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Denzel Whitaker

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Denzel Whitaker
Whitaker at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Denzel Dominique Whitaker

(1990-06-15) June 15, 1990 (age 34)
Torrance, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present

Denzel Dominique Whitaker (born June 15, 1990) is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, he acted in the films Training Day (2001) and The Ant Bully (2006) before portraying James Farmer Jr. in The Great Debaters (2007), earning an NAACP Image Award for his work in the film. His other film work includes My Soul to Take (2010), Abduction (2011) and Black Panther (2018).

On television, Whitaker was a cast member on Nickelodeon's All That between 2004 and 2005. He has appeared in recurring roles on Brothers & Sisters (2009) and The Purge (2019), in addition to guest roles on various series.

Early life

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Whitaker was born on June 15, 1990,[1] in Torrance, California, the son of Younalanda and Dale Whitaker.[2][3] He went to Palos Verdes Peninsula High School,[2] but while acting as a teenager he would receive and conduct schoolwork via email correspondence.[4]

He was named after actor Denzel Washington.[5] Whitaker disputed this fact on The Oprah Winfrey Show while promoting the movie The Great Debaters, only to learn later from his father that, in fact, Washington was his namesake.[6] Washington would later serve as an acting mentor for Whitaker on The Great Debaters.[7]

Career

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Whitaker made his acting debut in the 2001 film Training Day as Dimitri.[8] He was a regular cast member during the tenth and final season of the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy series All That.[9]

He portrayed James Farmer Jr. in The Great Debaters (2007).[10] Whitaker's acting in this film was well received, with one reviewer praising his "sweetness and vulnerability"[11] and another describing him as a standout among the younger actors in the film.[12] For his performance as James, Whitaker won the 2008 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture,[13] and received a Young Artist Award nomination.[14]

Whitaker played Sheldon in the Disney Channel Original Movie Dadnapped (2009).[15] Whitaker was a blind teenager named Jerome in Wes Craven's My Soul to Take (2010).[16] In 2011, he performed in two feature films, portraying Gilly in thriller Abduction[17] and appearing in sports drama Warrior.[18]

Whitaker appeared as Eddie in thriller Submerged (2016)[19] and was a young Zuri in the 2018 superhero film Black Panther.[20] He portrayed Andre, an aspiring musician, in the 2020 film Cut Throat City, directed by rapper RZA.[21]

His television work includes ER, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The War at Home,[22] Rizzoli & Isles and Blue Bloods. Whitaker also appeared in Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.

As a voice actor, Whitaker provided the voice of Albert in The Ant Bully (2006) and portrayed Kyle in preschool series Handy Manny.[23] In the third season of The Boondocks, Whitaker gave voice to Sgt. Gutte, and on Black Dynamite: The Animated Series he played Donald the Accountant.

He has also worked as an assistant voice director for the 2010 film Freaknik: The Musical. Whitaker has directed films and music videos as well.[24]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Training Day Dimitri
2006 The Ant Bully Albert (voice)
2007 The Great Debaters James Farmer Jr. NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor
2009 Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Daryl
2010 My Soul to Take Jerome
2011 Abduction Gilly
Warrior Stephon
2015 Back to School Mom Noah Riley
2016 Submerged Eddie
2018 Black Panther Young Zuri
2019 U Shoot Videos? Moji Short film
2019 Will 'The Machine' Joe Walker Short film
2020 Cut Throat City Andre
2020 No Escape Thomas
2021 5150 — Short film; director and writer[25]
2023 The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster Kango

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 One on One Young Duane Episode: "You Don't Have to Go Home..."
2004–2005 All That Denzel 6 episodes
2005 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Jake / Kid (voice) Episode: "Camp Comeoniwannascareya"
All That: 10th Anniversary Reunion Special Denzel Television special
SpongeBob SquarePants Background Fish Character
(voice) 		Uncredited
ER Hassan Episode: "Wake Up"
2006 The War at Home Jeff 2 episodes
Teachers Martin Sanders Episode: "Schoolympics"
2007 Handy Manny Kyle (voice) Episode: "Join the Club"
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Trent Episode: "Back in the Game"
2009 House Rules Peter Chiba Television film
Dadnapped Sheldon
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Frankie Kirkland Episode: "No Way Out"
Brothers & Sisters Carter 3 episodes
2010 R U There? Max Television film
Freaknik: The Musical Fruit Bowl Boys Member
(voice)
The Boondocks Sgt. Gutter (voice) Episode: "Bitches to Rags"
2012 Black Dynamite Donald the Accountant (voice) Episode: "Taxes and Death or Get Him to the Sunset Strip"
Rizzoli & Isles Trevor Episode: "Virtual Love"
2013 Monday Mornings Nick Villanueva Episode: "Communion"
Legit Clay 2 episodes
2015 Blue Bloods Curtis Turner
2019 The Purge Darren Moore 7 episodes

References

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  1. ^ "Today's Birthdays". Rome News-Tribune. June 15, 2008. p. 2A.
  2. ^ a b "PENHI student graces the big screen in 'The Great Debaters'".
  3. ^ "SacObserver.com [SOUL] Getting To Know Young "Debaters" Actors".
  4. ^ "5 Questions For... Denzel Washington". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. February 2008. p. 40.
  5. ^ Epstein, Dwayne (December 4, 2009). Denzel Washington. Greenhaven Publishing. pp. 81−82. ISBN 9781420501575.
  6. ^ "Denzel Washington: A Debater's Destiny", in Essence.com
  7. ^ Smiley, Tavis (January 18, 2008). "Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Washington". Public Broadcasting Station. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Willis, John; Lynch, Tom (November 2002). Screen World 2002. Applause Theatre & Cinema Book Publishers. p. 108. ISBN 9781557835994.
  9. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 37. ISBN 9780307483201.
  10. ^ Christian, Margena A. (January 7, 2008). "'The Great Debaters': Film Shows Art Of War With Words". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. pp. 52−55.
  11. ^ Lemire, Christy (December 27, 2007). "Strong persuaders". Star-News.
  12. ^ Smith, Christopher (December 31, 2007). "Strong young actors help give power to Washington's 'Great Debaters'". Bangor Daily News. p. C8.
  13. ^ "Denzel Whitaker eager to act again". Los Angeles Daily News. February 19, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  14. ^ "twentyninth annual awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  15. ^ Marill, Alvin H. (October 11, 2010). Movies Made for Television: 2005-2009. Scarecrow Press. p. 23. ISBN 9780810876590.
  16. ^ Goldstein, Gary (October 9, 2010). "Movie review: 'My Soul to Take'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  17. ^ Holden, Stephen (September 22, 2011). "At Least His Abs Get a Workout". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  18. ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (August 9, 2011). "Warrior: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  19. ^ Webster, Andy (November 26, 2015). "Review: In 'Submerged,' a Limo Ride Hits Rough Waters". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  20. ^ McVey, Ciara (February 16, 2018). "'Black Panther' Stars Share Their Favorite Marvel Super Powers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  21. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (August 17, 2020). "'Cut Throat City' Review: The RZA Directs a Tale of Gangsta Desperation in Post-Katrina New Orleans". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  22. ^ Welkos, Robert W. (December 24, 2007). "Denzel looks to Denzel for direction". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  23. ^ "Denzel Whitaker (visual voices guide)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  24. ^ Haring, Bruce (April 29, 2021). "The 2021 Tribeca Festival Unveils Plans For TV, Episodic And Creator's Market, Including Live Events With Tina Fey, KISS". Deadline. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "5150 - Short Film".
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