Shocked there are so few threads for such an amazing actor!
I noticed him in several earlier roles but where I first took note was in Body Snatchers. A badly underrated film. Whitaker's character was the stand out in the film. He played a great tormented character. I said at the time he'd do some great work in the future. Sure enough he won an Academy Award, as well as a fist full of others. He's one of those rare actors that it's their humanity that makes them stand out. I'd lay odds he'll nail another Oscar before he's finished. Too talented to not knock it out of the park again. Glad he's getting good starring roles since in the past it was his supporting roles where he shined.
FYI I was born in 61' a month after Mr Whitaker and days after the President, not to mention Clooney and the rest. Funny how many were born in 1961.