Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White (born November 10, 1967) |group=note is an American actor, martial artist, and director. Though he has appeared in a variety of genres, White is best known for his action and martial arts films. His first major starring role and breakout performance was in the 1995 HBO film Tyson as heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson. He went on to portray Al Simmons in the 1997 film Spawn, making him the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture. His work in Spawn earned him a nomination for the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Male Newcomer.

In 1999, White starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Universal Soldier: The Return, and in 2001, he starred opposite Steven Seagal in Exit Wounds. He has since been cast in several mainstream films in supporting roles, such as The Dark Knight (2008) and the Tyler Perry films Why Did I Get Married? (2007) and Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010), though most of his lead roles have been in direct to video films or limited theatrical releases, such as Black Dynamite, Blood and Bone (both 2009), Falcon Rising (2014), Accident Man (2018), Dragged Across Concrete (2019), and As Good as Dead (2022), He directed and starred in Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011), Never Back Down: No Surrender (2016), and Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).

White has been training in martial arts since the age of 7, and specializes in the styles of Kyokushin, taekwondo, kobudō, Shotokan, and the Superfoot System. with a specific focus in Kyokushin Karate (although his style incorporates aspects of many different martial arts forms). White started training in martial arts at the age of seven in Jujutsu. He next took up Shōtōkan and moved on to other styles later. White holds seven legitimate black belts in Kyokushin Karate, Goju-Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, kobudō, and wushu.

White graduated from Central High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1982.

Career White's first major starring role was in the 1995 HBO film Tyson as heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson. He portrayed the eponymous character in the 1997 film Spawn, making him the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture. He also had roles in Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006) and Blood and Bone (2009). His film Why Did I Get Married? opened at number one at the box office on October 12, 2007.

White played the role of 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 3 Bullets in which he stars with Bokeem Woodbine.

On March 30, 2010, White appeared on The Mo'Nique Show to promote his film Why Did I Get Married Too?. The two joked about the acclaim that comes with winning an Oscar. In May of that year, he appeared in the music video for Toni Braxton's new song "Hands Tied" from her album Pulse, as well as the Nicki Minaj music video for "Your Love" as Nicki's sensei and love interest.

He also starred in Kevin Tancharoen's short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth as Jax Briggs, and reprised the role in Mortal Kombat: Legacy, a web series from the same director. He posted on Twitter that he would not be returning to the role for the second season, but would return for the 2013 film.

White made his directorial debut and starred in Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown, which was released on home video on September 13, 2011.

White also voiced Green Lantern in the video game Justice League Heroes.

White has co-starred as Vegas Duncan in Carl Weber's The Family Business on BET since 2018.

In October 2019, White announced that the spiritual successor to Black Dynamite titled Outlaw Johnny Black had officially entered pre-production. Despite the Indiegogo campaign not reaching its goal, he was still able to secure enough backers and additional donors to get the project off the ground. In July 2023, its trailer was released. Its theatrical release date was September 15, 2023.

In October 2020, White's film Welcome to Sudden Death debuted on Netflix and became one of the most watched films on the platform. The Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release is a remake of the 1995 film Sudden Death starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

On July 12, 2021, White laid out a vision for starting a film studio in New Haven, Connecticut called "Jaigantic Studios". He wants to create a studio district on New Haven's Quinnipiac River waterfront.

In November 2025, White became the first non-Asian recipient of the Bruce Lee Award.

Personal life

From 2005 to 2011, White was married to Courtenay Chatman; together, they have a daughter named Morgan. In addition, White has two sons. In February 2014, White announced his engagement to actress Gillian Iliana Waters. In July 2015, White married Waters in Thailand. They appeared together in the martial arts thriller film Take Back (2021), with Waters starring as the female lead.

In 2014, White was honored with the Fists of Legends Decade Award at the Urban Action Showcase & Expo at HBO. In 2015, he was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame. On November 8, 2019, he assumed the "Mantle of The Black Dragon" from Ron van Clief, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, and Taimak, in a ceremony at the 2019 Urban Action Showcase & Expo at AMC 25, New York City.

White briefly dated actress Angela Bassett during the 1990s.

