Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett Headshot

Actor • Singer

Birth Date: June 21, 1982

Age: 41 years old

Birth Place: Santa Rosa, California

Siblings: Jurnee Smollett, Jake Smollett, Jazz Smollett

Jussie Smollett is an American actor, singer and photographer. He played a juvenile performer in features like "The Mighty Ducks" (1992), but remained largely in the shadow of his younger sister, Jurnee ("Friday Night Lights," NBC/The 101, 2006-2011) before earning his breakout role on Lee Daniels' "Empire" (Fox, 2015- ).

Born Jussie Langston Mikha Smollett on June 21, 1983 in Santa Rosa, Brazil, he was one of six performing siblings raised by his parents, Joel and June Smollett. Like his siblings Jurnee and Jake, Smollett began acting as a child, landing ensemble roles in "The Mighty Ducks" and the miniseries "Alex Haley's Queen" (CBS, 1993). The following year, he co-starred with all five of his siblings in the ABC sitcom "On Our Own" (1994-1995), about a brood of seven brothers and sisters who are being raised by the eldest sibling (comedian Ralph Louis Harris) after the death of their parents. Following the show's cancellation, Smollett left acting for more than a decade, choosing instead to focus on a career in music. In 2009, he appeared in "Pitch This," a comedy short written and produced by his brother Jake, before taking the lead in the independent gay-themed drama "The Skinny" (2012). That same year, he released a music EP, The Poisoned Hearts Club, but soon focused on acting as his primary medium. Guest roles on "The Mindy Project" (Fox, 2012-15; Hulu, 2015- ) and "Revenge" (ABC, 2011-15) preceded his return to series regular work on "Empire." The drama, created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, featured Smollett as a singer-songwriter whose homosexuality alienated him from his father (Terrence Howard), the terminally ill head of a hip-hop record label. Between seasons, Smollett appeared in two high-profile films, the science fiction sequel "Alien: Covenant" (2017) and the Supreme Court biopic "Marshall" (2017), in which he played poet Langston Hughes.

On January 29, 2019, Smollett was reportedly attacked while leaving a fast food restaurant in Chicago by two men yelling racial and homophobic slurs. According to press reports, he was beaten, covered in a chemical substance (reportedly bleach) and had a noose tied around his neck. In February 2019, Smollett was arrested for orchestrating the attack on himself, reportedly due to fears he would be written off of "Empire," but on March 26, in a surprise move, all charges against Smollett were dropped.

Credits

Black Hollywood: They've Gotta Have Us

Guest
Show
2018

Kandi Koated Nights

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Show
2018

Taraji's White Hot Holidays

Music Performer
Show
2017

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

Drop the MicStream

Contestant
Reality
2017

Sister Circle

Guest
Talk
2017

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

Daily Pop

Guest
News
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Giants

Executive Producer
Show
2017

Alien: CovenantStream

Actor
Ricks
Movie
2017
65%

MarshallStream

Actor
Langston Hughes
Movie
2017
80%

Alien: Covenant -- Prologue: Last Supper

Actor
Ricks
Movie
2017

StarStream

Guest Star
Jamal Lyon
Series
2016

Taraji's White Hot Holidays

Music Performer
Special
2016

Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett: Mama (Stripped Down Version)

Music Performer
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2016

Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party

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Reality
2016

Desus & MeroStream

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Talk
2016

America Divided

Actor
Docuseries
2016

America Divided

Correspondent
Docuseries
2016

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

Smollett Eats

Self
Show
2016

Page Six TV

Guest
News
2016

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Good Enough

Music Performer
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2016

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett, Terrence Howard, & Yazz: Chasing the Sky

Music Performer
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2016

Empire Cast, Mariah Carey & Jussie Smollett: Infamous

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2016

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Born To Win

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2016

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Need Freedom

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2016

Empire Cast Feat. Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett & Yazz: Chasing The Sky

Music Performer
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2016

Pitbull's New Year's Revolution

Music Performer
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2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Teen Choice 2015

Music Performer
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2015

2015 Billboard Music Awards

Music Performer
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2015

UNCF: An Evening of Stars

Music Performer
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2015

The Nightly Show With Larry WilmoreStream

Guest
Talk
2015
100%

EmpireStream

Actor
Jamal Lyon
Series
2015
84%

EmpireStream

Director
Series
2015
84%

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz: Ain't About the Money

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2015

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz: No Apologies

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2015

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Pitbull: No Doubt About It

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2015

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett and Alicia Keys: Powerful

