Meet Forest Whitaker's brother Kenn Whitaker: are they really twins?

Meet Forest Whitaker's brother Kenn Whitaker: are they really twins?

Kenneth Dwayne Whitaker, commonly known as Kenn Whitaker, is a famous former American television actor. He has played different roles in Most Wanted, Bulworth, Life, and Last Days. Many people know him as Forest Whitaker's brother. Fans have been asking whether Kenn and Forest are twins.

Forest Whitaker's brother Kenn Whitaker
Kenn (L), Forest (C), and Damon (R) Whitaker when Forest was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - Luncheon at Vert in Los Angeles. Photo: Chris Polk/FilmMagic (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

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Forest Whitaker's brother, Kenn Whitaker, has been out of the limelight for some time now. Before exiting the limelight, he was featured in multiple Hollywood productions. Kenn Whitaker's biography reveals interesting details about his life.

Profile summary

Full nameKenneth Dwayne Whitaker
GenderMale
Date of birth8 June 1963
Age61 years (as of 2024)
Place of birthLongview, Texas, United States of America
Current residenceLos Angeles, California, United States of America
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityAfrican-American
Zodiac sign Gemini
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Height5'11" (180 cm)
Weight165 lbs (75kg)
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourDark brown
Marital statusMarried
SpouseLaTanya Whitaker
Children2
FatherForest Steven Jr.
Mother Laura Francis Smith
Siblings3
Alma materPalisades Charter High School
ProfessionFormer actor

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Who is Forest Whitaker's brother, Kenn Whitaker?

Kenneth Dwayne Whitaker is a former actor who stepped out of the public eye several years ago. He was featured in Most Wanted, Bulworth, Life, and Last Days before exiting from the limelight. Many people know him as Forest Whitaker's brother.

How old is Kenn Whitaker?

The former actor is 61 years old as of 2024. He was born on 8 June 1963, and his Zodiac sign is Gemini.

Whitaker's family background

Kenn's father is Forest Steven Jr., and his mom is Laura Francis Smith. Forest Steven Jr. worked as an insurance salesman, while Laura was a special education teacher.

He has three siblings. Their names are Damon, Forest, and Deborah Whitaker. The siblings were raised in Carson, California. Kenn is based in Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

Educational background

Kenn went to Palisades Charter High School in Palisades, California. He later enrolled in college to pursue acting.

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Are Forest Whitaker and Kenn Whitaker twins?

Many people think Kenn and Forest are twins due to their uncanny resemblance. However, that is not the case. Forest is his older brother.

Forest was born on 15 July 1961, while Kenn was born on 8 June 1963. Therefore, they have an age gap of close to two years. The youngest Whitaker brother, Damon, was born on 21 October 1970 in Los Angeles.

Top 5 facts about Forest Whitaker's brother Kenn Whitaker
Top 5 facts about Forest Whitaker's brother Kenn Whitaker. Photo: @afrocentricfilmscollaborative (modified by author)
Source: Original

Are both Whitaker brothers actors?

Yes, the Whitaker brothers are actors. However, Kenn stepped away from the acting scene and has not been appearing in front of the cameras for some time now.

Forest is a famous actor, producer and director. He is best known for his roles in the films The Last King of Scotland, Bird, Good Morning Vietnam, Platoon, Panic Room, and The Way of the Samurai.

Damon's big break came in 1988 when he collaborated with Forest in the biopic Bird, which chronicled the life of jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker. Forest starred as Parker, while Damon, then still in high school, portrayed a younger version of the character.

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Damon and Forest's professional paths crossed again in Mr. Holland’s Opus and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, where they once more played the younger and older versions of the same character. Forest also directed Damon in the 2004 film First Daughter.

Over the years, Kenn Whitaker's brother Damon has expanded his career to include producing and writing. His latest project is the 2022 television series Strangely Tranquil, in which he serves as both writer and actor.

I do develop and produce; I’ve been doing it for a while. I am a writer as well, so I’ve been doing a lot of writing.

What movies was Kenn Whitaker in?

After completing his college studies, Kenn took on minor acting roles. His older brother, Forest, inspired him to become an actor. He has seven acting credits. Unlike his brother Forest, Kenn stepped out of the acting scene in 2001.

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ProductionYearRole
Most Wanted (movie)1997Bus Guard 2
Tracey Takes On... (TV Series)1998Second Smoking Man
Bulworth (movie)1998Henchman #1
Party of Five (TV Series)1999Detention Centre Guard
Life (movie)1999Isaac
The Theory of the Leisure Class (movie)2001Otis
Last Days (movie)2001Ben Forchet

Who did Kenn Whitaker play in the movie Life?

Kenn Whitaker's character in Life is Isaac. The film tells the story of two New Yorkers, Ray Gibson, played by Eddie Murphy and Claude Banks, played by Martin Lawrence, who gets tangled up in a legal nightmare.

The film follows them through decades of prison life, showcasing the challenges they face and the transformations they undergo.

Does Kenn Whitaker play in Godfather of Harlem?

Kenn Whitaker is not in the cast of Godfather of Harlem. The show stars his brother Forest Whitaker as Ellsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Johnson, a Harlem-based mob boss and the titular "Godfather of Harlem".

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Is Kenn Whitaker married?

Forest Whitaker's brother is married to LaTanya Whitaker. The couple is blessed with two children.

How tall is Kenn Whitaker?

The former American actor is 5 ft 11 in or 180 cm tall and weighs about 165lb or 75kg. He has black hair and dark brown eyes.

What happened to Kenn Whitaker's eye?

Kenn Whitaker, unlike his brother Forest Whitaker, doesn't have any noticeable condition with his eye. Forest Whitaker has a condition called ptosis, which affects his left eyelid and causes it to droop. This is something he has had throughout his career and is easily recognized.

Trivia

  • All the Whitaker siblings have had careers in the entertainment industry despite their father’s wishes.
  • He does not have any known social media accounts.
  • He enjoys travelling in his free time.

Forest Whitaker's brother, Kenn Whitaker, is a former actor who was last featured in a movie in 2001. Many people think he is Forest's twin because the brothers have an uncanny resemblance.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Bennett Yates avatar

Bennett Yates (Lifestyle writer) Bennett Yates is a content creator with over five years of working experience in journalism and copywriting. He graduated from the University of Nairobi (2017) with a Bachelor's in Information Technology. In 2023, Bennett finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. He started working for Briefly in 2019. You can reach him via email at bennetyates@gmail.com.

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Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com