Born with an eye condition called ptosis, which translates to "drooping eyelid."

He is a supporter and public advocate for Hope North, a boarding school and vocational training center in northern Uganda for escaped child soldiers, orphans, and other young victims of the country's civil war. He met the school's founder during the filming of The Last King of Scotland.

Holds a Black belt in Kenpo Karate.

He tried to be as bulky as possible to play Big Harold in Platoon (1986), but the vigorous boot-camping training, bad food and rough shoot caused him to lose a lot of weight. When he noticed Whitaker was getting thinner, Oliver Stone said to him, "What are you doing? You're supposed to be 'Big' Harold".

Originally cast in the role of "Sawyer" on Lost (2004), but opted out of the role when 20th Century Fox green lighted his film First Daughter (2004).

Won 23 major awards for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (2006) including all the awards that are considered the biggest (except Cannes). He was also nominated for one more award, and won BET's "Best Actor" for the same year (presumably for the same film).

Met his wife, actress Keisha Whitaker (née Nash), on the set of Blown Away (1994).

Is one of 14 actors to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics' Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Geoffrey Rush for Shine (1996), Jamie Foxx for Ray (2004), Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005), Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men (2007), Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007) and Lincoln (2012), Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008), and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009), Colin Firth for The King's Speech (2010), Christopher Plummer for Beginners (2010), J.K. Simmons for Whiplash (2014), Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant (2015), Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), and Gary Oldman for Darkest Hour (2017).

Whitaker hosted Saturday Night Live (1975) on February 10, 2007, during which his singing talent was featured in several sketches.

Spent a total of three and a half months in Uganda researching and filming The Last King of Scotland (2006). Uganda was his ever first visit to Africa.

Was set to direct a live-action film version of Fat Albert (2004) but disagreed with Bill Cosby and has since left the production. (April 2002)

Raised in Los Angeles by an insurance-salesman father and schoolteacher mother, the high school football star ditched his jersey and helmet after catching the acting bug in a production of Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood".

In 2003, Whitaker became Executive Director of the Nodance Film Festival, a festival that celebrates the alternative digital film culture with an emphasis on first-time filmmakers and digital filmmaking. Originally held in Park City, Utah, Nodance has recently relaunched in Los Angeles and holds the distinction of being the world's first DVD-projected film festival.

He is the father of three children. He has two daughters, Sonnet Noel Whitaker (b. October 3rd 1996) and True Whitaker (b. July 2nd 1998), by his wife, Keisha Whitaker and a son, Ocean Whitaker (b. 1990), from a previous relationship. He also has Autumn (b. 1991), a stepdaughter through his marriage with Keisha.

He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March 2004 in Austin, Texas.

As of 2019, he has appeared in 4 films that have been Oscar-nominated for Best Picture: Platoon (1986), The Crying Game (1992), Arrival (2016), and Black Panther (2018). Of those, Platoon (1986) is a winner in the category.

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Platoon (1986).

He and his daughter, True Whitaker, have recorded a public service announcement promoting vegetarianism on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Brother of actors Kenn Whitaker and Damon Whitaker.

He has worked with 4 directors who have won a Best Director Oscar: Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, Barry Levinson, and Clint Eastwood.

Presented French actress Marion Cotillard with the Best Actress Oscar for her lead in La Vie En Rose (2007).

In 2015 received an honorary doctorate from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Attended University of Southern California (USC) School of Theater.

Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003.

Attended Cal Poly Pomona University, just like fellow actor Eric Martic.

Ex brother-in-law of Jeffrey Nash and Kidada Jones.

(March 27, 1993) Attended the 8th Annual Independent Spirit Awards.