Sant Jordi Awards

1989 Won Sant Jordi Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero) for: Bird (1988)

Santa Barbara International Film Festival

2007 Won Riviera Award for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Satellite Awards

2006 Won Satellite Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Nominated Satellite Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for: "The Shield" (2002)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

2007 Won Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

2004 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for: Deacons for Defense (2003) (TV)

1995 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries for: The Enemy Within (1994) (TV)

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Won SEFCA Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Toronto International Film Festival

1993 Won International Critics' Award (FIPRESCI) for: Strapped (1993) (TV)

Vancouver Film Critics Circle

2007 Won VFCC Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Walk of Fame

2007 - Star on the Walk of Fame Motion Picture On 16 April. At 6801 Hollywood Blvd.

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Won WAFCA Award Best Actor for: The Last King of Scotland (2006)