Whitaker is probably best known for his role in Quentin Tarantino's popular 1994 film Pulp Fiction as Maynard, the sadistic pawn shop owner.

Other notable roles include; a racist cop in Tales from the Hood, Boss Man in Feast, The Sheriff in Trailer Park of Terror, Luther in From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (which he also co-wrote), Buddy in Dead Letters, Winslow in Broke Sky, Mickey in Cordoba Nights Dr. Bankhead in The Devil's Rejects and Road Rash in Hobgoblins.

Whitaker has appeared in the feature films Getting Grace, Give Till It Hurts, A Dark Foe, Night Club, Halloween II and Lionhead.

On TV, Whitaker appeared on the Cold Case episode "The Brush Man" and filmed a recurring role in the FX series The Bridge.

On March 31, 2010, American Cinematheque hosted a screening of Eddie Presley and "Together and Alone" at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.