Destin Whitaker is not Forest Whitaker’s nephew. Yes, their surname is similar, but they have no familial ties.

Key Takeaways

• Destin Whitaker is the son of Gill and Lashon Whitaker.
• Contrarily, Forest Whitaker’s parents are Forest Steven Jr. and Laura Francis Smith.

Destin Whitaker, the son of Gill and Lashon Whitaker, hails from Romeoville, Illinois. A recent graduate of Purdue University Fort Wayne, Destin is a professional basketball player who plays as a senior guard for the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons.

Under the guidance of head coach Jon Coffman, the 6’5″ tall Destin is known for his toughness, skill, and versatility, allowing him to guard multiple positions effectively.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓻 (@_destinwhitaker)

In contrast, Forest Whitaker, an accomplished actor, social activist, advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, has a different family background.

Forest is the son of Forest Steven Jr., an insurance salesman, and Laura Francis Smith, a special education teacher.

Forest married actress Keisha Nash in 1972 after meeting on the set of “Blown Away.”

They have four children: two daughters, Sonnet and True, and a son named Ocean Alexander from previous relationships. Keisha has a daughter named Autumn.

In December 2018, Forest filed for divorce from Keisha, citing irreconcilable differences. They permanently split in 2023.

Forest has two brothers, Kenn and Damon Whitaker, who are also actors.

His sister, Deborah Whitaker, is a director, editor, and writer known for the drama “Climate” (2016).

While Forest remains active on social media, his siblings prefer to keep a low profile.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Forest Whitaker (@forestwhitaker)

Given the distinct family backgrounds and no mention of Destin Whitaker in Forest Whitaker’s family tree, it is clear that Destin Whitaker is not related to Forest Whitaker.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• The 62-year-old Forest Whitaker was born in Longview, Texas.
• Forest Whitaker is the founder and CEO of The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), which was founded in 2012 and aims to promote the values of peace, reconciliation, and social development within communities impacted by conflict and violence.