Forest Whitaker attended college on a football scholarship, then, interested in Opera, transferred to U.S.C. on two more scholarships to study Music and Theater. He landed small roles on television and in two films, beginning with Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). He got his big break when he appeared in Oliver Stone's Platoon and Martin Scorsese's The Color of Money (both 1986). After a few more supporting roles, Whitaker got his first lead in Clint Eastwood's Bird (1988), in which he played the title role -- heroin-addicted jazz great Charlie Parker, a performance which won him the 1988 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award. Although now better-known as an lead actor, he was unable to greatly capitalize on his success and remained primarily a supporting player in films. He is the older brother of actor Damon Whitaker.
Forest Whitaker
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- Grew up in Southern California and was an All-League defensive tackle on his high-school football team; received a college football scholarship.
- Also earned a music scholarship at USC, where he studied voice (he's a tenor), and an acting scholarship at the Berkeley, CA, branch of the Drama Studio London.
- Won the Best Actor award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his role of Charlie Parker in Bird; Whitaker's younger brother Damon played Parker as a child.
- Directed music videos for (among others) Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Low Key, Whitney Houston and Jagged Edge.
- Has a black belt in karate.