A professional in the field of martial arts and a good actor Michael Jay White broke all the stereotypes of Hollywood and became a real sensation in the world of cinema. Bright and extraordinary, with a magnificent physique, he earned respect not only on the screen, but also in life, and all thanks to his versatile talents. Read about the biography and filmography of the actor in our article. Start exploring his work with the most interesting and popular films and series.
Michael J: biography
The future actor, producer and screenwriter was born on November 10, 1967 in one of the poor areas of Brooklyn. According to M. Jay himself, his interest in martial arts appeared after watching the film “Five Fingers of Death” at the age of five. Two years later, he was already actively and purposefully mastering jujitsu. When he was eight years old, the family moved to a neighboring state - Connecticut (Bridgeport). In the new school, he began studying karate, and I must say, the process was very successful, because by the age of 13 the teenager already had the first black belt. The main style that Michael J owns is Kyokushinkai, which, however, includes elements of various martial arts.
For three years after college, the actor worked in a special school for children with emotional disorders as a simple teacher. It was at this time that the first offers of work in the cinema and on television began to come to him.
The actor has two children, is married to American actress Gillian Waters. The couple held a closed wedding ceremony in 2015 in Thailand (pictured above). The actress has children from her first marriage.
Movie career
While still at college, Michael began to participate in castings for shooting in commercials, as well as in television shows, and even received several episodic movie roles. In the end, he decided to quit his job and move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in full force.
The first films with Michael J. White were not particularly popular, however, initially he did not seek dramatic roles. However, his participation in them has established a good reputation as a professional in the field of martial arts. The success and popularity brought him the television film "Tyson", which tells the story of the famous boxer. With this role, M. White seemed to consolidate his status as a diverse actor. Later on, his amazing charisma and even comedic abilities appeared on the screen, which is especially noticeable in such films as “Why am I married?” and “Why are we getting married again?”, “Through wounds” and others.
After he realized and established himself as an actor, White decided to move to a new level - directing and writing scripts. Both of them succeed very successfully. Currently, the impressive filmography of Michael Jay White has 78 acting, 4 scripts, 4 producer and 2 directorial works, as well as active participation in television shows and series in the role of himself.
Films with really successful scenes reflecting the honed skills of martial arts are, quite frankly, a rarity, as well as the number of actors with similar abilities. Michael Jay White (in the photo below - an actor with his family at one of the premieres) is talented, and not only in the action movie genre, but also in a dramatic role. To make sure of this, we offer you a selection of films with his participation.
Tyson
The film about the legend of world boxing, which served as a runway for an equally talented athlete, was released on the HBO channel in 1995. The life story of the American heavyweight boxer Michael Tyson unfolds on the screen, revealing the most unsightly and dark sides of his past. By adolescence, he already had about 40 drives to the police. The plot is largely built on the book "Fire and Fear." Sports and the coach who adopted Tyson after his mother’s death literally “dragged” him from the streets.
The image of a boxer on the screen brilliantly embodied by Michael J. White. Starring also starred Paul Winfield, George C. Scott. Spectators and critics unanimously noted the stunning outward similarity of White and Tyson, which added even more realism to the picture.
After 13 years, the actor will return to the topic of boxing, this time as the legendary Mohammed Ali in the biographical television series Legend of Bruce Lee.
Spawn
Invented by the Canadian screenwriter and artist T. McFarlane, the mystical superhero Spawn is one of the 100 best comic book characters of all time according to the IGN website, where he takes 36th place. In 1997, based on magazines, a full-length film was shot, where M. White played the main role. The dark-skinned superhero at that time looked somewhat unconventional and original. According to the plot of the picture, the main character is killed by his own military commander. Dreaming to go back and see at least once with his own wife, he makes a deal with the devil. However, once on the ground, he realizes that he is not ready to comply with its conditions ...
"Undisputed 2"
The actor noted with his participation many films. Michael JW starred this time. The action movie “Undisputed 2” is a sequel to “No Discussion,” directed by Isaac Florentine.
