Jharrel Jerome
Jerome in May 2019
Born (1997-10-09) October 9, 1997
New York City, U.S.
EducationFiorello H. LaGuardia High School[1]
OccupationActor
Years active2016–present

Jharrel Jerome (born October 9, 1997)[2] is an American actor. He is best known for appearing in Barry Jenkins's drama film Moonlight (2016) and for portraying Korey Wise in Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries When They See Us (2019). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for the latter.[3]

Early life

Jerome was born and raised in the Bronx, New York.[4][5] Born to a Dominican mother and a Haitian father, Jerome identifies as Afro-Latino.[5] He grew up in a close-knit family with parents whom he described as "loving".[6] His mother suggested he pursue acting when he was in eighth grade, after which he joined the Riverdale Children's Theatre, a local youth theater organization. He attended and graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and commuted to Manhattan each day by train.[1][4]

Career

Shortly after Jerome enrolled as an undergraduate at Ithaca College, he was cast in his first professional acting role in the 2016 independent film Moonlight, as young Kevin.[3] A.O. Scott wrote in The New York Times that he was "excellent" in the role.[7] Director Barry Jenkins said about Jerome, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, "When you watch Jharrel in that movie, he's not a guy who's been over-rehearsing. That's a dude learning by doing. It's amazing."[3]

Since 2017, Jerome has appeared in the Audience series Mr. Mercedes.[5] He auditioned for the role of young Korey Wise in the 2019 Netflix miniseries When They See Us, based on the Central Park jogger case.[4] After his audition the series' director, Ava DuVernay, asked him to read the lines for adult Korey Wise, and he was subsequently cast in both roles.[4] Jerome grew close to Wise throughout filming, and said in a Los Angeles Times interview, "He's my brother now. I look up to him. I look up to his courage. He's taught me so much on how to be strong."[3]

Music

On September 24, 2020, Jerome released his debut single "For Real", featuring Bronx rapper Kemba and produced by duo Take a Daytrip.[8][9] The song was released with a music video directed by Spence Hord.[8] Jerome followed up on August 25, 2022, with "Someone I'm Not", which came with a music video following a day in Jerome's life at home, on a film set, and in a recording studio.[10]

His third single, "Chinatown", was released on May 1, 2023, with a lyric video and the announcement of an upcoming project called Someone I'm Not set for a 2023 release.[11] On August 23, Jerome posted a video on his Instagram of him including a snippet of a new song and announced Rap Pack, set for an August 30 release by Sony Music.[12][13] Rap Pack is the first part of Someone I'm Not, which will be released as a four-part series.[13]

Jerome's musical style has been compared to early career Kendrick Lamar.[8][10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 Her Coloring Book Artist Short film
Wheels Narrator
Moonlight Teen Kevin Austin Film Critics Association Special Honorary Award for Best Ensemble
Gotham Special Jury Award – Ensemble Performance
Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award
MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss
Nominated–Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture		 [6]
2018 Monster Osvaldo Cruz
First Match Omari Credited as Jharrel A. Jerome
2019 Selah and the Spades Maxxie [14]
Robu Rob Short film
2020 Concrete Cowboy Smush
2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Miles G. Morales / Prowler Earth-42 (voice)
TBA Unstoppable Anthony Robles Filming [15]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Tales Deacon Episode: "Children's Story"
2017–2019 Mr. Mercedes Jerome Robinson Main role
2019 When They See Us Korey Wise Lead role
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience Jimmy Pearson Episode: "All in the Family and Good Times"[16]
2023 I'm a Virgo Cootie Lead role; also executive producer[17]
2023 Full Circle Aked Miniseries

References

  1. 1 2 Venable, Malcolm (June 5, 2019). "When They See Us' Jharrel Jerome Is As Blown Away By His Performance As the Rest of Us". TV Guide. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ Jerome, Jharrel (October 9, 2020). "Birthday tweet". Twitter.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Villarreal, Yvonne (June 2019). "After breaking out in 'Moonlight,' Jharrel Jerome channels the horrors of the Central Park Five case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Herzog, Kenny (May 31, 2019). "How Moonlight's Jharrel Jerome Found Himself in Ava DuVernay's When They See Us". www.vulture.com. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Bergado, Gabe (February 7, 2019). "Jharrel Jerome Says Depicting One of the Central Park Five Was the Hardest Thing He's Ever Done". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "'Moonlight's Jharrel Jerome Talks Playing A Queer Man As A Straight Latino". Vibe. February 16, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  7. ↑ Scott, A. O. (October 20, 2016). "'Moonlight': Is This the Year's Best Movie?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 Smart Young, Taiia (December 6, 2020). "When They See Us Star Jharrel Jerome Drops Fire Debut Single, "For Real"". Essence. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ Williams, Aaron (September 24, 2020). "When They See Us Star Jharrel Jerome Branches Out with His "For Real" Video". Uproxx. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Jharrel Jerome wrestles with fame on "Someone I'm Not"". The Fader. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ Lee, Cydney; Rouhani, Neena (May 1, 2023). "R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Rico Nasty, Amaria, Jharrel Jerome & More". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  12. ↑ Mendez, Marisa (August 23, 2023). "Actor Jharrel Jerome Shows Off MC Skills & Announces Rap Pack Release". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Armstrong, Megan (August 24, 2023). "Actor Jharrel Jerome Flexes His Rap Skills While Teasing His Rap Pack Project". Uproxx. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ "'Selah and the Spades': Film Review | Sundance 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. January 28, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  15. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 17, 2023). "Jharrel Jerome To Star As Wrestler Anthony Robles Alongside Jennifer Lopez In 'Unstoppable' From Artists Equity And Amazon". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ↑ Schwartz, Ryan (December 12, 2019). "Live Good Times Cast: Viola Davis, Andre Braugher, Tiffany Haddish, Jharrel Jerome and 3 Others". TVLine.
  17. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (December 14, 2020). "Jharrel Jerome Series 'I'm a Virgo' From Boots Riley Lands at Amazon". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
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