Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett (born June 21, 1982) is an American actor, singer 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 music-industry primetime TV drama Empire. Smollett has also appeared in Ridley Scott's science fiction film Alien: Covenant as Ricks. 2Early life Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, and is the son of Janet (née Harris) and Joel Smollett. He has three brothers and two sisters: Jake, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jazz, several of whom are also actors. His father was Jewish (his family emigrated from Russia and Poland). His mother is African-American. 2Career 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 1994–9