Dynamic tape tells about the former world boxing champion, who goes to Russia to shoot in commercials. At the hotel, drugs are thrown at him, as a result, the main character ends up in a prison, famous for fighting for the sake of entertainment. Everything is involved: from large bosses to serious crime bosses. At stake is not only freedom, but also life.
"Why are we getting married?" and "Why are we getting married again?"
Comedy melodramas of 2007 and 2010 respectively. The focus is on a group of friends consisting of four couples. Every year they come together in the same house to have fun and relax. However, this time everything went a little differently. The tense atmosphere, the problems - all this suggests that it is time to sort out the emerging crisis of relations and the sincerity of the feelings of the spouses in each pair. The plot of the second film is very similar, only the action takes place not in the mountains, but in the hot Bahamas.
If you want to watch movies with Michael Jay White (in the photo above, the actor is depicted with partners on the set) without a hint of spectacular fights and martial arts, then this is what you need. It is interesting to observe his amazing charisma and talent for a comedy game.
"Blood and bone"
In 2009, a new action movie with drama elements was released, which brought fans of Michael Jay White to complete delight. Still would! Spectacular, full of scenes with fights, demonstrating the excellent physical preparation of the actor, his mastery of martial arts techniques ... In the center of the plot is a young street fighter, recently released from prison. In order to fulfill his promise to a friend, he begins to take an active part in unofficial competitions, challenging the most desperate and cruel gangsters. However, they also have certain types of him.
Black Dynamite
A movie in which Michael J. White appears in an unusual and interesting way. Stylized under the 70s of the last century, a comedy thriller about a secret agent nicknamed Black Dynamite. When the Italian mafia begins to control the streets of the African American ghetto , distributing drugs and smuggled alcohol, it takes the process of release into its own hands. The reason for the radical measures was the murder of his brother. "Black Dynamite" is filled with memorable and colorful scenes of fights, and also replete with beauties whom the protagonist manages to seduce on the way to victory. Classic movie in the spirit of Blaxploitation.
In the same 2009, an animated television series based on the film, very ambiguously received by critics, was released on television screens. Adult-oriented, it contained bloody scenes, fierce fights and violence. M. D. White took part in the voice acting of his character.
"Is it good or bad"
The comedy-drama American series was released on TBS on November 25, 2011. The idea is based on the “Why get married?” Films described above. and "Why are we getting married again?" The plot revolves around three married couples comprehending periods of rise and fall at various stages in the development of relationships. The series is aimed at a young audience. Literally from the first episodes, his ratings became the best on television. In addition to M.D. White, the main roles are played by Tasha Smith, Jason Olive, Coco Brown, Krist Stewart, Kent Falcon. The audience liked the series, but the reviews from critics were very mixed. The Boston weekly called it an explosive mixture of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Dynasty projects.
"Slave trade"
It's no secret that now many eminent actors not only act in films, but also write scripts for them and produce them. An example that everyone has in their language is the Expendables trilogy by S. Stallone. The star of the fighters of the 90s D. Lundgren also decided to keep up and in 2014 he shot the film “Slave Trade”, inviting MD White to one of the main roles. The picture touches on the theme of the black market, but not simple, but trading in human organs, which is doubly worse. Like a ball, unfold in front of a detective investigating the murder of a girl, an almost perfect crime event. In the fight for justice, he will have to engage in a deadly battle, it is almost impossible to stay alive in this unequal battle. In the photo below - M. White with Dolph Lundgren during the filming.
Among the actor’s works in 2016, participation in projects such as “Chocolate City”, “Fulfillment of the Order”, “Asian Messenger”, “Never Give Up 3” should be noted.
In the field of martial arts, Michael Jay (photo presented in the article) reached a very high level, having received the eighth black belt in 2013 from the hands of his mentor, the legendary and invincible Bill Wallace, nicknamed Superfoot - kickboxing champion. The actor continues the great legacy of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Vann Dame and is the number one martial arts star in America.