This week’s star of “The Many Faces of…” is Forest Whitaker. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and went to college on a football scholarship. Because he had a back injury he had to switch his major to music (voice) and he toured England with the Cal Poly Chamber Singers in 1980. He was set to study opera as a tenor and graduated, but also graduated in drama in 1982. His first role was in the teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High and kept acting appearing in movies like The Color of Money, Platoon and Good Morning, Vietnam. He starred in Bird, a Clint Eastwood directed movie about musician Charlie Parker. Whitaker won an Oscar for his role as dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.
Looking at his career he has starred in a lot of movies. I can’t pick one role, but he was great in Ghost Dog, The Last King of Scotland and Catch .44 (review will be up later today).
What is your favorite Forest Whitaker role?
I like FW for his ‘normal guy’ quality – like Tom Hanks I guess. Because he’s not beautiful, buff, or chizzled he seems to bring more authenticity to his roles, especially when he’s surrounded by buff, beautiful and chizzled people!
Seems to always be lying just below ‘A-list’ status, which is disappointing after Last King.
Yeah, that’s a good description. He might not stand out, but sure can act!
How is Catch 44? Looks awful from the trailer.
The Crying Game for me… just because of his awful accent HAHAHA
It seems that a lot of people really don’t like it (if IMDB is a good indication). Personally I enjoyed it quite a bit!
Haven’t seen The Crying Game myself…
I like Whitaker in so many roles. He has done a lot and is very deserving to be in this segment. From Panic Room, to Species, to Platoon, to Vantage Point, to The Last King of Scotland, to many more as you said! Wow! Hard to pick a favorite!
Didn’t know that he studied music in college and that he actually had a football scholarship! Thanks for sharing! Nice pick!
I was surprised by that as well. He also studies martial arts, so his Ghost Dog performance actually was based on something.
Hi, Nostra and company:
Very informative write up along with some great photos!
Forrest Whittaker is a very gifted character actor who has knocked several roles out of the park. Thought he was great as Charlie Parker, as the surgeon in ‘Johnny Handsome’ and as the overly zealous Internal Affairs detective, Kavanaugh in ‘The Shield’.
Thought his British soldier in ‘The Crying Game’ was decent. The fact that he continues to work in larger projects is testament to his skills and talent.
Thanks Jack! Haven’t watched the movies you mention.