Jason Weaver

{{for-multi|the jockey|Jason Weaver (jockey)|the cricketer|Jason Weaver (cricketer)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jason Weaver

| image = JasonWeaver2023.png

| image_size =

| caption = Weaver in 2023.

| birth_name = Jason Michael Weaver

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|7|18}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| other_names = J-Weav

| occupation = Actor, singer

| years_active = 1990–present

| spouse =

| children = 1

| website =

}}

Jason Michael Weaver (born July 18, 1979) is an American actor and singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BlYHAN8BprJ/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BlYHAN8BprJ |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|title=Jason Weaver aka "J Weav" on Instagram: "You wouldn't think that the kid thats in this pic turned 39 years old today, huh? Well, he did and its officially ya boi's birthday…"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}}{{cbignore}} best known for his roles as Marcus Henderson on The WB sitcom Smart Guy, Jerome Turrell on the short-lived sitcom Thea from 1993 to 1994, and the preteen Michael Jackson on the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, which originally both aired on ABC. He was also the singing voice of the young Simba in Walt Disney Feature Animation's 1994 film The Lion King. He was featured on Chingy's 2004 hit single "One Call Away", which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. He played Teddy in the 2006 hit movie ATL.

Career

=Acting career=

One of Weaver's earliest acting roles was on Oprah Winfrey's 1990 television series Brewster Place. He went on to portray a pre-teen Michael Jackson (aged 9-14) in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, and starred on the television sitcoms Thea (1993–1994) and Smart Guy (1997–1999). In 1992, he provided the singing voice of young Simba in Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/24/movies/lion-king-simba-jason-weaver.html#:~:text=During%20an%20hour%2Dand%2Da,pridelands%20from%20his%20father%2C%20Mufasa.

In 2002, Weaver appeared in Drumline with Nick Cannon, followed by a role in The Ladykillers in 2004. In 2004, he also was a featured artist in the song "One Call Away", as well as in the music video that also starred Keshia Knight Pulliam and AND1 baller Phillip "Hot Sauce" Champion. In 2006, Weaver was featured in a supporting role in the film ATL starring rappers T.I. and Big Boi from OutKast. He also appeared as an extra in the music video "Rock Yo Hips" by Crime Mob featuring Lil Scrappy and "Make Up Bag" by The-Dream featuring T.I. In 2011, he starred in the film He's Mine Not Yours alongside Caryn Ward, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Carl Anthony Payne II and Clifton Powell. He is also in the hit TV show The Chi.

=Focus on music=

Weaver is also a recording artist. He provided vocals for his role as Michael Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream and as the singing voice of the cub Simba in Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King.{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1802439423|title=Jason Weaver filmography credits|publisher=movies.yahoo.com|access-date=2008-09-26}}

His debut album, Love Ambition, was released on Motown Records on June 27, 1995. He released two versions of the song "Stay with Me".{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jason weaver|chart=all}}|title=Discography - Jason Weaver|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2008-09-26}}

In 2003, he collaborated with hip-hop rapper Chingy on the track "One Call Away". The single was a top five hit in the United States.{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=chingy|chart=all}}|title=Artist Chart History - Chingy|publisher=billboard.com|access-date=2008-09-26}}

Personal life

Weaver is the son of Marilyn "Kitty" Haywood and Robert Lincoln Weaver. Haywood is a member of the Chicago-based female vocal group Kitty & the Haywoods, who backed with the late Aretha Franklin on the soundtrack album to the 1976 film Sparkle.

