Jussie Smollett Introduction
Jussie Smollett was born in 1982 in Santa Rosa, California to Janet and Joel Smollett. He comes from a large family of performers, including several brothers and sisters who are actors. From an early age, Smollett was drawn to the arts and began his career as a child actor in 1987 at just 5 years old.
Some of his earliest roles included appearances in sitcoms like ABC’s short-lived “Charlie & Company” and films such as “The Mighty Ducks” in 1992 and “North” in 1994. Even as a young performer, Smollett displayed natural charisma and talent.
As a teen in the 1990s, Smollett landed small parts in films like “Wyatt Earp” and the Toni Braxton music video for “How Many Ways.” He also appeared in episodes of shows like “The Mindy Project” and “Revenge.”
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Bios
| Name: | Jussie Smollett |
| Date of Birth: | 21 June 1982 |
| Age: | 41 years old |
| Profession: | American Actor and Singer |
| Education: | Paramus Catholic High School |
| Birthplace: | Santa Rosa, California, United States |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | American |
Jussie Smollett Early Life
After years of minor roles, Smollett finally got his big break in 2015 when he was cast as Jamal Lyon on the Fox music industry drama “Empire.” The show became a huge success, propelling Smollett to stardom.
On Empire, Smollett played a gay singer-songwriter struggling to gain his father’s approval. Smollett’s emotional, nuanced performance earned him critical praise. Jamal’s groundbreaking gay character also marked a milestone for LGBTQ representation on network television.
In addition to acting on the show, Smollett also contributed music, co-writing original songs for his character. Several tracks were released as singles, showcasing Smollett’s musical talents.
Jussie Smollett Career
Jussie Smollett has experienced extreme highs and lows over the course of his entertainment career. He rose to fame as an acclaimed actor on a hit TV show, only to become engulfed in career-damaging controversy a few years later. Here is a closer look at Smollett’s varied professional path.
Early Acting Roles
Smollett got his start as a successful child actor in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of his first gigs included small parts in sitcoms like “The Hogan Family” and “A Little Piece of Heaven.”
His breakout role came in 1992’s “The Mighty Ducks,” the Disney hockey film featuring Emilio Estevez. Smollett played Terry Hall, a junior varsity player who joins the ragtag youth team.
Smollett also appeared as Adam in Rob Reiner’s 1994 movie “North”, co-starring Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, and a young Scarlett Johansson. Though a box office flop, it gave Smollett valuable big-screen experience.
Sitcom Stint With Siblings
In 1994, Smollett got the chance to work alongside his real-life siblings when he was cast as Jesse Jerrico in the ABC sitcom “On Our Own.”
The show featured Smollett and his five brothers and sisters playing orphans forced to fend for themselves after their parents’ deaths. It sought to capitalize on the appeal of rising child stars the Smollett kids.
Jussie Smollett Personal Life
While Jussie Smollett Net Worth 2023 professional path has been filled with incredible highs and lows, less is known about the actor’s personal life off-screen. Though he has avoided major romantic spotlight, Smollett has been open about parts of his identity. He remains close with his large family, who have stood by him even amidst controversy.
Coming Out As Gay
One aspect of his life that Smollett has candidly shared is his sexuality. During interviews in 2015 as Empire debuted, Smollett publicly came out as gay.
He specified that while he did not hide his sexuality, he did not want being gay to define him. Smollett preferred letting his work speak for itself.
Nonetheless, he embraced becoming a role model for LGBTQ visibility. His matter-of-fact openness was praised for helping normalize gay performers in the entertainment industry.
Staying Mum On Relationships
Though frank regarding his orientation, Smollett has kept fairly quiet about his romantic life over the years. Little is publicly known about his past or current dating relationships.
He generally deflects questions about his personal life in interviews, preferring to keep that side of things private. This may be to avoid tabloid gossip interfering with his acting career.
Jussie Smollett Education
In addition to navigating an extraordinary professional path in show business, Jussie Smollett also received a formal education along the way. His schooling provided a foundation to balance out his on-screen pursuits.
Attending Elementary in New York City
Jussie Smollett Net Worth 2023 spent his early childhood in New York City as he began working as a child actor.
For elementary school, he attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, a private Catholic institution on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
While enrolled there, the young Smollett continued auditioning and landing small parts in films, TV shows, and commercials. Classmates likely recognized him from projects like “Robotech.”
Moving to Los Angeles for Middle School
As Smollett’s childhood acting career gained momentum, his family relocated to Los Angeles to help support it.
In the early 1990s, Smollett attended Holy Cross Middle School, a preparatory junior high affiliated with the Catholic Church.
Balancing academics with on-set jobs and auditions kept Smollett’s schedule busy. But Holy Cross offered a nurturing environment for the future star.
What Is Jussie Smollett Net Worth 2023
In the height of his fame on the hit show Empire, Jussie Smollett had an estimated net worth of $2 million. However, in light of the controversy surrounding the alleged 2019 hate crime hoax and ensuing legal troubles, Smollett’s net worth has understandably taken a serious hit.
Early Success and Rising Net Worth
After years of minor acting roles, Smollett reached new levels of fame starring as Jamal Lyon on Empire, which debuted in 2015. As the show and his character gained popularity, so did Smollett’s net worth.
In 2016, outlets estimated the actor’s net worth to be around $500,000. By 2017, that figure had doubled to $1 million as Empire cemented itself as a ratings smash.
Jussie Smollett Net Worth 2023 also supplemented his income releasing R&B songs under Empire’s music label. His net worth reached its height of $2 million around 2018 at the apex of his Empire fame.
Conclusion
Jussie Smollett Net Worth 2023 has experienced extraordinary highs and lows over the course of his life in the public eye. He rose from child actor to acclaimed television star on the hit show Empire. However, his promising career took a shocking downward spiral after he reported being the victim of an alleged racist and homophobic attack in 2019.
When police accused Smollett of staging the incident himself, a firestorm of controversy engulfed him. He faced intense backlash, felony charges, a highly publicized trial, and eventual conviction for filing a false police report resulting in a 150-day jail sentence.
The scandal has utterly derailed Smollett’s acting career and severely damaged his finances and reputation. His current net worth is estimated to be around $300,000 – a steep drop from his $2 million peak while on Empire.