Jake Smollett

{{Infobox person

| name = Jake Smollett

| image = Jake Smollett, Comic-Con 2009 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Smollett at the 2009 Comic-Con

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|07|29}}

| birth_place = New York, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater =

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1992–present

| relatives = Jussie Smollett (brother)
Jurnee Smollett (sister)

}}

Jake Smollett (born July 29, 1989) is an American actor and cooking personality.

Early life and career

Smollett was born in New York City to a family of actors, the son of Janet ({{née}} Harris) and Joel Smollett.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/celebrity/jake_smollett%28s_hallway_wisdom_200808041244.html |title=MediaBlvd Magazine, The source for Celebrity Interviews and Entertainment News - Jake Smollett's Hallway Wisdom |publisher=Mediablvd.com |date=2008-08-04 |access-date=2011-05-23}} His father was Ashkenazi Jewish (his family immigrated from Russia and Poland), and his mother is African-American.{{cite web |url=http://www.hotsauce617.com/what-a-nice-girl/ |title=What a nice Girl « Hotsauce Ent |access-date=2015-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321154418/http://www.hotsauce617.com/what-a-nice-girl/ |archive-date=2012-03-21 }}{{Cite news|last=Garmel|first=Marion|title=You're never on your own in a big family|publisher=Indianapolis Star|date=1994-09-06|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/access/1874818501.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Sep+06%2C+1994&author=MARION+GARMEL&pub=Indianapolis+Star&desc=You%27re+never+on+your+own+in+a+big+family&pqatl=google|access-date=2011-03-20|archive-date=2016-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924020559/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/indystar/doc/240090838.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Sep%2006%2C%201994&author=MARION%20GARMEL&pub=Indianapolis%20Star&edition=&startpage=&desc=You%27re%20never%20on%20your%20own%20in%20a%20big%20family|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |author=Random Tandem |url=http://www.randomtandem.com/2010/12/31/new-artist-alert-jussie-smollett/ |title=New Artist Alert: Jussie Smollett |publisher=Random Tandem |date=2010-12-31 |access-date=2014-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504002224/http://www.randomtandem.com/2010/12/31/new-artist-alert-jussie-smollett/ |archive-date=2014-05-04 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.insightnews.com/columns/kam-williams/10521-sentimental-jurnee |title=Sentimental Jurnee! |access-date=2015-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411051035/http://www.insightnews.com/columns/kam-williams/10521-sentimental-jurnee |archive-date=2013-04-11 }} Smollett began his career as a diaper model. His first role in a scripted series was in Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. He then starred alongside his five brothers and sisters in the ABC sitcom, On Our Own. Smollett also starred alongside his sister Jurnee Smollett as Samuel L. Jackson's son in the critically acclaimed{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/related/to/Jake+Smollett |title=Jake Smollett - Phoenix |publisher=Phoenixnewtimes.com |access-date=2011-05-23}} feature film Eve's Bayou,{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/1191911/Jake-Smollett/filmography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102190123/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/1191911/Jake-Smollett/filmography |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-02 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=The New York Times |date=2012 |title=Jake Smollett - Filmography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com |access-date=2011-05-23}} directed by Kasi Lemmons. He was in ABC Family's{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jake-smollett/206469 |title=Jake Smollett News, Jake Smollett Bio and Photos |publisher=TVGuide.com |access-date=2011-05-23}} The Middleman. Jake portrayed Noser,{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/arts/television/23man.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=jake%20smollett&st=cse | work=The New York Times | first=Susan | last=Stewart | title='Middleman' Has Heroes Who Drink Milk and Know Their Xbox | date=2008-06-23}} a character derived from Javier Grillo-Marxuach's{{cite web|url=http://www.starrymag.com/content.asp?ID=3540&CATEGORY=INTERVIEWS |title=Starry Constellation Magazine |publisher=Starrymag.com |access-date=2011-05-23}} comic book. The entire cast of The Middleman sat on the panel for Comic-Con in July 2009.

In 2016, Smollett joined his five siblings—brothers Jojo Smollett, Jussie Smollett, Jocqui Smollett and sisters Jazz Smollett and Jurnee Smollett—on Food Network to cook family-style meals every Saturday on Smollett Eats. He also appeared as a guest judge on Food Network's hit show Chopped Junior. In 2017, Jake joined Rachael Ray on The Rachael Ray Show all season long for cooking segments.

Acting roles

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992), Jake (himself)[https://books.google.com/books?id=WjsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=smollett+hangin%27+cooper&pg=PA61 Samuel L. Jackson & Lynn Whitfield, Star In Movie About Success And Secrets Of Louisiana Family 'Eve's Bayou'], Jet, 10 Nov 1997, page 61, Vol. 92, No. 25, ISSN 0021-5996, Johnson Publishing Company
On Our Own (1994–1995), Joc Jerrico
A Guy Named Max (1996) Clarence Whitmoore
Eve's Bayou (1997), Poe Batiste
The Middleman (2008–2009), Noser
Pitch This (2009), Luke
Living by Design with Jake and Jazz (2019), Jake (himself)