Forest Whitaker Siblings: Who Are They and What Have They Done in Film and TV

Forest Whitaker is one of the most acclaimed and versatile actors in Hollywood, with a career spanning over four decades and dozens of films and TV shows. But for today we will be talking about Forest Whitaker siblings.

He is best known for his Oscar-winning performance as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006), as well as his roles in:

• Bird (1988)
• The Crying Game (1992)
• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
• The Butler (2013)
• Black Panther (2018)

But did you know that Forest Whitaker has three siblings who are also involved in the entertainment industry? Here is a look at the famous actor and his family.

Forest Whitaker has two younger brothers, Kenn and Damon, and an older sister, Deborah. All of them have followed their brother’s footsteps into show business, albeit with less success and recognition.

Forest Whitaker Family

Forest Whitaker was born on July 15, 1961, in Longview, Texas, to Forest Steven Jr. and Laura Francis Whitaker. His father was an insurance salesman and his mother was a special education teacher.

They moved to South Central Los Angeles when Forest was four years old, where he attended Palisades Charter High School and developed an interest in music and acting.

He later graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts and began his film career with Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).

Forest Whitaker Siblings

Kenn Whitaker: The Twin Brother

Kenn Whitaker was born on June 8, 1963, in Longview, Texas.

He is two years younger than Forest, but they look so much alike that many people mistake them for twins.

Kenn is also an actor, who has appeared in films such as:

• Most Wanted (1997)
• Bulworth (1998)
• Life (1999)
• Last Days (2001)
• The Theory of the Leisure Class (2001)

He also wrote and performed a song for the soundtrack of Strapped (1993), a TV movie directed by Forest.

Kenn has not been active in the industry since 2001, and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Damon Whitaker

Damon Whitaker was born on October 21, 1970, in Los Angeles, California.

He is seven years younger than Forest, and also bears a strong resemblance to him.

Damon is also an actor, who has appeared in films such as:

• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), where he played a younger version of Forest’s character
• The Great Debaters (2007), where he played James Farmer Sr., the father of Forest’s character
• Freelancers (2012), where he played a detective alongside Forest

He also had roles in TV shows such as ER, NYPD Blue, The Shield, and Criminal Minds.

Damon has been more active than Kenn in recent years, but still remains relatively obscure.

Deborah Whitaker

Deborah Whitaker is the oldest sibling of Forest Whitaker. She was born on February 6, 1959, in Longview, Texas.

She is also an actress, who has appeared in films such as:

• The Color Purple (1985), where she played Squeak’s sister
• Waiting to Exhale (1995), where she played Gloria’s sister
• Phenomenon (1996), where she played Nate’s wife

She also had roles in TV shows such as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, L.A. Law, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Deborah has not been active in the industry since 2000.

How are the Whitakers related to each other?

Besides being an actor, producer and director, Forest Whitaker is also a humanitarian and an activist.

He is the founder of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, a non-profit organization that works to empower young people in conflict-affected regions around the world.

He is also a UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors.

Forest Whitaker is also related to another famous musician: Roger Whittaker.

Roger Whittaker is a British singer-songwriter and musician who is best known for his songs such as “The Last Farewell”, “Durham Town” and “New World in the Morning”.

He is Forest’s second cousin, as their grandfathers were brothers.

Conclusion

Forest Whitaker is undoubtedly the most famous and successful member of his family, but he is not the only one who pursued a career in the entertainment industry.

His siblings Kenn, Damon, and Deborah have also tried their luck in acting, with varying degrees of achievement.

They have all supported each other throughout their journeys, and have even shared the screen with Forest on several occasions.

They are a talented and close-knit family that deserves more recognition for their contributions to film and TV.

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