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 Whitaker was born on June 15, 1990, in Torrance, California, the son of Younalanda and Dale Whitaker. He went to Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, but while acting as a teenager he would receive and conduct schoolwork via email correspondence.
He was named after actor Denzel Washington. 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."Denzel Washington: A Debater's Destiny", in Essence.com Washington served as an acting mentor for Whitaker on The Great Debaters.
Career Whitaker made his acting debut in the 2001 film Training Day as Dimitri. He was a regular cast member during the tenth and final season of the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy series All That.
He portrayed James Farmer Jr. in The Great Debaters (2007). Whitaker's acting in this film was well received, with one reviewer praising his "sweetness and vulnerability" and another describing him as a standout among the younger actors in the film. For his performance as James, Whitaker won the 2008 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, and received a Young Artist Award nomination.
Whitaker played Sheldon in the Disney Channel Original Movie Dadnapped (2009). Whitaker was a blind teenager named Jerome in Wes Craven's My Soul to Take (2010). In 2011, he performed in two feature films, portraying Gilly in thriller Abduction and appearing in sports drama Warrior.
Whitaker appeared as Eddie in thriller Submerged (2016) and was a young Zuri in the 2018 superhero film Black Panther. He portrayed Andre, an aspiring musician, in the 2020 film Cut Throat City, directed by rapper RZA.
His television work includes ER, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The War at Home, 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. 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.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2001Training DayDimitri2006The Ant BullyAlbert (voice)2007The Great DebatersJames Farmer Jr.NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor2009Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansDaryl2010 My Soul to TakeJerome2011 AbductionGillyWarriorStephon2015Back to School MomNoah Riley2016SubmergedEddie2018Black PantherYoung Zuri2019U Shoot Videos?MojiShort filmWill 'The Machine''' |Joe Walker |Short film |- |rowspan=2|2020 |Cut Throat City|Andre
|No Escape |Thomas
|2021 |5150 | |Short film; director and writer |- |2023 |The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster''Kango
Television Year Title Role Notes2004One on OneYoung DuaneEpisode: "You Don't Have to Go Home..."2004–2005All ThatDenzel6 episodes2005What's New, Scooby-Doo?Jake / Kid (voice)Episode: "Camp Comeoniwannascareya" All That: 10th Anniversary Reunion SpecialDenzelTelevision specialSpongeBob SquarePantsBackground Fish Character(voice)UncreditedERHassanEpisode: "Wake Up"2006The War at HomeJeff2 episodesTeachersMartin SandersEpisode: "Schoolympics"2007Handy MannyKyle (voice)Episode: "Join the Club" The Suite Life of Zack & CodyTrentEpisode: "Back in the Game" 2009 House RulesPeter ChibaTelevision filmDadnappedSheldonCSI: Crime Scene InvestigationFrankie KirklandEpisode: "No Way Out" Brothers & SistersCarter3 episodes2010 R U There?MaxTelevision filmFreaknik: The MusicalFruit Bowl Boys Member(voice)The BoondocksSgt. Gutter (voice)Episode: "Bitches to Rags"2012Black DynamiteDonald the Accountant (voice)Episode: "Taxes and Death or Get Him to the Sunset Strip"Rizzoli & IslesTrevorEpisode: "Virtual Love" 2013Monday MorningsNick VillanuevaEpisode: "Communion"LegitClay2 episodes2015Blue BloodsCurtis Turner2019The PurgeDarren Moore7 episodes2025The RookieMessengerEpisode: "Mad About Murder"
References
External links