Jamal Lyon

Jamal Lyon
Empire character
Portrayed by	Jussie Smollett
Duration	2015–2019
First appearance	"Pilot" (2015)
Last appearance	"Never Doubt I Love" (2019)
Created by	Lee Daniels and Danny Strong
In-universe information Occupation Singer-Songwriter Former CEO of Empire Enterprises Father Lucious Lyon Mother Cookie Lyon Brothers Andre Lyon Hakeem Lyon Half-brothers Jeff Kingsley Spouse Kai Givens Olivia Lyon Children Lola Lyon Grandfathers Joe Walker John Holloway Grandmothers Leah Walker Renee Holloway Uncles Tariq Cousins Aunts Candace Holloway Carol Holloway Nephews Prince Lyon Walker Lyon Nieces Bella Lyon Princess Lyon (deceased) First cousins Luther Holloway Keisha Holloway Tanya Holloway Brianna Franklin Other relatives Bunkie Williams Jermel Rhonda Lyon Teri Brooks

Jamal Joseph Lyon is a fictional character from the American musical drama, Empire on Fox. Portrayed by Jussie Smollett, Jamal is the middle son of hip-hop mogul Lucious (Terrence Howard) and his wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson). Jamal, a talented R&B singer and songwriter, struggles to gain his father's approval, but is able to overcome this adversity with Cookie's support. He initially expresses resentment towards fame and is hesitant to be in the limelight, but he gradually embraces it once Cookie begins to manage his career. Jamal engages in what was once a friendly competition against his younger brother and best friend Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) to determine who is more musically gifted, while maintaining a cold distance from his older brother Andre (Trai Byers) for his perpetual scheming. Jamal struggles with his father's objection to his homosexuality, which was inspired by Empire creator Lee Daniels' own relationship with his father.^[1]

In 2019, Smollett was fired from Empire after staging a fake hate crime, and Jamal was written out off the series' final season, said to be in London.