The Smollett family stands out in Hollywood not just for individual star power, but for a collective creative footprint spanning four decades. Consisting of six siblings—JoJo, Jazz, Jussie, Jurnee, Jake, and Jocqui—the family built an entertainment identity from grassroots beginnings. Long before prime-time television roles, network contracts, and public controversies shaped their household name, these six siblings grew up under the direction of a tight-knit family structure that treated artistic expression as a daily requirement.
Understanding the Smollett family legacy requires looking past individual headlines to examine how six children raised by single mother Janet Smollett entered the arts. From early 1990s sitcoms to contemporary prestige television, culinary media, and tech careers, the siblings forged distinct paths while maintaining an unbreakable family bond.
Roots and Early Upbringing
The story of the Smollett siblings begins with their parents, Janet Smollett and Joel Smollett Sr. Janet, an African American woman from New Orleans, and Joel, a Russian-Polish immigrant, raised their children across a nomadic childhood. The family moved over a dozen times, shifting between the East and West coasts while facing severe financial constraints.
With little disposable income, the household relied on resourcefulness. Janet built much of the family's furniture by hand, visiting lumber yards to construct tables, beds, and shelving. This environment fostered intense creativity out of necessity. Janet acted as the children's first casting director, acting coach, and audience, staging theatrical productions in their home. She introduced them to classic cinema, jazz, and literature early on, setting expectations that every child would find a voice through performance.
By the early 1990s, the family settled in California, allowing the children to transition from household plays to professional commercial and television auditions.
The Six Smollett Siblings
Each of the six siblings carved out professional niches across television, film, and lifestyle media. While some maintained lifelong careers in front of the camera, others expanded into production, food media, and corporate technology.
JoJo Smollett
Born in 1977, JoJo is the eldest of the siblings. He stepped into professional acting early, landing roles in television projects during the 1980s and 1990s. His most notable early television credit was playing Jimi Jerrico on the short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own, which famously featured all six Smollett siblings. As an adult, JoJo transitioned away from heavy acting commitments, working in nonprofit advocacy and community organization while occasionally participating in family television ventures, such as the Food Network series Smollett Eats.
Jazz Smollett
Jazz, born in 1980, established her career behind and in front of the camera as a producer, lifestyle expert, and author. She has served as a producer and production manager on various television formats. Alongside her brother Jake, she co-hosted and produced the CLEO TV home renovation and lifestyle show Living by Design. Jazz frequently anchors the family's collaborative media projects, including co-authoring family cookbooks and lifestyle guides that celebrate their upbringing and shared culinary traditions.
Jussie Smollett
Born in 1982, Jussie achieved widespread mainstream recognition for his role as Jamal Lyon in the Fox musical drama series Empire, which ran from 2015 to 2019. Before his breakout on Empire, he worked as a child actor alongside his siblings in On Our Own and later pursued a solo music and indie film career. In 2019, Jussie became the center of a massive national controversy involving a staged hate crime report in Chicago, leading to extensive legal battles, a conviction for disorderly conduct, and a sharp decline in mainstream Hollywood employment. Throughout the legal ordeal, the Smollett family remained publicly united, vocally supporting him and criticizing media framing.
Jurnee Smollett
Jurnee is the most critically acclaimed and prolific actor in the family. Beginning her career as a toddler, she gained early recognition in television series like Full House and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper before delivering a breakout performance in Kasi Lemmons' critically lauded independent film Eve's Bayou (1997), which earned her a Critics' Choice Award.
As an adult, Jurnee built a diverse resume spanning prestige television and major feature films. Key roles include her performance as Letitia Lewis in HBO's Lovecraft Country—which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination—Black Canary in DC's Birds of Prey, and appearances in critically acclaimed features like The Great Debaters and The Burial. Beyond acting, she maintains active roles as a civil rights and activist voice, working alongside organizations like the Children's Defense Fund.
Jake Smollett
Born in 1989, Jake began his career as an infant model before transitioning into acting, appearing in projects such as Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and Eve's Bayou. As an adult, Jake merged his love for performance with the culinary arts. He trained professionally as a chef, became a resident chef on The Rachael Ray Show, and co-starred in Smollett Eats. Alongside his sister Jazz, he co-hosts Living by Design, focusing on home design, cooking, and lifestyle curation.
Jocqui Smollett
Born in 1993, Jocqui is the youngest of the siblings. While he appeared alongside his family in early ventures like Smollett Eats and worked in behind-the-scenes production capacities, Jocqui chose a path outside traditional entertainment. He built a career in the corporate technology sector, working as a data analyst and field operations manager for prominent tech companies.
Collective Ventures and Public Identity
The siblings have consistently leaned into collaborative projects to highlight their shared background. In 2016, they starred in the Food Network series Smollett Eats, which combined their shared passion for cooking with family dynamics. They also released collaborative lifestyle and food publications, frequently appearing together on talk shows and media profiles to discuss how their mother's upbringing shaped their professional work ethic.
Their public identity, however, has faced intense scrutiny. The legal fallout surrounding Jussie Smollett shifted media narratives from a straightforward story of Hollywood sibling success to a complex study of family loyalty versus public accountability. Despite external pressures, the siblings have maintained a unified front, frequently referencing their tight bond forged during their impoverished nomadic childhood as an anchor against public adversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all six Smollett siblings actors?
Not all currently work as actors. While Jurnee, Jussie, and Jake maintained visible acting careers into adulthood, JoJo moved into nonprofit work, Jazz focuses on lifestyle television production and publishing, and Jocqui works in the tech industry as a data analyst.
Did the Smollett siblings star in a TV show together?
Yes. In 1994, all six siblings starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own, which centered on a group of orphaned siblings trying to stay together in New York.
Who are the parents of the Smollett family?
The siblings were raised by Janet Smollett and Joel Smollett Sr. Joel Sr. passed away in 2014, and Janet served as the primary driving force behind their early artistic education and career entry.
What awards has Jurnee Smollett won?
Jurnee Smollett won critical acclaim early in her career, receiving a Critics' Choice Award for Eve's Bayou. Later in her career, her starring role in HBO's Lovecraft Country earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
