Kenn Whitaker: The Lesser-Known Brother of Forest Whitaker

Kenn Whitaker is an American actor who has appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as Most Wanted, Bulworth, Life, and Last Days. He is also the younger brother of Forest Whitaker, the Academy Award-winning actor and director. Although Kenn Whitaker is not as famous as his brother, he has a loyal fan base and a respectable career in the entertainment industry.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Value
Full name	Kenneth Dwayne Whitaker
Date of birth	June 8, 1963
Place of birth	Longview, Texas, USA
Nationality	American
Gender	Male
Sexuality	Straight
Ethnicity	African-American
Height	N/A
Weight	N/A
Eye color	Brown
Hair color	Black
Zodiac sign	Gemini
Religion	Christianity
Occupation	Actor (former)
Years active	1996-2001
Net worth	$1 million (estimated)
Parents	Forest Steven Jr. and Laura Francis Smith
Siblings	Forest Whitaker, Damon Whitaker and Deborah Whitaker
Education	Palisades Charter High School, Palisades, CA
Marital status	Unknown
Children	Unknown
Best known for	Being the brother of Forest Whitaker and acting in movies like Most Wanted and Bulworth
First film appearance	Most Wanted (1997)
Last film appearance	Last Days (2001)
Other film appearances	Bulworth (1998), Life (1999)
Television appearances	None
Awards and nominations	None
Hobbies	Traveling
Social media accounts	None
Current residence	Unknown
Current occupation	Unknown
Reason for retirement from acting	Unknown
Relationship with Forest Whitaker	Close and supportive
Similarity with Forest Whitaker	Uncanny resemblance but not twins
Difference from Forest Whitaker	Less successful and less famous in acting career
Opinion on Forest Whitaker’s achievements	Proud and happy for his brother’s success
Influence of Forest Whitaker on his career	Inspired by his brother’s passion and talent for acting

Kenn Whitaker’s early life and education

Kenn Whitaker was born on June 8, 1963, in Longview, Texas, USA. His parents were Forest Steven Jr., an insurance salesman, and Laura Francis Smith, a special education teacher. He has three siblings: Forest, Damon, and Deborah, who are all actors as well.

Kenn grew up in a family that faced many challenges, but also had a lot of love and support. His mother pursued two master’s degrees while raising four children, and his father worked hard to provide for them. Kenn moved to California with his family when he was just a child, in search of better opportunities. He attended Palisades Charter High School in Palisades, CA, where he developed an interest in acting. He later went to college and continued to hone his skills as an actor.

Kenn Whitaker’s acting career

Kenn Whitaker appeared in several films and television shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Here is a brief overview of Kenn Whitaker’s acting career:

• He made his film debut in 1997 with the action thriller Most Wanted, where he played a minor role as a bus guard. The film starred Keenen Ivory Wayans, Jon Voight and Paul Sorvino.
• In 1998, he appeared in the political satire Bulworth, where he played another small role as a Henchman. The film was directed by and starred Warren Beatty, along with Halle Berry, Don Cheadle and Oliver Platt.
• In 1999, he had a cameo role in the comedy Life, where he played Issac. The film starred Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and Bernie Mac.
• In 2001, he played a role of Ben Forchet in Last Days. The film was directed and written by
  Mark J. Harris.

After 2001, Kenn Whitaker retired from acting and little is known about his current whereabouts or what he does for a living. He is still remembered as the brother of Forest Whitaker, who has won numerous awards for his performances in film and television, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Last King of Scotland.

Kenn Whitaker and Forest Whitaker: Are they twins?

Many people often mistake Kenn Whitaker for his brother Forest Whitaker, or assume that they are twins. This is because they share a striking resemblance and have similar names. However, the truth is that they are not twins, but brothers who are two years apart. Kenn Whitaker was born in 1963, while Forest Whitaker was born in 1961. They also have different middle names: Kenn’s middle name is Dwayne, while Forest’s middle name is Steven.

Kenn Whitaker’s relationship with his brother Forest

Both Kenn and Forest pursued acting as a career, but their paths diverged significantly. Forest became an Oscar-winning actor, producer, and director, known for his roles in films such as The Last King of Scotland, Bird, The Butler, and Black Panther. He also ventured into producing and directing films such as Waiting to Exhale, First Daughter, and Fruitvale Station. Forest has been praised for his versatility, depth, and humanity in his performances.

Kenn, on the other hand, had a less prominent and shorter acting career.  He retired from acting after 2001 and little is known about his current activities. Kenn is often overshadowed by his brother’s fame and achievements, and is mostly recognized as Forest’s look-alike.

Despite their different levels of success and exposure, Kenn and Forest have a close bond as brothers. They have worked together on several projects including appearing together onscreen in TV movie Strapped. They have also supported each other in various events and occasions. For example, Kenn accompanied Forest to the Oscars in 2007, where Forest won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. 

Kenn Whitaker’s Personal Life, Marriage & Children

Kenn Whitaker likes to keep his personal life private and away from the media spotlight. There is no official information about his marital status, past relationships, or children. He may be married or single, but he has not revealed anything to the public. Meanwhile, Forest Whitaker has been married twice and gave birth to four children. The Last King of Scotland actor was married to Keisha for 22 years from 1996 to 2018.

Where is Kenn Whitaker now?

Kenn Whitaker has been away from the screen since 2001. He has not appeared in any movies or TV shows since then. He has also not given any interviews or updates about his current status or future plans. Some sources suggest that he has retired from acting and is focusing on his personal life. Others speculate that he might be working on some behind-the-scenes projects or preparing for a comeback. Whatever the case may be, fans hope that he will return to acting soon and show his talent once again.