Forest Whitaker

Whitaker in 2011, photo by PrPhotos

Birth Name: Forest Steven Whitaker

Place of Birth: Longview, Gregg, Texas, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 15, 1961

Ethnicity: African-American

Forest Whitaker is an American actor, director, and producer. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Last King of Scotland (2006). He has also starred in Bird, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, The Butler, Platoon, and many other films, both dramatic and comedic.

He is the son of Laura Francis (Smith) and Forest Whitaker, Jr. His brothers are actors Kenn Whitaker and Damon Whitaker. Forest has four children, and is married to actress Keisha Nash.

Forest’s paternal grandfather was Forest Elmer Whitaker (the son of Tyler Whitaker and Ida Baxter). Forest’s grandfather Forest was born in Texas. Tyler was the son of Albert Whitaker and Frances/Francis. Ida was the daughter of Henderson Palmer Baxter and Mary Weaver.

Forest’s paternal grandmother was Vallie Ree Hughes (the daughter of Edmond/Edmand Hughes and Sulteena/Sallenna Halton). Vallie was born in Texas. Edmond was the son of Edmond Hughes and Eliza Gene. Sulteena was the daughter of Bon Halton and Dena Hutchings.

Forest’s genetic tests have indicated that he has Igbo and Akan ancestry. He was given the title of Nwannedinambar of Nkwerre, “brother in a foreign land,” when he visited Nigeria.

Sources: Genealogy of Forest Whitaker (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Forest’s paternal grandfather, Forest Elmer Whitaker, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Forest’s paternal grandmother, Vallie Ree Hughes, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of Forest’s paternal great-grandmother, Sulteena/Sallenna (Halton) Hughes – https://www.familysearch.org