Adam Jeffries
Born1976
Tuskegee, Alabama
OccupationActor
Years active1989–2003

Adam Jeffries (born 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Lester Freeman on the Fox series True Colors (1990−92) and Jarvis Turrell Jr. on ABC's Thea (1993−94), both of which are sitcoms.[1] Jeffries won two Young Artist Awards during his career.

Early life

Jeffries was born in Tuskegee, Alabama[2] around 1976.[3] He was raised in Atlanta, Georgia.[3] As a child, Jeffries performed in community theater and school productions.[3] In the mid-1980s, he and his mother moved to Los Angeles, California, embarking on an acting career.[3]

Career

Jeffries first began acting in 1989 in the role of Eddie in the educational short film A Nightmare on Drug Street, which was released on VHS as a teaching tool for schools.[3] After appearing in several television series and television movies, Jeffries landed the role of Lester Freeman in the Fox sitcom True Colors, a series about an interracial couple and their children from previous marriages.[4] The creator of the show, Michael J. Weithorn, stated Dulé Hill auditioned for the part, but Jeffries was chosen based on his sense of humor.[5] John J. O'Connor, a reviewer for The New York Times, viewed Jeffries as charming in the role of Lester.[6] He received two consecutive Young Artist Awards for his work in the series.[7][8] The series was canceled in 1992.

The next year, he portrayed Thea Vidale's oldest son, box boy Jarvis Turrell, Jr.,[9][10] in the short-lived ABC series Thea. Jeffries received his third Young Artist Award nomination, in the category of best ensemble alongside his television siblings.[11] In 1995, he appeared in an episode of The Client, another short-lived series that was based on the 1994 hit film. In it, Jeffries portrayed an expelled student who burned the American flag.[12] Jeffries made guest appearances on Family Matters and The Wonder Years,[3] and had a small role in Ghost Dad (1990), his only role in a feature film.[13]

After his appearance on The Client, Jeffries took a five-year hiatus from acting. In 2000, he had a role in the soap opera Days of Our Lives, and guest starred on sitcom Just Shoot Me!. His last acting role was in the 2003 television movie Newton.[14]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Other notes
1990 Ghost Dad Buddy #2
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1989 A Nightmare on Drug Street Eddie Short film
The Wonder Years Simeonee 1 episode
Family Matters Mark 1 episode
1990 Capital News Television movie
1990–1992 True Colors Lester Freeman 46 episodes
1991 Seeds of Tragedy Six Pack Television movie
Miss Jones 2nd Boy Television movie
1993–1994 Thea Jarvis Turrell, Jr. 19 episodes
1995 The Client Jamal James Garrett 1 episode
2000–2001 Days of our Lives Larry Morris 1 episode
2002 Just Shoot Me! Danny 1 episode
2003 Newton Tom the Mailman Television movie

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Series
1991 Won Young Artist Awards Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series True Colors
1992 Outstanding Young Comedian in a Television Series True Colors
1994 Nominated Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series Thea (Shared with Brenden Jefferson, Brandy Norwood, and Jason Weaver)

References

  1. ↑ Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (July 16, 2009). The A to Z of African-American Television. Scarecrow Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780810863484.
  2. ↑ Smith, Stacy Jenel (February 11, 1994). "Actress Seymour is older than her 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman' character". Bangor Daily News. p. 3-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Otoupal, Lisa (September 6, 1991). "Adam Jeffries knows art of 'True Colors'". Palo Verde Valley Times. p. 13.
  4. ↑ Bianco, Robert (August 30, 1990). "Weekend TV: Fox's 'True Colors' pale imitation of topical humor". The Pittsburgh Press. p. B1.
  5. ↑ Leszczak, Bob (August 31, 2018). Single Season Sitcoms of the 1990s: A Complete Guide. McFarland & Company. p. 255. ISBN 9781476670775.
  6. ↑ O'Connor, John J. (October 8, 1990). "Both 'Prince,' 'Colors' are missing marks". The Vindicator. p. 12.
  7. ↑ "Twelfth Annual Youth in Film Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Thirteenth Annual Youth in Film Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Highlights". The Tuscaloosa News. November 24, 1993. p. 4B.
  10. ↑ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 1377. ISBN 9780307483201.
  11. ↑ "Fifteenth Annual Youth in Film Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Tonight's Best TV". Daily Union. March 5, 1996. p. 7.
  13. ↑ Lentz, Harris M. (1994). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Supplement 2, through 1993. Vol. 4. McFarland & Company. p. 449.
  14. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (October 9, 2018). Encyclopedia of Unaired Television Pilots, 1945-2018. McFarland & Company. p. 172. ISBN 9781476633497.
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