MICHAEL JAI WHITE

Michael Jai White (born November 10, 1967) is an American actor and professional martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 movie Spawn.

White was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and graduated from Central High School in 1982. He is an accomplished martial artist, holding seven legitimate black belts in Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Kobudo, Goju Ryu, Tang Soo Do, Wushu and Kyokushin, with a specific focus in Kyokushin (although his style incorporates aspects of many different martial arts forms). White started martial arts training at the age of seven. In August 2005 he wed his girlfriend of two years, Courtenay Chatman, an OB/GYN who trained in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The couple have a daughter named Morgan Michelle who was born on December 24, 2008. Michael has two sons from a previous relationship.