Jussie Smollett
| Jussie Smollett | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Jussie Langston Mikha Smollett June 21, 1983 Santa Rosa, California, U.S |
| Occupation | Actor, singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1991–present |
Jussie Langston Mikha Smollett (born June 21, 1983)[1] is an American actor, singer and photographer. As a child, he co-starred in a number of films, including The Mighty Ducks (1992) and North (1994). In 2015, Smollett began starring as Jamal Lyon in the Fox music-industry primetime soap opera Empire.
Early life
Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California.[2] He is the son of Janet and Joel Smollett.[2] He has three brothers and two sisters: Jake, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jazz.[1] His father was Jewish (his family emigrated from Russia and Poland), and his mother is of Black, Native American, Creole, and Irish descent.[3]
Career
Smollett began his acting career as a child, co-starring in the films The Mighty Ducks (1992) and North (1994). On television, he starred alongside his five real-life siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own from 1994–95.[4]
In 2012, Smollett returned to acting with the leading role in the LGBT-themed comedy-drama The Skinny.[5] He later guest-starred on The Mindy Project and Revenge. In 2014, Smollett was cast as Jamal Lyon—a gay musician who struggles to gain his father's approval—opposite Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in the Fox primetime soap opera Empire.[6][7][8]
Smollett is also a singer-songwriter; in 2012, he released an EP album, The Poisoned Hearts Club.[9][1] In February 2015, he confirmed that he had signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and would be releasing an album in the future.[10] Smollett co-wrote the songs "I Wanna Love You" and "You're So Beautiful" on the Original Soundtrack from Season 1 of Empire album, which was released in March 2015.[11]
Personal life
Smollett confirmed he was Gay during a backstage interview with Ellen DeGeneres in March 2015.[12][13]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | A Little Piece of Heaven | Salem Bordeaux | Television film |
| 1992 | The Mighty Ducks | Terry Hall | Nominated — Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 1994 | North | Adam | |
| 2009 | Pitch This | Mike | Short film |
| 2012 | The Skinny | Magnus | |
| 2014 | Born to Race: Fast Track | Tariq | Direct-to-video |
| 2014 | Ask Me Anything | Nico Dempster |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Alex Haley's Queen | Simon | Miniseries |
| 1993 | Coach | Billy | Episode: "Piece o' Cake" |
| 1993-1994 | Cro | Mike | Voice, 20 episodes |
| 1994-1995 | On Our Own | Jesse Jerrico | Series regular, 20 episodes |
| 2012 | The Mindy Project | Barry Stassen | Episode: "Josh and Mindy's Christmas Party" |
| 2014 | Revenge | Jamie | Episode: "Ashes" |
| 2015–present | Empire | Jamal Lyon | Series regular |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Jussie Smollett". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Jussie Smollett: 'I was NOT born in Brazil!!'". Good Day New York. February 13, 2015. 00:11 minutes in. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
I was born in northern California. ...[An unspecified source] says Brazil, makes me look really, really exotic and, like, cultured, but actually I was born in Santa Rosa, California.
Note: TV Guide erroneously gives Santa Rosa, Brazil. - ↑ Garmel, Marion (1994-09-06). "You're never on your own in a big family". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2011-03-20. (abstract only)
- ↑ "The '94 TV Season: Who's New and Who's Back". Ebony (Johnson Publishing Company) 49 (12): 27. October 1994. ISSN 0012-9011.
- ↑ "Fall in Love with Jussie Smollett". The David Bridgeforth Quarterly Magazine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (January 26, 2014). "Taraji P. Henson Nabs Female Lead in Fox's Lee Daniels Hip-Hop Drama 'Empire'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Kay, Ariel (January 7, 2015). "Who Is Jamal on 'Empire'? Jussie Smollett Was in Your Favorite '90s Movies & Is Back on Your New Favorite Show". Bustle.com. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ↑ Thompson, Arienne (March 3, 2015). "Malik Yoba denies outing 'Empire' co-star as gay". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Jussie Smollett's Debut EP CD". RandomTandem.com. March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014.
- ↑ "'Empire' star Jussie Smollett discusses Jamal's coming-out". Entertainment Weekly. February 26, 2015. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Review: Jussie Smollett Wears Crown on 'Empire' Soundtrack". Associated Press. March 10, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ↑ Portwood, Jerry (March 9, 2015). "Empire's Jussie Smollett Comes Out to Ellen". Out. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ↑ D’Addario, Daniel (March 9, 2015). "'Empire': Why Star Jussie Smollett's Coming-Out Matters". Time. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.