Denzel Whitaker
Whitaker at the 2018San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Denzel Dominique Whitaker (1990-06-15)June 15, 1990 (age 35) Torrance, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2001–present

Denzel Dominique Whitaker (born June 15, 1990) is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, he acted in the filmsTraining Day (2001) andThe Ant Bully (2006) before portrayingJames Farmer Jr. inThe Great Debaters (2007), earning anNAACP Image Award for his work in the film. His other film work includesMy Soul to Take (2010),Abduction (2011) andBlack Panther (2018).

On television, Whitaker was a cast member onNickelodeon'sAll That between 2004 and 2005. He has appeared in recurring roles onBrothers & Sisters (2009) andThe Purge (2019), in addition to guest roles on various series.

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

He was named after actorDenzel Washington.^[5] Whitaker disputed this fact onThe Oprah Winfrey Show while promoting the movieThe 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 onThe Great Debaters.^[7]

Whitaker made his acting debut in the 2001 filmTraining Day as Dimitri.^[8] He was a regular cast member during the tenth and final season of theNickelodeon sketch-comedy seriesAll That.^[9]

He portrayedJames Farmer Jr. inThe 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 2008NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture,^[13] and received aYoung Artist Award nomination.^[14]

Whitaker played Sheldon in theDisney Channel Original MovieDadnapped (2009).^[15] Whitaker was a blind teenager named Jerome inWes Craven'sMy Soul to Take (2010).^[16] In 2011, he performed in two feature films, portraying Gilly in thrillerAbduction^[17] and appearing in sports dramaWarrior.^[18]

Whitaker appeared as Eddie in thrillerSubmerged (2016)^[19] and was a youngZuri in the 2018 superhero filmBlack Panther.^[20] He portrayed Andre, an aspiring musician, in the 2020 filmCut Throat City, directed by rapperRZA.^[21]

His television work includesER,The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,The War at Home,^[22]Rizzoli & Isles andBlue Bloods. Whitaker also appeared inWerner Herzog'sBad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.

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

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

• Denzel Whitaker atIMDb

• 1990 births
• Living people
• 21st-century African-American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• Male actors from Torrance, California
• African-American male child actors
• American male child actors
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• American male voice actors
• American voice directors

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from March 2021
• Articles with hCards