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BIO

Forest Whitaker is an actor, producer and director who has won an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and BAFTA for his portrayal of Dictator Idi Amin in Kevin Macdonald’s The Last King of Scotland, and has appeared in over fifty films that have collectively grossed over $2 billion. Whitaker studied opera and drama in college and his first big-screen breakout performance was in Amy Heckerling’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Over the next thirty years, he worked with the greatest directors of our time, appearing in critically acclaimed films that include Oliver Stone’s Platoon, Clint Eastwood’s Bird (for which Whitaker won the Best Actor Award at Cannes), Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money (opposite Paul Newman), Robert Altman’s Ready to Wear, Wayne Wang’s Smoke, Barry Levinson’s Good Morning Vietnam, Neil Jordan’s The Crying Game, Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, David Fincher’s Panic Room, Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are, Denzel Washington’s The Great Debaters, and Lee Daniels’ The Butler. As a director, Mr. Whitaker’s work includes HBO’s Strapped, Waiting to Exhale, Hope Floats, and First Daughter. Most recently, Mr. Whitaker won critical acclaim for his performance in Antoine Fuqua’s Southpaw, with upcoming film projects that include Star Wars: Rogue One.

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STAGE CREDITS

Hughie Hughie
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2016
Erie Smith

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STAR WARS On Stage: A Guide to Broadway Stars in a Galaxy Far, Far Away Photo
STAR WARS On Stage: A Guide to Broadway Stars in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 11, 2025

With the highly anticipated second season of Andor arriving in a few short weeks, we have compiled a list of the most noteworthy Star Wars actors to have graced the Broadway stage over the years.
Video: Tom Hardy Stars in New Trailer for Action Thriller HAVOC Photo
Video: Tom Hardy Stars in New Trailer for Action Thriller HAVOC
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 7, 2025

Netflix has released a new trailer for Havoc, a new high-octane action thriller starring Tom Hardy. The film hits the streamer on April 25. Watch the trailer here!
Video: Watch Kristin Chenoweth Perform 'Live Like That' From THE KING OF KINGS Photo
Video: Watch Kristin Chenoweth Perform 'Live Like That' From THE KING OF KINGS
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 28, 2025

Kristin Chenoweth is starring in a new music video for Live Like That, the end-credits song from the animated film The King of Kings. Check out the song now!
MGM+ Greenlights THE WESTIES Series From Creator Chris Brancato Photo
MGM+ Greenlights THE WESTIES Series From Creator Chris Brancato
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 18, 2025

MGM+ has ordered the original crime drama series The Westies from creator and executive producer Chris Brancato. Brancato created the series with Michael Panes and will also executive produce and showrun.
Photos: Inside Opening Night of Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA Photo
Photos: Inside Opening Night of Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 12, 2025

Earlier this week, Cirque du Soleil arrived in New York City as the first stop of its North American tour of LUZIA, a waking dream of Mexico. This visit marks the return of the Big Top at Randall's Island since 2016. Check out photos from opening night here.
Video: GODFATHER OF HARLEM Season Four Official Trailer Photo
Video: GODFATHER OF HARLEM Season Four Official Trailer
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 11, 2025

MGM+ has released the thrilling trailer for Season Four of Godfather of Harlem, coming to the linear and streaming service on April 13, 2025. Watch it now!
Kristin Chenoweth to Sing New Closing Credit Song for Animated Film THE KING OF KINGS Photo
Kristin Chenoweth to Sing New Closing Credit Song for Animated Film THE KING OF KINGS
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 5, 2025

Kristin Chenoweth will lend her voice to perform “Live Like That,” an original end title song for the upcoming animated feature film, The King of Kings.
Cause for Celebration and Calls for Change: The Museum of Broadway's Black Storytelle Photo
Cause for Celebration and Calls for Change: The Museum of Broadway's Black Storytellers Exhibit
by Caitlin Hornik - Feb 12, 2025

The energy of attendees walking through the Museum of Broadway's new limited-time exhibit centered around Black storytellers was palpable during its February 3rd opening night. Crafting Excellence: Black Storytellers of Broadway.
Photos: The Museum of Broadway Celebrates Black Storytellers of Broadway in New Exhib Photo
Photos: The Museum of Broadway Celebrates Black Storytellers of Broadway in New Exhibit
by Stephi Wild - Feb 4, 2025