Weaver studied at Thornwood High School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/jasonweaverofficial|title=Jason Weaver|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}} He has one son named Jaylen.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"\| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"\| Peak chart positions
style="width:3em;font-size:85%"\| US R&B {{cite web \| url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/jason-weaver/chart-history/ \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121091906/https://www.billboard.com/artist/jason-weaver/chart-history/ \| url-status=dead \| archive-date=November 21, 2021 \| title=Chart History – Jason Weaver \| website=Billboard.com \| access-date=March 16, 2012 }}
scope="row"\| Love Ambition \| Released: June 27, 1995 Label: Motown Format: CD, cassette \| 69

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| US
R&B
{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/jason-weaver/chart-history/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121091906/https://www.billboard.com/artist/jason-weaver/chart-history/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 21, 2021 | title=Chart History – Jason Weaver | website=Billboard.com | access-date=March 16, 2012 }}

scope="row"| Love Ambition

Released: June 27, 1995
Label: Motown
Format: CD, cassette

| 69

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and parent album ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:2em;"\| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" \| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;" \| Album
style="width:3em;font-size:85%"\| US R&B
scope="row"\| "I Wanna Be Where You Are" \| rowspan="1"\|1992 \| — \| rowspan = "1" {{N/A\|Non-album single}}
scope="row"\| "Love Ambition (Call on Me)" \| rowspan="2"\|1995 \| 32 \| align="center" rowspan="2"\| Love Ambition
scope="row"\| "I Can't Stand the Pain" \| 60
scope="row"\| "Stay with Me" \| rowspan="2"\|1996 \| 59 \| rowspan="2" {{N/A\|Non-album single}}
scope="row"\| "I Don't Know Why" \| -
scope="row"\| "One Call Away" (Chingy featuring J-Weav) \| rowspan="1"\|2004 \| 3 \| align="center" rowspan="1"\| Jackpot

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and parent album

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:2em;"| Year

! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;" | Album

style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| US
R&B

scope="row"| "I Wanna Be Where You Are"

| rowspan="1"|1992

| —

| rowspan = "1" {{N/A|Non-album single}}

scope="row"| "Love Ambition (Call on Me)"

| rowspan="2"|1995

| 32

| align="center" rowspan="2"| Love Ambition

scope="row"| "I Can't Stand the Pain"

| 60

scope="row"| "Stay with Me"

| rowspan="2"|1996

| 59

| rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album single}}

scope="row"| "I Don't Know Why"

| -

scope="row"| "One Call Away"
(Chingy featuring J-Weav)

| rowspan="1"|2004

| 3

| align="center" rowspan="1"| Jackpot

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan=2\| 1990 \| The Long Walk Home \| Franklin Cotter \|
The Kid Who Loved Christmas \| Ernie \| TV movie
rowspan=2\| 1994 \| The Lion King \| Young Simba (singing voice) \|
Summertime Switch \| Fast Freddie Egan \| TV movie
2000 \| Freedom Song \| Isaac Hawkins \| TV movie
2002 \| Drumline \| Ernest \|
2004 \| The Ladykillers \| Weemack Funthes \|
2006 \| ATL \| Teddy \|
rowspan=2\| 2008 \| Love For Sale \| Vince \|
Jada \| Jamal \|
rowspan=2\| 2010 \| Grown Man \| Himself \| TV movie
Lottery Ticket \| Ray Ray \|
2011 \| He's Mine Not Yours \| Kent \|
rowspan=2\| 2012 \| Dysfunctional Friends \| Gary \|
Note to Self \| Jay Lewis \|
rowspan=4\| 2013 \| Hope for Love \| Ricky \|
When a Woman's Fed Up \| Troy \|
Marry Me for Christmas \| Franklin \| TV movie
What Would You Do for Love \| Troy \| TV movie
2014 \| Wal-Bob's \| Keith Harrington \|
2015 \| Infidelity \| Frankie \|
2016 \| Merry Ex-Mas \| Perry \| TV movie
rowspan=2\| 2017 \| Another Man Will \| - \|
BlacKorea \| Mark Senior \| Short
2021 \| AM Radio \| Willie the Silly DJ \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan=2| 1990

| The Long Walk Home

| Franklin Cotter

The Kid Who Loved Christmas

| Ernie

| TV movie

rowspan=2| 1994

| The Lion King

| Young Simba (singing voice)

