African-American actor Forest Whitaker got into college on a football scholarship, but upon transferring to the University of Southern California, he majored in music -- winning two more scholarships in that field. Still another scholarship, this one set up by Sir John Gielgud, came Whitaker's way when he entered the drama program at Berkeley. A seasoned stage veteran at 21, the baby-faced Whitaker appeared in his first film, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, in 1982, coincidentally making his debut in the role of a football player.

Four years later, Whitaker attracted critical attention in the role of the hulking young pool player who flummoxes Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) in The Color of Money (1986). He was subsequently selected by director Clint Eastwood for the ..[Full version]