Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett

Smollett at the 2016 PaleyFest
Born Justin Smollett
(1982-06-21) June 21, 1982
Santa Rosa, California, U.S
Occupation Actor, singer-songwriter
Years active 1991–present
Known for Jamal Lyon on Empire
Relatives Jake Smollett (brother)
Jurnee Smollett (sister)

Justin "Jussie" Smollett (born June 21, 1982)[1] is an American actor, singer and photographer. As a child, he began his acting career for summer fun in 1987 starring in national network commercials in NYC. He later co-starred in the films The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner's North (1994). In 2015, Smollett received rave reviews for his portrayal of musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox music-industry primetime TV drama Empire. Smollett is set to appear in Ridley Scott's science-fiction film Alien: Covenant that is slated to release on August 4, 2017.

Early life

Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, and is the son of Janet (née Harris) and Joel Smollett.[2] He has three brothers and two sisters: Jake, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jazz.[3] His father was Jewish (his family emigrated from Russia and Poland). His mother is African-American.[4]

Career

Smollett began his acting career as a child, co-starring in the films The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner's North (1994). On television, he starred alongside his five real-life siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own from 1994–95.[5]

In 2012, Smollett returned to acting with the leading role in the LGBT-themed comedy-drama The Skinny.[6] 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 drama Empire.[7][8][9]

Smollett is also a singer-songwriter; in 2012, he released an EP album, The Poisoned Hearts Club.[3][10] In February 2015, he confirmed that he had signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and would be releasing an album in the future.[11] 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.[12]

In June 2015, it was announced that Smollett will guest-star alongside his younger sister Jurnee Smollett in her upcoming TV show Underground set to air in 2016.[13]

Personal life

Smollett revealed he is gay during a televised interview with Ellen DeGeneres in March 2015.[14][15]

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
2017 Alien: Covenant Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Alex Haley's Queen Simon Miniseries
1993 Coach Billy Episode: "Piece o' Cake"
1993–94 Cro Mike Voice, 20 episodes
1994–95 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
Nominated—BET Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Drama
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Breakout Star
2016–present Underground Josey
2016 Live! with Kelly Himself Guest host

Music videos

Year Artist Title
2015 Mariah Carey "Infinity"

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome
1993 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture The Mighty Ducks Nominated
2015 BET Awards Best Actor Empire Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actor Drama Nominated
Choice TV: Breakout Star Nominated
Choice TV: Chemistry Nominated
Choice Music: Song from a Movie or TV Show "You're So Beautiful" Nominated
2016 NAACP Image Awards[16] Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Empire Nominated
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration "You're So Beautiful" Won
Outstanding Song Won
Outstanding New Artist Jussie Smollet Won

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
US
[17]
US
R&B/HH

[18]
US
R&B

[19]
FRA
[20]
GER
[21]
SWI
[22]
AUT
[23]
POR BUL
"Good Enough" 2015 106[24] 33 13 60 25 55 54 2[25] 40[26] 83,000[27] Empire Season 1 OST
"Keep Your Money" 99 32 13 181 91 54,000[27]
"No Apologies"
(featuring Yazz)
123[28] 44 195 53,000[27]
"You're so Beautiful"
(featuring Yazz)
47 18 10 79 42
"Conqueror"
(featuring Estelle)
42 15 8 157 87
"Powerful"
(featuring Alicia Keys)
36 10 Empire Season 2 Volume 1
"Ain't About the Money"
(featuring Yazz)
39[29]
"No Doubt About it"
(featuring Pitbull)
18
"Chasing the Sky"
(featuring Terrence Howard & Yazz)
2016 52[30] 24 Empire Season 2 Volume 2
"Good People"
(featuring Yazz)
20
"I Wanna Love You" 57[31] 21

References

  1. "https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLP4-V6X". familysearch.org. "California Birth Index, 1905-1995". Retrieved 21 November 2016. External link in |title= (help)
  2. "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.
  3. 1 2 "Jussie Smollett". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  4. Garmel, Marion (1994-09-06). "You're never on your own in a big family". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2011-03-20. (abstract only)
  5. "The '94 TV Season: Who's New and Who's Back". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 49 (12): 27. October 1994. ISSN 0012-9011.
  6. "Fall in Love with Jussie Smollett". The David Bridgeforth Quarterly Magazine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. "Jussie Smollett's Debut EP CD". RandomTandem.com. March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014.
  11. "'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.
  12. "Review: Jussie Smollett Wears Crown on 'Empire' Soundtrack". Associated Press. March 10, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  13. Empire's Jussie Smollett Heads Underground Opposite Sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2016-naacp-image-award-nominees-862135/item/recording-2016-naacp-image-award-862133
  17. http://www.billboard.com/artist/6438154/empire-cast/chart?f=379
  18. http://www.billboard.com/artist/6438154/empire-cast/chart?f=367
  19. http://www.billboard.com/artist/6438154/empire-cast/chart?f=1230
  20. http://www.lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jussie+Smollett
  21. https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche
  22. http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jussie+Smollett
  23. http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jussie+Smollett
  24. http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f0=is_bmdb_track_id%3A6496749&f1=itm_field_chart_id%3A344&refine=1
  25. http://acharts.co/song/91261
  26. http://acharts.co/song/91585
  27. 1 2 3 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-isnt-empires-music-topping-777500
  28. http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f0=is_bmdb_track_id%3A6500822&f1=itm_field_chart_id%3A344&refine=1
  29. http://acharts.co/song/94740
  30. http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f0=is_bmdb_track_id%3A7369622&f1=itm_field_chart_id%3A345&refine=1
  31. http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f0=ss_chart_search_title%3A%22I%20Wanna%20Love%20You%22&f1=itm_field_chart_id%3A345&refine=1

External links

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