Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett
Smollett at the 2016 PaleyFest
Born (1982-06-21) June 21, 1982 (age 42)
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1991–1995; 2009–present
RelativesJurnee Smollett (sister)
Jake Smollett (brother)

Jussie Smollett (/ˈdʒʌsi sməlˈɛt/, born June 21, 1982)[1] is an American actor and singer. He began his career as a child actor in 1991 debuting in The Mighty Ducks (1992). From 2015 to 2019, Smollett portrayed musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire.

In January 2019, Jussie Smollett claimed to be a victim of a hate crime, but police later determined he staged the attack with two acquaintances. Initially charged with filing a false police report, charges were dropped after Smollett completed community service and forfeited $10,000. In 2020, a special prosecutor re-indicted him and Smollett was convicted on five counts in December 2021. Sentenced to jail in March 2022, which was upheld on appeal in 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court later reversed the conviction in 2024 on the basis that Smollett had fulfilled the plea agreement made in 2019.

  1. ^ "Celebrity birthdays for the week of June 21–27". ABC News. Associated Press. June 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2021. June 21: [...] Actor Jussie Smollett ("Empire") is 38.