White is a cousin of comedian and actress Kym Whitley.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 The Toxic Avenger Part II Apocalypse Inc. Executive The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie 1991 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Man in audience True Identity Alley Guy #1 1992 Universal Soldier Soldier 1993 Full Contact Low-Ball 1994 On Deadly Ground Oil Worker Lion Strike Silvio 1995 Tyson Mike Tyson Ballistic Quint 1996 2 Days in the Valley Buck 1997 City of Industry Odell Williams Spawn Al Simmons / Spawn 1998 Ringmaster Demond Thick as Thieves Pointy 1999 Breakfast of Champions Howell Universal Soldier: The Return S.E.T.H. Super UniSol 2000 The Bus Stop Unknown Short 2001 Exit Wounds Sergeant Lewis Strutt 2002 Trois 2: Pandora's Box Hampton Hines 2003 Justice Tre 2004 Silver Hawk MorrisKill Bill: Volume 2Martial ArtistScene deleted 2006 Undisputed II: Last Man Standing George "The Iceman" Chambers Video 2007 Why Did I Get Married? Marcus 2008 The Dark Knight Gambol 2009 Black Dynamite Black Dynamite Also writer The Legend of Bruce Lee Ali Video Blood and Bone Isaiah Bone Three Bullets The Man Short; also writer 2010 Why Did I Get Married Too? Marcus Mortal Kombat: Rebirth Jackson "Jax" Briggs Video short 2011 Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown Casey "Case" Walker Jr. Video; also director Tactical Force SWAT Sergeant Tony Hunt 2012 We the Party Officer Davis Freaky Deaky Donnell Lewis The Philly Kid Arthur Letts 2013 Fedz "Big D" 2014 Android Cop Hammond Falcon Rising John "Falcon" Chapman Skin Trade FBI Agent Reed 2015 Chocolate City Princeton Chain of Command James Webster 2016 Vigilante Diaries Barrington The Asian Connection Greg "Greedy Greg" Never Back Down: No Surrender Casey "Case" Walker Jr. Video; also writer and director 2017 S.W.A.T.: Under Siege "Scorpion" Chocolate City: Vegas Strip Princeton Cops and Robbers Michael 2018 Accident Man Mick Making a Killing Orlando Hudson Dragged Across Concrete "Biscuit" 2019 The Hard Way Payne Triple Threat Devereaux Undercover Brother 2 Undercover Brother 2020 Welcome to Sudden Death Jesse Direct-to-Video 2021 Batman: Soul of the Dragon Bronze Tiger (voice) Direct-to-video 2025 Trouble Man Jaxen Also writer, director and producer The Secret Between Us Jack Frazier Hostile Takeover Pete Exit Protocol Isaac Florentine 2026 Oscar Shaw Oscar Shaw

Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 Saved by the Bell Military Police Man #2 Episode: "Wrestling with the Future" 1993 Renegade Luther, Dawn's Boyfriend Episode: "Vanished" 1994 Martin Valdez Episode: "Arms Are for Hugging" Living Single Steve Episode: "Hot Fun in the Wintertime" 1995 NYPD Blue Officer Reggie Fancy 2 episodes JAG Navy Petty Officer Peter Quinn / Lieutenant Martin Payne Episode: "Brig Break" Tyson Mike "Iron Mike" Tyson Television film 1996 Captive Heart: The James Mink Story Elroy Television film Shaughnessy Carpenter Television film 1999 Mutiny Ben Cooper Television film 2000 Wonderland Dr. Derrick Hatcher Main cast Freedom Song Coleman Vaughnes Television film 2001 Boston Public Darren Schofield Episode: "Chapter Eighteen" Soul Food Russell Banks Episode: "Who Do You Know?" 2003 CSI: Miami Officer Roy Bailey Episode: "Hard Time" Justice League Doomsday (voice) Episode: "A Better World" Hotel Unknown Television film 2003–2004 Static Shock Osebo (voice) 2 episodes 2004–2005 Clubhouse Ellis Hayes Recurring cast 2005 Justice League Unlimited Doomsday (voice) Episode: "The Doomsday Sanction" 2006 Windfall Michael Episode: "Priceless" Getting Played Actor Television film 2008 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Bryan Recurring cast, season 3 2010 The Boondocks Bushido Brown, Cop (voice) Episode: "Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy" One Angry Juror Derrick Television film 2011 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Tattooed Man (voice) Episode: "The Scorn of the Star Sapphire!" 2011–2017 Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse Marcus Williams Main cast 2011–2015 Black Dynamite Black Dynamite (voice) Main cast; also creator 2012 Aqua Something You Know Whatever Zucotti Manicotti (voice) Episode: "Zucotti Manicotti" Somebody's Child Douglas Television film Métal Hurlant Chronicles Teague Episode: "King's Crown" 2013–2014,2018–2019 Arrow Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger Guest (season 2), recurring (season 7); 10 episodes 2014 Métal Hurlant Chronicles Balt Episode: "The Endomorphe" 2016 The Crooked Man Milo Television film 2017 Insecure: Due North Zeke Episode: "201" Insecure Zeke 2 episodes 2018 Every Day Is Christmas Justin Television film 2018–present The Family Business Vegas Duncan Recurring cast 2020 Black-ish Vincent Episode: "Dad Bod-y of Work" Pump Eric Main cast 2022–2023 Kingdom Business Julius "Caesar" Jones Main cast 2025 The Family Business: New Orleans Vegas Duncan Teen Titans Go! Don Jackson Voice, episode: "Megalodon Jackson"

Music videos Year Video Performer 2003 "I Know What You Want" Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey featuring The Flipmode Squad 2010 "Your Love" Nicki Minaj "Hands Tied" Toni Braxton 2012 "Let's Go" Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo 2021 "Where I Belong" Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey

Video games Year Title Voice role 2006 Justice League Heroes John Stewart 2007 The Underground Bounty Hunter Hatch 2022 Marvel's Midnight Suns Eric Brooks / Blade

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2011 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Jackson "Jax" Briggs 2 episodes 2016 Enter the Dojo Himself Episode: "How to Fight a Clown"