forest born july american actor director producer earned reputation intensive character study work films bird platoon ghost dog way butler work independent films recurring role lieutenant emmy award winning television series shield set portray saw star wars spin film rogue star wars story won academy award screen actors guild award critics groups awards performance dictator film king scotland early life born july texas family moved california father insurance salesman forest mother née smith special education teacher college earned master degrees raising children younger brothers older sister role actor lead thomas play milk wood attended football scholarship injury changed major music voice toured england chamber singers briefly changed major drama accepted music study opera tenor subsequently accepted graduated earned scholarship berkeley california branch drama studio london pursued degree core conflict studies peace reconciliation career film work long history working regarded film directors fellow actors working direct video films alongside actors cent onscreen performance note supporting role playing high school football player film version coming age teen retrospective high starred interacted alongside judge appeared film platoon following year starred comedy good morning vietnam played film alongside van lead role starring musician directed film bird prepare bed couch saxophone having conducted extensive research taken alto lessons performance called earned best actor award cannes film festival nomination continued work number known directors 1990s starred film downtown cast pivotal role captive british soldier film crying game english accent variety described performance big hearted hugely emotional simply terrific member cast won ensemble film gave emotional performance film smoke played raising following mob hit man ghost dog way film written directed consider definitive role manner similar preparation bird immersed character world studied eastern philosophy long hours inner spiritual told developed title character mind new_york_times review film observed hard think actor play cold killer warmth humanity appeared called worst films production based novel film widely criticized notorious commercial critical disaster performance lauded film director commented everybody going surprised found huge voice laugh battlefield earth won seven nominated lost star later expressed regret participating film small uncredited role directed follow short films produced year promote cars starred thriller year starred panic room performance film bad guy described subtle chemistry aggression portrayal film king scotland earned positive reviews critics multiple awards honors portray dictator gained pounds learned play immersed research read books watched news documentary footage featuring spent time meeting friends relatives generals victims learned mastered east african accent performance earned making fourth african american actor history joining ranks role recognized screen actors guild award accolades circle award played received nomination outstanding supporting actor appeared films business man known happiness likes butterflies film air breathe portrayed rogue police captain street kings heroic tourist limited releases independent features enjoyed bit career resurgence having played lead role butler greatest critical commercial successes date starred film alongside starred stand playing fbi agent chasing escaped drug leader confirmed upcoming star wars anthology film rogue television work completing films early 1980s gained additional roles multiple television shows series rent strokes played bully episode bully arnold year played comic book salesman amazing stories episode appeared second parts 1990s mainly roles television films aired hbo including enemy witness protection host narrator new episodes classic twilight zone lasted season upn working film roles returned television joined cast police serial shield determined prove lead character dirty cop opposed previous character work stated merely draw childhood years growing los_angeles role received rave reviews performance variety called good guest stint reprised role season fall started multi episode story arc curtis man comes quickly faces long term consequences stroke takes anger blames strokes received primetime emmy award nomination performance series appeared music video live sky alongside cast spin subsequently cancelled cbs theatre broadway debut revival play directed producing directing branched producing directing 1990s produced starred rage harlem directorial debut grim film inner city gun violence hbo directed theatrical feature waiting based novel roger_ebert observed tone film resembled acting style measured confident directed star music video movie theme song continued directing career romantic comedy starring directed romantic comedy daughter serving executive producer previously starred previously gained experience executive producer television movies notably emmy award winning door door starring produced projects production company spirit shut concentrate acting career partner produced film won grand jury prize audience award dramatic film film festival films plays active role chair initial involvement chair collaborative film studio starting march developed social media platform filmmakers fans share ideas create films collaborate joined chair projects production honors addition numerous awards won performance king scotland received honors september 10th annual hollywood film festival presented hollywood actor year award calling hollywood accomplished actors honored santa barbara international film festival received previously france festival paid tribute april recipient star contributions motion pictures industry hollywood boulevard received honorary degree doctor humane letters commencement ceremony received honorary degree doctor humane letters personal life married actress met set children daughters true son daughter autumn previous relationships said genetic test indicated descent line descent line studies black belt trains filipino martial art best known having student late trained actors left eye called intriguing critics gives lazy look explained condition hereditary considered having surgery correct reasons affects vision activism charity work vegetarian recorded public service announcement daughter true promoting behalf people ethical treatment animals supporter public advocate boarding school training center northern escaped child soldiers young victims country civil war politics politics supported spoke behalf senator barack_obama presidential campaign april given title nigeria named chief community given title means brother foreign land inducted goodwill ambassador peace reconciliation ceremony headquarters june works support develop initiatives youths entering remaining cycles violence induction ceremony ambassador described perfect choice goodwill ambassador exemplified compassion area life grace right thing received artist citizen world award france founded newark new_jersey launched international mission develop programs strategic partnerships address cutting edge issues increasing citizen security community building role women spiritual religious leaders peace building impact climate change reduction poverty operates auspices category center filmography film television
Forest Whitaker