[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0c8be8bda95bcfe9dbda5371301388fa.jpg]]
->''"I try to be like a forest, revitalizing and constantly growing... Kids would tease me, calling me 'Little Bush.' But... I thought being called Forest helped me find my identity."''

Forest Steven Whitaker III (born July 15, 1961 in Longview, Texas) is an American actor, producer, and director.

An intense and engaging character actor, he's won numerous awards (including the UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Actor for his portrayal of UsefulNotes/IdiAmin in ''Film/TheLastKingOfScotland''). With a bevy of well-received performances under his belt and appearances in great films such as ''Film/FastTimesAtRidgemontHigh'', ''Film/TheCryingGame'', ''Film/GhostDogTheWayOfTheSamurai'' and...[[OldShame uh...]] ''Film/BattlefieldEarth'', critics and movie-goers alike consider him to be one of the most accomplished and talented actors working today.
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!!Film Roles
* 1982 ''Film/FastTimesAtRidgemontHigh'' as Charles Jefferson
* 1985 ''Film/VisionQuest'' as Balldozer
* 1986 ''Film/TheColorOfMoney'' as Amos
* 1986 ''Film/{{Platoon}}'' as Big Harold
* 1987 ''Film/{{Stakeout}}'' as Jack Pismo
* 1987 ''Film/GoodMorningVietnam'' as Edward Garlick
* 1988 ''Film/{{Bloodsport}}'' as Rawlins
* 1989 ''Film/JohnnyHandsome'' as Dr. Steven Fisher
* 1990 ''Film/{{Downtown|1990}}'' as Dennis Curren
* 1992 ''Film/TheCryingGame'' as Jody
* 1993 ''Film/BodySnatchers'' as Maj. Collins
* 1994 ''Film/BlownAway'' as Anthony Franklin
* 1994 ''Film/JasonsLyric'' as 'Mad Dog' Alexander
* 1995 ''Film/{{Species}}'' as Dan Smithson
* 1995 ''Film/{{Smoke}}'' as Cyrus Cole
* 1996 ''Film/{{Phenomenon}}'' as Nate Pope
* 1998 ''Film/{{Body Count|1998}}'' as Crane
* 1999 ''Film/GhostDogTheWayOfTheSamurai'' as Ghost Dog
* 2000 ''Film/BattlefieldEarth'' as Ker
* 2002 ''Film/PanicRoom'' as Burnham
* 2002 ''Film/PhoneBooth'' as Captain Ed Ramey
* 2006 ''Film/TheLastKingOfScotland'' as UsefulNotes/IdiAmin
* 2008 ''Film/VantagePoint'' as Howard Lewis
* 2008 ''Film/TheAirIBreathe'' as Happiness
* 2008 ''Film/StreetKings'' as Capt. Jack Wander
* 2009 ''Film/WhereTheWildThingsAre'' as Ira
* 2010 ''Film/RepoMen'' as Jake Freivald
* 2010: ''Film/TheExperiment'' as Michael Barris
* 2013 ''Film/TheLastStand'' as Agent John Bannister
* 2013 ''Film/TheButler'' as Cecil Gaines
* 2014 ''WesternAnimation/ErnestEtCelestine'' as Ernest (English dub)
* 2015 ''Film/{{Taken 3}}'' as Franck Dotzler
* 2016 ''Film/{{Arrival}}'' as Colonel Weber
* 2016 ''Film/RogueOne: A Franchise/StarWars Story'' as Saw Gerrera
* 2018 ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' as Zuri
* 2020 ''Film/JingleJangleAChristmasJourney'' as Jeronicus Jangle
* 2021 ''Film/Respect2021'' as C.L. Franklin

!!Television Roles
* 1985 ''Series/NorthAndSouthUS'' as Cuffey
* 2002 ''Series/TheTwilightZone2002'' as Host / Narrator
* 2006 - 2007 ''Series/{{ER}}'' as Curtis Ames
* 2007 ''Series/TheShield'' as Jon Kavanaugh
* 2007 - 2009 ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' as Daniel Turlington
* 2011 ''Series/CriminalMindsSuspectBehavior'' as Sam Cooper
* 2017 ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' as Saw Gerrera (voice)
* 2017-2018 ''Series/{{Empire}}'' as Eddie Barker
* 2019 ''Series/GodfatherOfHarlem'' as Bumpy Johnson
* 2023 ''Series/{{Extrapolations}}''

!!Video Game Roles
* 2019 ''VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder'' as Saw Gerrera (voice)
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