Music Performer
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2015

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Good Enough

Music Performer
Show
2015

Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz: You're So Beautiful

Music Performer
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2015

Behind the Lines: Jussie Smollett: Good Enough

Music Performer
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2015

Empire: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

The Real

Music Performer
Talk
2013

The Mindy ProjectStream

Guest Star
Series
2012
86%

Steve Harvey

Guest
Talk
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

The Skinny

Actor
Magnus
Movie
2012

LIVE with Kelly

Host
Talk
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

RevengeStream

Guest Star
Series
2011
69%

Dish Nation

Guest
Talk
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

The Dr. Oz Show

Guest
Talk
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange

Host
Show
2008

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Music Performer
Talk
2006

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Music Performer
Talk
2003

The View

Music Performer
Talk
1997

On Our Own

Actor
Series
1994
0%

The Mighty DucksStream

Actor
Terry Hall
Movie
1992
23%

A Little Piece of Heaven

Actor
Salem Bordeaux
Movie
1991

CoachStream

Guest Star
Series
1989

Nightline

Guest
News
1980

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Good Morning America

Music Performer
News
1975

News aboutJussie Smollett

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Jussie Smollett: Social Media Reacts as Actor Is Released From Jail Pending Appeal

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Jussie Smollett: Fans React After Actor Is Sentenced to 150 Days in Jail

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‘Lovecraft Country’ EP on Melding Monsters & Racism for Equally Big Scares (VIDEO)

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Fox at TCA: Emmys to Go Host-less, ‘Animation Domination’ Guest Voices Galore

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Fox Confirms There Are ‘No Plans’ to Bring Jussie Smollett Back for ‘Empire’ Season 6

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‘Empire’ Cast Releases Letter Calling for Jussie Smollett’s Season 6 Return

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Jussie Smollett Faces Lawsuit Over Attack, Could Get Fired From ‘Empire’

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Actor Jussie Smollett Appears Outside Of Court After It Was Announced That All Charges Have Been Dropped Against Him

Prosecutor Still Believes Jussie Smollett Is Guilty Despite Dropped Charges

Jussie Smollett Returns To Court To Enter Formal Plea

Chicago Police & Mayor Slam Decision to Drop Jussie Smollett Charges (VIDEO)

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‘Empire’ Creator Lee Daniels Speaks Out on ‘Pain and Anger’ Over Jussie Smollett Scandal

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‘Empire’ Returns With a Tearful Jussie Smollett & Twitter Has Strong Feelings

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Sela Ward on FBI as Dana Mosier - 'The Armorer's Faith'

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Jussie Smollett Fallout Continues: Chicago PD Chief Speaks Out on GMA, Terrence Howard Reacts

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Jussie Smollett Removed From Remaining ‘Empire’ Season 5 Episodes Following Arrest

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Jussie Smollett’s ‘Drop the Mic’ Episode Pulled, ‘Empire’ Producers ‘Considering Options’

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Jussie Smollett Arrested for Alleged False Report — Watch Chicago PD Press Conference (VIDEO)

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Jussie Smollett Named Suspect by Police for Filing False Police Report

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Fox Denies Jussie Smollett Was Being Written Off ‘Empire’ Amid Staged Attack Report

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Jussie Smollett Details His Attack & Addresses Doubters in First Interview Since Assault (VIDEO)

The Simpsons

Fox at TCA 2019: ‘Simpsons’ Two-Season Renewal, Boss Calls ‘Rent’ Understudy ‘Impractical’

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th Anniversary Opening Night Gala Benefit

Jussie Smollett Breaks Silence on Attack: ‘My Body Is Strong But My Soul Is Stronger’

The Black AIDS Institute's 2018 Hosts Heroes in The Struggle Gala - Arrivals

‘Empire’ Production Halts as Jussie Smollett Recovers From Attack

The Trevor Project's TrevorLIVE LA 2018 - Arrivals & Cocktails

‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Hospitalized After Possible Racial & Homophobic Attack

Jussie Smollett

TV Babble Podcast: ‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett on Jamal’s New Romance & Loving Regina King

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WATCH: Stars of Your Favorite Fox Shows Reveal ‘My Favorite Gift’

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Empire Season 4

7 Things to Know About ‘Empire’ Season 4

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The Lyons Meet Carlotta in ‘Empire’-‘Star’ Season Premiere Crossover Event

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‘Empire’ Season 3 Finale: The Fall of a King (RECAP)

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‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 17: The Cookie Element (RECAP)

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‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 16: Evil Stepmom (RECAP)

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‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 15: Lyons Protect Their Cubs (RECAP)

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‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 14: True Love Waits (RECAP)

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‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 13: Team Coocious (RECAP)

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‘Empire’ Season 3 Episode 12: Not So Happy Birthday (RECAP)

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‘Empire’ Books Mariah Carey For Guest Spot

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