Jussie Smollett - Wikipedia

American actor

Jussie Smollett[4] (born June 21, 1982) is an American actor, singer, director and photographer. He began his career as a child actor in 1987 starring in commercials and films, including The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner's North (1994). In 2015, Smollett attracted international attention and received rave reviews for his portrayal of musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire. Smollett has also appeared in Ridley Scott's science fiction film Alien: Covenant as Ricks and in Marshall as Langston Hughes.

Early life

Jussie Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, and is the third of six children born to Janet (née Harris) and Joel Smollett.[5] He has three brothers and two sisters: Jake, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jazz, several of whom are also actors.[6] His father was Jewish (his family emigrated from Russia and Poland). His mother is African-American.[7] Jussie Smollett graduated from Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, NJ.[citation needed ]

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.[8] In 2012, Smollett returned to acting with the leading role in Patrik-Ian Polk's LGBT-themed comedy-drama The Skinny.[9] Also that year, he released an EP album titled The Poisoned Hearts Club.[6][10] He later guest-starred on The Mindy Project (2012) and Revenge (2014).

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 drama series Empire.[11][12][13] His role was hailed as "groundbreaking" for its positive depiction of a black gay man on television.[14] Smollett reprised his role in subsequent seasons,[15] and directed an episode of the fourth season in 2017.[16]

In February 2015, Smollett confirmed that he had signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and would be releasing an album in the future.[17] 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.[18]

In June 2015, it was announced that Smollett would guest-star alongside his younger sister, Jurnee, on Underground, which aired in 2016.[19]

Personal life

Smollett came out as gay during a televised interview with Ellen DeGeneres in March 2015.[20][21]

In a 2016 interview with Out magazine, Smollett clarified his sexual orientation by stating "If I had to label myself, I would label myself as a gay man." However, he stated his belief that openness to love is more important than gender, revealing that "If I fall in love down the road with a woman, I'm going to love that woman."[22] As a boy, Jussie Smollett had some romantic interest in girls.[23] When Smollett's gay character Jamal Lyon from Empire engaged in a heterosexual tryst with a female character, Smollett defended the plot development by stating that he and Empire creator Lee Daniels were trying to create a conversation about sexual fluidity in the gay community. Daniels has stated that "Jussie and I both share the same feeling that, yes, even though we are gay, we're sexual human beings. And we do occasionally want to sleep with a woman." Daniels stated that "We're showing life on Empire", in that both he and Smollett were incorporating their own sexual fluidity as gay men into Empire.[24]

2019 attack

On January 29, 2019, Smollett was attacked in Chicago in what was being investigated as a hate crime.[25][26] Smollett said to police that he was attacked after leaving a fast-food restaurant by two men in ski masks, who made racial and homophobic slurs.[25] According to a statement released by the Chicago Police Department, the two suspects then "poured an unknown liquid" on Smollett and put a noose around his neck.[27] Smollett said that he fought off the attackers; he then admitted himself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital from which he was released "in good condition" later that morning.[25][28] After TMZ claimed that Smollett had told police that the attackers were white and had referenced Donald Trump's Make America Great Again slogan,[29][30] claims that were repeated on social media, police representatives initially dismissed both claims,[30][31] before subsequently confirming that Smollett had described that the attackers had shouted "MAGA country" during the assault.[26] While TMZ wrote that the liquid poured on Smollett was bleach, it was mainly described in news reports as "an unknown chemical substance",[30] though CBS News reported that police officers described smelling bleach on his clothes.[32] In the day following the attack, figures from the television industry and campaigners condemned the attack on social media.[26]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Discography

Albums

Singles

Notes

  1. ^ "Good Enough" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[52]
  2. ^ "No Apologies" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[52]
  3. ^ "I Wanna Love You" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[54]
  4. ^ "Money For Nothing" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 9 on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[54]
  5. ^ "Nothing To Lose" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[52]
  6. ^ "Powerful" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[52]
  7. ^ "Chasing the Sky" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 2 on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[54]
  8. ^ "Good People" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[54]

