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Jussie Smollett

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Jussie Smollett
Born
Jussie Langston Mikha Smollett

(1983-06-21) June 21, 1983 (age 41)
Santa Rosa, California, U.S
Occupation(s)Actor, singer-songwriter
Years active1991–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 African, 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 is 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. ^ a b c "Jussie Smollett". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "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. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) Note: TV Guide erroneously gives Santa Rosa, Brazil.
  3. ^ Garmel, Marion (1994-09-06). "You're never on your own in a big family". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2011-03-20. (abstract only)
  4. ^ "The '94 TV Season: Who's New and Who's Back". Ebony. 49 (12). Johnson Publishing Company: 27. October 1994. ISSN 0012-9011.
  5. ^ "Fall in Love with Jussie Smollett". The David Bridgeforth Quarterly Magazine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Jussie Smollett's Debut EP CD". RandomTandem.com. March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "'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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Review: Jussie Smollett Wears Crown on 'Empire' Soundtrack". Associated Press. March 10, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  12. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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