The Museum Of Broadway recently celebrated its new special exhibit, Crafting Excellence: Black Storytellers of Broadway. Check out photos from the event here!
Video: Forest Whitaker Stars in First Teaser for GODFATHER OF HARLEM Season 4 Photo
Video: Forest Whitaker Stars in First Teaser for GODFATHER OF HARLEM Season 4
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 23, 2025

Premium network MGM+ has released a first-look teaser for Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, coming to the linear and streaming service on April 13, 2025. Watch it now!
A 2024 Broadway Holiday Streaming Guide Photo
A 2024 Broadway Holiday Streaming Guide
by Josh Sharpe - Dec 17, 2024

From Sabrina Carpenter's new Christmas special to musical classics like Albert Finney's Scrooge, find out which holiday streaming titles will bring a Broadway fan some extra joy this year.
Video: THE KING OF KINGS Sets Theatrical Release Date; New Trailer Revealed Photo
Video: THE KING OF KINGS Sets Theatrical Release Date; New Trailer Revealed
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 25, 2024

Angel Studios has added The King of Kings to its 2025 slate and shared the trailer for the animated movie, which features the voice talent of Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Oscar Isaac, Mark Hamill, Forest Whitaker, Ben Kingsley, and Roman Griffin Davis. Watch the trailer now!
Cherríe Moraga & Richard Wesley Named 2024 Recipients of the Legacy Playwright Award Photo
Cherríe Moraga & Richard Wesley Named 2024 Recipients of the Legacy Playwright Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 23, 2024

Esteemed American playwrights Cherríe Moraga and Richard Wesley have been announced as the 2024 recipients of the Legacy Playwright Awards. Learn more about the playwrights and about the awards.
IYMS Ambassador Denzel Whitaker To Helm Panel Of Young Filmmakers At First American F Photo
IYMS Ambassador Denzel Whitaker To Helm Panel Of Young Filmmakers At First American Film Convention
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 15, 2024

Actor, filmmaker and IYMS Ambassador Denzel Whitaker will moderate a discussion of films made by delegates to the annual film summits conducted by the International Youth Media Summit (IYMS), Wednesday, October 16 at the first American Film Convention at the Magic Box in Los Angeles.  
Meet the Cast of OUR TOWN, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway Photo
Meet the Cast of OUR TOWN, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - Sep 17, 2024

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town will begin previews on Tuesday, September 17 ahead of an opening on Thursday, October 10 at the Barrymore Theatre for a strictly limited engagement. Meet the cast of Our Town here!
Cast Announced For James Ijames' GOOD BONES At The Public Theater Photo
Cast Announced For James Ijames' GOOD BONES At The Public Theater
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 24, 2024

The Public Theater has announced casting for the long-anticipated New York premiere of GOOD BONES written by Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames and directed by Public Theater Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director Saheem Ali.
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation Launches Legacy Collection, New Historical Video Series Photo
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation Launches Legacy Collection, New Historical Video Series
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 15, 2024

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is launching its Legacy Collection today, offering a comprehensive archive of interviews and materials celebrating the contributions of actors and performers in the entertainment industry. Learn more!
Video: Trailer Released for Four-Part Docuseries HOLLYWOOD BLACK From Filmmaker Justi Photo
Video: Trailer Released for Four-Part Docuseries HOLLYWOOD BLACK From Filmmaker Justin Simien
by Josh Sharpe - Jul 11, 2024

Inspired by the book from historian Donald Bogle, Hollywood Black, directed by Justin Simien, chronicles the history of cinema, but from a radically Black perspective. By unearthing personal stories from actors, writers, directors, and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera and on the screen, the series provides a critical reexamination of a quintessentially American story—in brilliant color.
Actor Bill Cobbs Passes Away at 90 Photo
Actor Bill Cobbs Passes Away at 90
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 26, 2024

Actor Bill Cobbs has passed away. Learn more about Cobbs' life and work.
Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Mark Hamill Join THE KING OF KINGS Photo
Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Mark Hamill Join THE KING OF KINGS
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 4, 2024

More top-tier voice talent has joined the upcoming animated faith-based animated feature The King of Kings. According to reports, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Mark Hamill will all play villains in the film, which follows the life of Jesus Christ as told by Charles Dickens to his son Walter.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Forest Whitaker been in?

Forest Whitaker has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.

How many West End shows has Forest Whitaker been in?

Forest Whitaker has not appeared in the West End.

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