JUSSIE SMOLLETT

Jussie is an NAACP Image Award winner and 2-time Emmy nominee, Billboard, AMA, and Soul Train Music Award nominee with a career spanning film, television and music. 

He is best known for his role as Jamal Lyon on EMPIRE (Fox), appearing across five seasons to wide critical and audience acclaim. 

 

Other noteable screen work includes Ridley Scott’s ALIEN: COVENANT; and the legendary poet, Langston Hughes, in Reginald Hudlin’s MARSHALL, opposite Chadwick Boseman. He also starred in cult classics to include THE MIGHTY DUCKS, Rob Reiner’s NORTH, Alex Haley’s QUEEN with Halle Berry and Danny Glover, and opposite his five real-life siblings in the ABC/TGIF sitcom ON OUR OWN. Jussie also received rave reviews starring as Magnus in the 2012 indie, THE SKINNY (currently on Paramount+).

 

Jussie is also making a name for himself as a Producer and Director, having directed multiple episodes of EMPIRE, music videos, and his feature film directorial debut, 2022’s B-BOY BLUES, for BET+, which he produced, financed and co-wrote. The film was nominated for BEST FILM at the GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS and won 'Fan Favourite' at the AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL (ABFF).

More recently, Jussie directed, produced, co-wrote and starred as Jason Holliday in the critically acclaimed film, THE LOST HOLLIDAY opposite Vivica A. Fox, now playing on Prime Video. 

As a musician, Jussie was touted a “Future Fixture in R&B” by Billboard Magazine and his upcoming album, BREAK OUT, has already produced multiple singles including SOME THINGS, which reached number one on the iTunes R&B charts and follow up singles, MY PARTY and MY MIND which both reached number two. The Empire soundtrack, for which Jussie was both a writer and vocalist went to number one on the Billboard charts and earned numerous award nominations including a Grammy. In 2018 he released his debut album titled, SUM OF MY MUSIC through his own indie label, Music of Sound, alongside a sold-out world tour for which he gave all ticket sales to charity.

Outside of acting, Jussie continues to work with numerous charities and community organizations including The Black AIDS Institute, Sankofa.org, The Trayvon Martin Foundation, The Chicago Torture Justice Center, Jenesee, and the Rujohn Foundation. He resides in between London and the US.