Whitaker risked life against armed man

Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker was once forced to risk his life wrestling a knife-wielding mental patient to the ground.

The star of 'The Last King Of Scotland' worked in a home for the mentally disabled before he became an actor, and had to restrain an escapee who had fled the institution.

Whitaker credits his fighting skills with his successful takedown.

"I am a really good fighter," he said. "I'm a combat fighter, so I choose not to fight people.

"I remember I was working at a halfway house for the mentally disturbed, before I started acting, and one of the patients got loose in the neighbourhood with a knife.

"He was going to end up getting shot, so I had to wrestle him to the ground and take the knife from him."