Forest Whitaker's 4 Kids: All About Ocean, Autumn, Sonnet and True

Mar. 15, 2025

True Whitaker, Forest Whitaker, Sonnet Whitaker, and Keisha Whitaker attend Lee Daniels' “The Butler” New York Premiere on August 5, 2013 in New York City.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Forest Whitakermay be the godfather of Harlem, but in real life, he’s a father of four children: Ocean, Autumn, Sonnet and True.

TheBig George Foremanactor welcomed his first child and only son, Ocean, 34, in 1990 with a previous partner. In 1996, Forest married his now late ex-wife Keisha Nash and the two welcomed daughters Sonnet, 28, and True, 26, in 1996 and 1998, respectively. Nash also had a daughter, Autumn, 32, from a previous relationship, whom Forest also helped raise as his own.

Whitakerfiled for divorcefrom Nash in December 2018, citing irreconcilable differences. The two were married for 22 years before their split.

Five years later, Forest and Nash’s youngest daughter, True, announcedher mom died on Dec. 7, 2023, in an Instagram Story.

Forest Whitaker, wife Keisha Whitaker, daughters Autumn Whitaker, Sonnet Whitaker and True Whitaker arrive at the Kissable Couture Launch Party on November 13, 2007 in West Hollywood, California.Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage

Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage

From how they helped their dad prepare for a major role to his thoughts about their dating lives, here’s everything to know about Forest Whitaker’s kids.

Forest and Nash had two children from previous relationships before they got married

Forest Whitaker with son Ocean Whitaker and daughter.Albert L. Ortega/WireImage

Albert L. Ortega/WireImage

Forest’s eldest child, Ocean, was born in April 1990. He was 4 years old when Forest and Nash met. Nash also had a child before meeting Forest — a daughter born in 1991 named Autumn.

Ocean is a movie editor who has worked on a few projects, includingMontebello,The Game of SilenceandAnother Try. Apart from accompanying his dad to the White House forthe 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s marchin August 2013, Ocean has remained out of the public eye.

Autumn has also primarily stayed private, though she has accompanied Forest to numerous red carpets throughout his career, includingThe Butlerpremiere in 2013 and theHuffington Postpre-inaugural ball in 2009.

After marrying in 1996, Forest and Nash welcomed their daughters, Sonnet, on Oct. 3, 1996, and True on July 2, 1998.

Forest was the more lenient parent when the kids were growing up

Forest Whitaker with his daughters True and Autumn attend Sundance Institute At Sundown on June 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.Leon Bennett/FilmMagic

Leon Bennett/FilmMagic

He continued, “I have to always take a pause when they come and say, ‘Hey Dad, is it OK if we do this?’ So I just look at them like, ‘Have you talked to your mom about that?’ They know I’m the easy one."

His children played an active role in helping him prepare for his roles

Forest Whitaker and his daughter.Forest Whitaker Instagram

Forest Whitaker Instagram

When Forest was cast in the children’s movieWhere The Wild Things Are, he enlisted the help of his brood of kids to help him prepare. Forest voiced Ira, who, though he was a gentle “Wild Thing,” was still a beast and needed to growl and grunt.

To prepare, Forest practiced his animal noises at home with his kids, who were already familiar with the story, he toldParade.

“The grunts and stuff I’ve done at home with my kids. When they were younger, I’d do it a lot when I’d read them the book,” he said. “It’s sort of been handed down in my family because it was read to me when I was a kid. I read it to all my kids, and now they read it on their own now. They loved the scary parts.”

While Ira was a friendlier role, Forest has had experience with less welcoming characters, like when he played dictator Idi Amin in 2006’sThe Last King of Scotland.

To prepare for the role, Forest toldBlack Filmthat he stayed in character even when he wasn’t shooting — which led to him sometimes speaking in a voice that differed from his regular one with his children.

“I tried to let go of it as much as I could,” Forest told the outlet of when he would call his kids while shooting the movie. “My daughter would be like, ‘Daddy, why are you talking like this?’ I would say, ‘Just remember, I’m just make believing for a little while.’ She understands.”

Now that True and Sonnet are older, they have continued to support their dad in his career, including when theyjoined him at the 2024 Faces of Hope Galain September 2024.

Forest isn’t overly protective when it comes to his daughters’ dating lives

Forest Whitaker with his daughters, Sonnet and True.Forest Whitaker Instagram

While promoting his 2010 filmOur Family Wedding, Forest toldCleveland.comthat he was relatively relaxed when it came to rules surrounding dating, especially for his daughters.

“Whatever would make my children happy,” he told the outlet. “It’s really about the quality of the kid they bring home. I’m very open with my daughters. I try not to put my own fears onto them. I trust they will find a man who will let them grow. They’re strong. They wouldn’t let somebody treat them wrong.”

Sonnet is a singer

Sonnet Whitaker and actor Forest Whitaker attend the “Black Nativity” premiere on November 18, 2013 in New York City.Jim Spellman/WireImage

Jim Spellman/WireImage

Forest raised his children in a creative household, encouraging his children to pursue their interests and passions.

“I was very idealistic when I was younger; I read poetry books, I didn’t care about working or making money,” Forest toldPastemagazine. “I would rather sleep on the couch than do something I didn’t believe in … And even though I sheltered my kids from the business, they are very much artistic spirits too.”

While she didn’t inherit the acting bug, Sonnet lived up to her musical name and became a musician.

In October 2022, the proud dad announced his daughter put out an album,N.F.S., and encouraged his followers to listen.

“I’m so proud of my incredible daughter Sonnet for writing and recording N.F.S., her first album!” he wrote in anInstagramcaption.

True starred alongside her dad in an episode ofThe Godfather of Harlem

Forest Whitaker (L) and daughter True Whitaker attend the “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” launch event after party on December 13, 2016 in London, England.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage

Forest’s youngest daughter decided to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in acting. After graduating high school, True started school at New York University, where she studied creative writing.

However, after graduating, she started dipping her toe into acting work, including a role in an episode of her dad’s show,The Godfather of Harlem.

“I acted in the last season ofGodfather of Harlem, starring my dad. I had a character named Sandra. She was definitely a challenge, but I loved every second of it and, hopefully, because it’s shooting right now, she’ll come back,” she told theNew York Postin July 2022.

She added that she didn’t think her dad was on set while she was filming but when she wrapped up, someone informed her that he had been “secretly watching.”

“He’s very supportive,” she told the outlet. “When I went back up to my dressing room, I found him in there with balloons and a bottle of champagne, congratulating me. It was really special, of course, to be able to do that with my dad.”

True added that she believes she inherited her wit and empathy from her father, who she said raised all his children to embrace all kinds of people.

“I feel like he’s taught me and my brother and sisters to approach life with a sense of understanding and openness to different types of people in this world — to embrace different types of people, with different energies and from different walks of life,” True said.

source: people.com