References

  1. ^ "Jussie Smollett Interview on Good Hope FM Cape Town South Africa". Youtube.com. December 30, 2017. minute 9:01-9:24 . Retrieved January 4, 2019 .
  2. ^ Mitchell, Gail (April 17, 2018). " ' Empire' Star Jussie Smollett Premieres 'Hurt People' Video, Slates 'Sum of My Music' Tour". Billboard.
  3. ^ Sharee, Toya (March 10, 2018). " ' Well That Doesn't Feel Like Freedom' Jussie Smollett Drops 'Sum Of My Music' And Talks Leaving Columbia Records". MadameNoire.com.
  4. ^ "Jurnee Smollett FACEBOOK LIVE Premiere Collectibles Smollettbook.com". YouTube. minute 54:30-54:46 . Retrieved May 31, 2018 .
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ a b "Jussie Smollett". TVGuide.com . Retrieved March 9, 2015 .
  7. ^ Garmel, Marion (September 6, 1994). "You're never on your own in a big family". Indianapolis Star . Retrieved March 20, 2011 . (abstract only)
  8. ^ "The '94 TV Season: Who's New and Who's Back". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 49 (12): 27. October 1994. ISSN 0012-9011.
  9. ^ "Fall in Love with Jussie Smollett". The David Bridgeforth Quarterly Magazine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015 . Retrieved January 8, 2015 .
  10. ^ "Jussie Smollett's Debut EP CD". RandomTandem.com. March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014.
  11. ^ 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 .
  12. ^ 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 .
  13. ^ 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 .
  14. ^ "Being Gay And Black On TV Will Never Be The Same". BuzzFeed . Retrieved March 16, 2018 .
  15. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (January 11, 2017). " ' Empire' Renewed for Fourth Season at Fox". Variety . Retrieved March 16, 2018 .
  16. ^ "Empire Season 4: A Prince Homage and Jussie Smollett's Directorial Debut". E! News . Retrieved March 16, 2018 .
  17. ^ " ' 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 .
  18. ^ "Review: Jussie Smollett Wears Crown on 'Empire' Soundtrack". Associated Press. March 10, 2015 . Retrieved April 1, 2015 .
  19. ^ Gelman, Vlada; Gelman, Vlada (June 24, 2015). "Empire's Jussie Smollett Heads Underground Opposite Sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell". Tvline.com.
  20. ^ 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 .
  21. ^ 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 .
  22. ^ "Jussie Smollett on How a Black Gay Man Can Save the World". Out Magazine . Retrieved May 6, 2017 .
  23. ^ Jussie Smollett (guest) (May 11, 2018). The Usher Song That Spoke To Jussie Smollett's Teenage Soul | Soundtracked | TRL. YouTube . Retrieved May 19, 2018 .
  24. ^ "Empire Sex Scandal: Lee Daniels and Jussie Smollett Defend That Shocking Hook-Up". TV Insider . Retrieved May 6, 2017 .
  25. ^ a b c Gonzalez, Sandra (January 29, 2019). "Empire star Jussie Smollett attacked in possible hate crime". CNN . Retrieved January 29, 2019 .
  26. ^ a b c "Empire actor Jussie Smollett allegedly assaulted in possible hate crime, police say". CBS News. January 29, 2019 . Retrieved January 20, 2019 .
  27. ^ Michallon, Clémence (January 29, 2019). "Empire star Jussie Smollet assaulted in Chicago in suspected hate crime". The Independent . Retrieved January 30, 2019 .
  28. ^ Otterson, Joe (January 29, 2019). "Empire Star Jussie Smollett Assaulted in Chicago in Suspected Hate Crime". Variety . Retrieved January 29, 2019 .
  29. ^ "Jussie Smollett Tells Cops Attackers Shouted 'MAGA Country' ... Empire Calls in Armed Security". TMZ. January 29, 2019 . Retrieved January 30, 2019 . The 2 men — both white and wearing ski masks — viciously attacked Jussie as he fought back, but they beat him badly and fractured a rib. They put a rope around his neck, poured bleach on him.
  30. ^ a b c Stidhum, Tonja Renée (January 29, 2019), "Jussie Smollett Reportedly Hospitalized in Chicago Following Racist, Homophobic Attack", The Grapevine, Gizmodo Media Group , retrieved January 30, 2019
  31. ^ Soave, Robby (January 29, 2017). "Chicago Police Deny Claim That Jussie Smollett Identified Attackers as White, Can't Get Their Story Straight About Whether He Heard Them Say 'MAGA ' ". Reason . Retrieved January 30, 2019 .
  32. ^ "Empire actor Jussie Smollett had noose around his neck when officers arrived, police say". CBS News. January 30, 2019 . Retrieved January 30, 2019 .
  33. ^ "Alien: Covenant - Prologue: Last Supper". 20th Century Fox . Retrieved January 30, 2019 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ "Recording - Creed, Empire Top NAACP Image Award Nominations; Full List". The Hollywood Reporter. February 4, 2016.
  35. ^ "Jussie Smollett Chart History". Billboard . Retrieved October 29, 2018 .
  36. ^ Sum of My Music by Jussie Smollett, March 2, 2018 , retrieved October 29, 2018
  37. ^ "Empire Cast - Chart history - Billboard (Hot 100)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  38. ^ "Jussie Smollett - Chart history - Billboard (Hot 100)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  39. ^ "Empire Cast - Chart history - Billboard (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  40. ^ "Jussie Smollett - Chart history - Billboard (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.com . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  41. ^ "Empire Cast - Chart history - Billboard (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  42. ^ "Jussie Smollett - Chart history - Billboard (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  43. ^ "Empire Cast - Chart history - Billboard (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  44. ^ "Jussie Smollett - Chart history - Billboard (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  45. ^ Hung, Steffen. "lescharts.com - Discographie Jussie Smollett". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved March 18, 2017 .
  46. ^ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts (Search: Jussie Smollett)". GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  47. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Jussie Smollett". Hitparade.ch.
  48. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Jussie Smollett". Austriancharts.at.
  49. ^ "Conqueror by Empire Cast featuring Estelle and Jussie Smollett - Music Charts". Acharts.co . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  50. ^ "Good Enough by Empire Cast and Jussie Smollett - Music Charts". Acharts.com.
  51. ^ "Ain't About The Money by Empire Cast featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz - Music Charts". Acharts.co . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  52. ^ a b c d "Chart Search (Jussie Smollett: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard.biz . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  53. ^ a b c "Why Isn't 'Empire's' Music Topping the Billboard Charts?". The Hollywood Reporter. February 25, 2015 . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .
  54. ^ a b c d "Chart Search (Jussie Smollett: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz . Retrieved November 15, 2018 .

External links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jussie_Smollett