Jussie Smollett
Actor • Singer
Birth Name: Jussie Langston Mikha
Birth Date: June 21, 1982
Age: 42 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
The Lost Holliday
The Lost Holliday
The Lost Holliday
The Lost Holliday
The Lost Holliday
Black Hollywood: They've Gotta Have Us
Kandi Koated Nights
Taraji's White Hot Holidays
Access Live
Drop the MicStream
Sister Circle
STEVE on Watch
Daily Pop
Live with Kelly and Ryan
Giants
Alien: CovenantStream
MarshallStream
Alien: Covenant -- Prologue: Last Supper
StarStream
Taraji's White Hot Holidays
Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett: Mama (Stripped Down Version)
Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party
Desus & MeroStream
America Divided
America Divided
Harry
Smollett Eats
Page Six TV
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Good Enough
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett, Terrence Howard, & Yazz: Chasing the Sky
Empire Cast, Mariah Carey & Jussie Smollett: Infamous
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Born To Win
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Need Freedom
Empire Cast Feat. Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett & Yazz: Chasing The Sky
Pitbull's New Year's Revolution
The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream
Teen Choice 2015
2015 Billboard Music Awards
UNCF: An Evening of Stars
The Nightly Show With Larry WilmoreStream
EmpireStream
EmpireStream
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz: Ain't About the Money
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz: No Apologies
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Pitbull: No Doubt About It
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett and Alicia Keys: Powerful
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett: Good Enough
Empire Cast Feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz: You're So Beautiful
Behind the Lines: Jussie Smollett: Good Enough
Empire: Extras
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
The Real
The Real
The Mindy ProjectStream
Steve Harvey
Live! With Kelly and Michael
The Skinny
LIVE with Kelly
The Chew
RevengeStream
Dish NationStream
The Talk
Access Hollywood Live
The Dr. Oz Show
Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream
The Wendy Williams ShowStream
Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange
Rachael Ray Show
Rachael Ray Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The View
On Our Own
The Mighty DucksStream
A Little Piece of Heaven
CoachStream
Nightline
Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Photos
News aboutJussie Smollett
11 Stars Who Appeared on ‘Coach,’ Which Ended 25 Years Ago
Jussie Smollett: Social Media Reacts as Actor Is Released From Jail Pending Appeal
Jussie Smollett in Psych Ward Says Brother, Taraji P. Henson Calls For His Release
Jussie Smollett: Fans React After Actor Is Sentenced to 150 Days in Jail
Preview
‘Lovecraft Country’ EP on Melding Monsters & Racism for Equally Big Scares (VIDEO)
Fox at TCA: Emmys to Go Host-less, ‘Animation Domination’ Guest Voices Galore
Fox Confirms There Are ‘No Plans’ to Bring Jussie Smollett Back for ‘Empire’ Season 6
14 TV Cast Shake-Ups to Look Out for in Fall 2019 (PHOTOS)
‘Empire’ Cast Releases Letter Calling for Jussie Smollett’s Season 6 Return
Jussie Smollett Faces Lawsuit Over Attack, Could Get Fired From ‘Empire’
Trump Says the FBI, Justice Department Will Review Jussie Smollett Case
Prosecutor Still Believes Jussie Smollett Is Guilty Despite Dropped Charges
Chicago Police & Mayor Slam Decision to Drop Jussie Smollett Charges (VIDEO)
‘Empire’ Creator Lee Daniels Speaks Out on ‘Pain and Anger’ Over Jussie Smollett Scandal
‘Empire’ Returns With a Tearful Jussie Smollett & Twitter Has Strong Feelings
Jussie Smollett Pleads Not Guilty to 16 Counts in Alleged Attack Hoax
Ask Matt: Moving ‘You’ to Netflix, Sela Ward on ‘FBI,’ ‘SNL’ & Jussie Smollett, ‘Homeland’
Jussie Smollett Fallout Continues: Chicago PD Chief Speaks Out on GMA, Terrence Howard Reacts
Jussie Smollett Removed From Remaining ‘Empire’ Season 5 Episodes Following Arrest
Jussie Smollett’s ‘Drop the Mic’ Episode Pulled, ‘Empire’ Producers ‘Considering Options’
Jussie Smollett Arrested for Alleged False Report — Watch Chicago PD Press Conference (VIDEO)
Jussie Smollett Named Suspect by Police for Filing False Police Report
Fox Denies Jussie Smollett Was Being Written Off ‘Empire’ Amid Staged Attack Report
Jussie Smollett Details His Attack & Addresses Doubters in First Interview Since Assault (VIDEO)
Fox at TCA 2019: ‘Simpsons’ Two-Season Renewal, Boss Calls ‘Rent’ Understudy ‘Impractical’
Jussie Smollett Breaks Silence on Attack: ‘My Body Is Strong But My Soul Is Stronger’
‘Empire’ Production Halts as Jussie Smollett Recovers From Attack
‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Hospitalized After Possible Racial & Homophobic Attack
TV Babble Podcast: ‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett on Jamal’s New Romance & Loving Regina King
Exclusive
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7 Things to Know About ‘Empire’ Season 4
The Lyons Meet Carlotta in ‘Empire’-‘Star’ Season Premiere Crossover Event
Spoiler Alert
‘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’ Season 3 Episode 11: Who Can You Trust? (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
‘Empire’: Lucious Brings the Heat to Keep His Throne in Season 3 Spring Premiere (RECAP)
‘Empire’ Books Mariah Carey For Guest Spot
‘Empire’ Sex Scandal: Lee Daniels and Jussie Smollett Defend That Shocking Hook-Up
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