Whitaker, Forest Steven (1961– )

US actor, director, and producer. A well-respected and prolific character actor in a range of roles, he won the 2006 Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the drama The Last King of Scotland (2006).

Other critically acclaimed roles include a US soldier in the war comedy Good Morning Vietnam (1987), jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's biopic Bird, (1988; best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival), a British soldier in the IRA drama The Crying Game (1992), and a hitman in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999). He was also widely acclaimed for his recurring roles as a police detective in the gritty US television series The Shield (2006–07) and as a stroke victim in the hospital drama ER (2006).

Whitaker was born in Longview, Texas, but grew up in South Central Los Angeles. While in high school he played American football and took voice lessons. He later studied music and drama at the University of Southern California, graduating in 1982. He went on to supporting roles in several high profile films, including the cult classic teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Oliver Stone's World War II drama Platoon (1986). Other films include Richard Altman's black comedy Prêt-à-Porter (1994) and the thrillers Phone Booth (2002)and Panic Room (2002).