Jason Kingsley (actor)

Jason Kingsley (born June 27, 1974[1]) is an American actor who was born with Down syndrome. In 1975, Kingsley made his television debut on Sesame Street at 15 months old and appeared in 55 episodes.[2] He also guest-starred in a 1984 episode of The Fall Guy,[3] and episodes of All My Children and Touched by an Angel.[1][4]

Kingsley was born to Emily and Charles Kingsley. His mother is a writer for Sesame Street and his father was a painting contractor.[5] Kingsley graduated from Lakeland High School in 1994, and passed all six special education Regents Competency Tests. In June 1997, he graduated from Maplebrook School, a post-secondary school for students with learning disabilities.[6]

In 1994, Harcourt Brace published Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome, a book Kingsley co-wrote with friend Mitchell Levitz about their experiences with Down syndrome.[6]

  1. ^ a b Winerip, Michael (March 11, 2007). "They'll Do It Themselves, Thanks". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  2. ^ Davis, Michael (December 26, 2008). Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. Penguin. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-4406-5875-4. Retrieved May 3, 2016. Just like Sesame Street itself, it all started with a preschooler. For in the early-to-mid- 1970s, Jason Kingsley blended with the other kids on set, appearing in fifty-five episodes as his charming, exuberant self.
  3. ^ Gunther, Marc (July 26, 1989). "A Tv Breakthrough". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  4. ^ Dickman, Irving; Gordon, Sol (February 1, 1993). One Miracle at a Time: Getting Help for a Child with a Disability. Simon & Schuster. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-671-78934-3. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  5. ^ Farrell, Mary H.J.; Sugden, Jane (May 2, 1994). "Growing Up Down". People. 41 (16). Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Wetzler, Cynthia Magriel (August 24, 1997). "Meeting the Challenge of Down Syndrome". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2016.