Forest Whitaker Net Worth

Forest Whitaker's Quotes

• I can play a man who's despicable. But I'll still look inside him to find a point of connection. If I can find that kernel, audiences will relate to me.
• [on his character in The Shield (2002)] I'm always blown away by people's negative reactions to Kavanaugh. He's a highly moral man who's brought to the breaking point. To me, he's like an angel. Yes, he's obsessive. Anal. Intense. But his goal is to get Vic Mackey off the street. This is somebody who beats people up on a weekly basis, steals money, blackmails people. But I'm the bad guy?
• My parents moved to Los Angeles when I was really young, but I spent every summer with my grandparents, and I'd stay with my grandfather on the farm in Longview {Texas]. He was retired from the railroad, and he had a small farm with some cows and some pigs. I remember part of my youth was feeding hogs and plowing fields and stuff, so that's a part of me. And my parents raised me to say "sir" and "ma'am"' to open doors, things like that. That's the way I was brought up. Also, unfortunately, I was taught not to question too much. I didn't really question my mom and dad. That's usually what they told me to do.
• [on being a black actor] I have friends, African-American actors, who've had more of a struggle; hopefully they're starting to see some air and light now. But in my directing career, in my acting career, in my producing career, I haven't been bound by a lot of limitations. When I first started doing these kinds of unique characters, these diverse characters, there was hardly anybody doing them. So I had this open road.
• [on his children's names - True and Ocean - and his name and how it affected his childhood] I want those names to be their destiny, for my daughter to be honest and my son to be expansive. I try to be like a forest, revitalizing and constantly growing . . . . Kids would tease me, calling me Little Bush". But . . . I thought being called Forest helped me find my identity.

Interesting Facts about Forest Whitaker

1. Brother of actors Kenn Whitaker and Damon Whitaker.
2. 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]
3. Attended University of Southern California (USC) School of Theater.
4. He is the father of three children. He has two daughters, Sonnet Noel Whitaker (b. October 3rd 1996) and True 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.
5. Born with an eye condition called ptosis, which translates to "drooping eyelid."
6. 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).
7. Brother-in-law of Jeffrey Nash and Kidada Jones.
8. 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.
9. 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".
10. 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".
11. Whitaker hosted Saturday Night Live (1975) on February 10, 2007, during which his singing talent was featured in several sketches.
12. Met his wife, actress Keisha Whitaker (née Nash), on the set of Blown Away (1994).
13. 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.
14. 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).
15. Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003.
16. 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).
17. He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March 2004 in Austin, Texas.
18. Attended Cal Poly Pomona University, just like fellow actor Eric Martic.
19. Presented French actress Marion Cotillard with the Best Actress Oscar for her lead in La Vie En Rose (2007).
20. (March 27, 1993) Attended the 8th Annual Independent Spirit Awards.