Summertime Switch

| Fast Freddie Egan

| TV movie

2000

| Freedom Song

| Isaac Hawkins

| TV movie

2002

| Drumline

| Ernest

2004

| The Ladykillers

| Weemack Funthes

2006

| ATL

| Teddy

rowspan=2| 2008

| Love For Sale

| Vince

Jada

| Jamal

rowspan=2| 2010

| Grown Man

| Himself

| TV movie

Lottery Ticket

| Ray Ray

2011

| He's Mine Not Yours

| Kent

rowspan=2| 2012

| Dysfunctional Friends

| Gary

Note to Self

| Jay Lewis

rowspan=4| 2013

| Hope for Love

| Ricky

When a Woman's Fed Up

| Troy

Marry Me for Christmas

| Franklin

| TV movie

What Would You Do for Love

| Troy

| TV movie

2014

| Wal-Bob's

| Keith Harrington

2015

| Infidelity

| Frankie

2016

| Merry Ex-Mas

| Perry

| TV movie

rowspan=2| 2017

| Another Man Will

| -

BlacKorea

| Mark Senior

| Short

2021

| AM Radio

| Willie the Silly DJ

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1990 \| Brewster Place \| Matthew Thomas \| Main cast
1992 \| The Jacksons: An American Dream \| Michael Jackson (aged 9–14) \| Episode: "Part I & II"
1993–94 \| Thea \| Jerome Turrell \| Main cast
1995 \| Soul Train \| Himself \| Episode: "Aaron Neville/Silk/Jason Weaver"
1996 \| Sister, Sister \| Nicky/Darnell \| Episode: "Summer Bummer" & "Boy from the Hood"
1997–99 \| Smart Guy \| Marcus Henderson \| Main cast
2011–14 \| The LeBrons \| Condor (voice) \| Main cast
2014 \| Let's Stay Together \| Curtis \| Recurring cast: season 4
2015 \| Black-ish \| Ta-Ta \| Episode: "Chop Shop"
2016 \| Nubbin & Friends \| Ollie the Squirrell (voice) \| Episode: "The Letter "A""
2018 \| Unsung \| Himself \| Episode: "The Boys"
2020 \| Boomerang \| Barber \| Episode: "Reversal of a Dog"
2021 \| We Stay Looking \| Miles \| Episode: "Red Flavored Drink"
2021–present \| The Chi \| Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall \| Recurring
2023 \| Sistas \| Brian \| Recurring cast: season 6

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1990

| Brewster Place

| Matthew Thomas

| Main cast

1992

| The Jacksons: An American Dream

| Michael Jackson (aged 9–14)

| Episode: "Part I & II"

1993–94

| Thea

| Jerome Turrell

| Main cast

1995

| Soul Train

| Himself

| Episode: "Aaron Neville/Silk/Jason Weaver"

1996

| Sister, Sister

| Nicky/Darnell

| Episode: "Summer Bummer" & "Boy from the Hood"

1997–99

| Smart Guy

| Marcus Henderson

| Main cast

2011–14

| The LeBrons

| Condor (voice)

| Main cast

2014

| Let's Stay Together

| Curtis

| Recurring cast: season 4

2015

| Black-ish

| Ta-Ta

| Episode: "Chop Shop"

2016

| Nubbin & Friends

| Ollie the Squirrell (voice)

| Episode: "The Letter "A""

2018

| Unsung

| Himself

| Episode: "The Boys"

2020

| Boomerang

| Barber

| Episode: "Reversal of a Dog"

2021

| We Stay Looking

| Miles

| Episode: "Red Flavored Drink"

2021–present

| The Chi

| Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall

| Recurring

2023

| Sistas

| Brian

| Recurring cast: season 6

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Title of work ! Result
1993 \|Young Artist Award \|Outstanding Young Performers Starring in a Mini-Series \|The Jacksons: An American Dream (Shared with Alex Burrall) \|Won
1994 \|Young Artist Award \|Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series \|Thea (Shared with Brenden Jefferson, Adam Jeffries, Brandy Norwood) \|Nominated
1995 \|Young Artist Award \|Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Voiceover - TV or Movie \|The Lion King \|Won

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Title of work

! Result

1993

|Young Artist Award

|Outstanding Young Performers Starring in a Mini-Series

|The Jacksons: An American Dream (Shared with Alex Burrall)

|Won

1994