Forest Whitaker - Celebrity - Milestones
Milestones
- 2004: Directed and executive produced "First Daughter," which starred Katie Holmes
- 2003: Cast as senior officer Captain Ramey in the suspense thriller "Phone Booth"
- 2003: Appeared in the Showtime movie "Deacons for Defense"; received a SAG nomination for Best Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
- 2002: Played one of a trio terrorizing a woman and her child while looking for missing money in "Panic Room"
- 2002: Hosted the classical mystery series "The Twilight Zone"
- 2001: Starred opposite Jeremy Irons in the thriller "The Fourth Angel"
- 2001: Had featured role in the Sundance-screened "The Green Dragon"
- 2000: Portrayed Ker in "Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000", which reteamed him with producer-star Travolta; picture based on novel by Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard
- 1999: Played a Federal Marshall in HBO's "Witness Protection"
- 1999: Starred as the titular character of Jim Jarmusch's "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai"
- 1998: Helmed second film, "Hope Floats", starring Sandra Bullock
- 1998: Signed development deal with Columbia-TriStar
- 1995: Feature film directorial debut, "Waiting to Exhale", starring Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston
- 1994: Returned to the world of jazz as trumpeter Buddy Chester, a top sideman who discovers he has a malignant brain tumor, testing his friendship with Jeff Goldblum and Kathy Baker in Showtime's "Lush Life"
- 1993: TV-movie directing debut, "Strapped", an urban drama for HBO which earned the director's award for best first feature at the Toronto Film Festival; Kiefer Sutherland acted in film; repaid the favor, appearing that year in Sutherland's directorial debut, "Last Light" (HBO)
- 1992: Played British soldier kidnapped by IRA terrorists in Neil Jordan's "The Crying Game"
- 1991: Feature producing debut, "A Rage in Harlem"; also acted; directed by Bill Duke
- 1988: First starring feature role as jazz legend Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's "Bird"
- 1987: Had high-profile supporting role in "Good Morning, Vietnam", starring Robin Williams
- 1986: Directed first major stage production, "Dreams Across the Realm"
- 1986: Acted in Martin Scorsese's "The Color of Money" and Oliver Stone's "Platoon"
- 1986: Reprised role of Cuffey in "North and South: Book II" (ABC)
- 1985: TV miniseries debut as Cuffey in "North and South" (ABC)
- 1982: Film acting debut as a high school football player in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
- ---: Will star in "American Gun" for IFC Films; centers on a series of interwoven story lines, that focus on how the proliferation of guns in America affects and shapes lives (lensed 2004)
- Formed Spirit Dance Productions
- Performed in productions in Los Angeles after college, including "School Talk" (at the Mark Taper Forum), "Swan" (at the Inner City Cultural Center), "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet," "The Greeks" (at Drama Studio London); also in "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Beggar's Opera" (at California Youth Theater)
- Appeared in various TV series including "Different Strokes" (NBC), "Hill Street Blues" (NBC, directed by Bill Duke), "Cagney and Lacey" (CBS), and "Amazing Stories" (NBC)
- Directed music videos for Cheryl Pepsi Riley ("Thanks For My Child"), and for rappers Low Key, Soula, and M.C. Supreme for Warner Bros. Records
- Moved with family to Los Angeles at young age