Forest Whitaker
American actor (born 1961)
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- In May 2011, Whitaker became the co-founder of the International Institute for Peace (IIP) at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey.
- In 2010, Whitaker received the Artist-Citizen of the World Award in France.
- The United Nations inducted Whitaker as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation on June 21, 2011, during a ceremony which was held at the UNESCO headquarters.
- Whitaker is the chief of Igbo community of Nkwerre and has been allotted the title of Nwannedinamba of Nkwerre which implies that he is a Brother in a Foreign Land.
- He is a humanitarian and supports Hope North, a boarding school and vocational training center in northern Uganda for refugee child soldiers, orphans, and other young victims of the country’s civil war.
- In May 2015, the actor also got the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
- In 2009, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Xavier University of Louisiana during the 82nd Commencement Ceremony.
- On April 16, 2007, he became the 2,335th actor to receive the Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
- He was honored with the Hollywood Actor of the Year award in 2006 at the Annual Hollywood Film Festival’s 10th edition.
- Whitaker took the role of a co-chair at JuntoBox Films in March 2012.
- Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi produced the film Fruitvale Station, which won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. They also co-produced Repentance (2014) and Dope (2015).
- For the role of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006), he won the Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, Golden Globe, National Board of Review Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and others. He won a total of 23 awards for the movie.
- Whitaker has worked with many famed directors and actors and has also worked in video films with Lil Wayne, Maggie Grace, 50 Cent, T.I., and others.
- 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.
- Brother-in-law of Jeffrey Nash and Kidada Jones.
- He and his daughter, True, have recorded a public service announcement promoting vegetarianism on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
- 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).
- Born in Longview, Texas, USA
- Presented French actress Marion Cotillard with the Best Actress Oscar for her lead in Môme, La (2007).
- Attended Cal Poly Pomona University, just like fellow actor Eric Martic.
- He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March 2004 in Austin, Texas.
- 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).
- Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003.
- 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).