Joel Smollett might not have been a popular name in the entertainment industry, but he became famous through his talented children. It is one thing to have children, it is another thing to ensure those children make you proud. Joel Smollett’s children made him proud and brought him into the limelight.
All the Smollett siblings’ names start with the same letter and are all actively involved in the entertainment industry. This has made fans often wonder who their father is.
So, here is all you need to know about Joel Smollett.
Joel Smollett biography
Joel Smollett was a man of Russian-Polish Jewish descent who supported his family to the best of his ability. While he was proud of his heritage, he disliked when people focused on his skin colour or tried to classify him based on his race.
Smollett was also an activist who advocated the enthronement of civil rights in the United States of America. During one of these campaigns, he met Janet Smollett, an African-American woman from New Orleans, whom he eventually fell in love with and married.
The couple went on to have six children together, including Jussie Smollett, but they separated in the late 1990s. Smollett passes away on January 7, 2015.
Joel Smollett career
After immigrating to the U.S., Smollett worked hard to support his family. He started as a cable splicer and worked his way up to becoming a respected electrician.
In addition, Smollett was a passionate advocate for civil rights. He was involved in numerous campaigns and demonstrations, fighting for equal rights and justice for all. His activism greatly influenced his children, who also became involved in social and political causes.
Despite facing challenges as an immigrant and a person of colour in America, Smollett remained committed to making a difference in his community. His legacy of hard work and social activism inspires his children and countless others today.
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Joel Smollett’s net worth
While he was alive, Smollett’s net worth was estimated to be between $300,000 to $500000, according to media reports.
Joel Smollett family
Smollett’s family is a talented group of people who have made their mark in the entertainment industry. Smollett got married to Janet Smollett and their union produced six children.
Smollett’s wife, Janet Smollett, has had a successful career in the entertainment industry, just like her children. She is a television and film producer who has worked on several projects throughout her career.
Smollett began her career as a model in New York City before transitioning to television and film production. She has produced several movies, including On the Run, The Reversal and Always Outnumbered. The mother of six also produced several television shows, including the documentary series, Living It Up! With Ali and Jack, which aired on the Food Network. She has also worked as a producer on the cooking show, Smollett Eats, which featured some of the children: Jake, Jocqui, Jazz and Jurnee.
In addition, Smollett’s wife is also a philanthropist. She is the co-founder of the Black AIDS Institute, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to eradicating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Black communities. She has also been involved in various other charitable organisations throughout her career. She has been a source of inspiration and support for her children as they pursue their careers in the entertainment industry.
Smollett’s six children were born and raised in Northern California. They are known for their work in the movie industry and the culinary sector.
Joel and Janet Smollett’s names start with a ‘J’. Hence, they made all their children’s names start with a ‘J’ also.
Their eldest son, Jojo Smollett, is an actor and producer. He has acted in shows like Eve and The Middleman. He has also produced shows like Smollett Eats and On the Ropes.
The couple’s second child and first daughter is Jazz Smollett. She is an actress, producer and entrepreneur. She has acted in shows such as The Mindy Project and On the Ropes. She is also a producer on the television show, Food Network Star. Jazz is the co-owner of The Smollett Eats and has also launched her line of spice blends called Jazz’s Premium.
Their third child is Jussie Smollett and he is the most well-known of the Smollett siblings. He gained fame for his role as “Jamal Lyon” on the television series, Empire. He has also acted in other television shows and movies, including The Mighty Ducks and Alien: Covenant. In addition, Jussie is a singer and songwriter. He released his debut album, Sum of My Music, in 2018.
Jurnee Smollett is an actress who has appeared in several television shows and movies. She made her acting debut at 11 in the television series, Full House. She has since acted in shows such as Friday Night Lights and True Blood, as well as movies like The Great Debaters and Birds of Prey. In 2020, she starred in the HBO series Lovecraft Country, for which she received critical acclaim. Jurnee is the fourth child of Smollett.
Smollett’s fifth child is Jake Smollett, an actor and television host. He has appeared in shows such as Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and One Tree Hill. In addition, Jake is also a chef and has hosted cooking shows such as Smollett Eats and Living by Design with Jake and Jazz. He is also the co-owner of The Smollett Eats, a catering business that he runs with his siblings.
Smollett’s youngest child, Jocqui Smollett, is an actor and producer. He has acted in movies like Ask Me Anything and Gridiron Gang. He has also worked behind the scenes as a producer on shows like Underground and On the Ropes.
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As adults, Smollett’s children have pursued different career paths. However, they all share a common background in the entertainment industry. As children, they appeared together on the TV show On Our Own, which aired from 1994 to 1995.
Joel Smollett age
Smollett was born on October 8, 1956. He died on January 7, 2015, at the age of 58.
Joel Smollett death
On January 7, 2015, Joel Smollett passed away after a battle with cancer, leaving his family and the entertainment industry in mourning.
His son, Jussie, took to Instagram the following day to pay tribute to his father and express his grief. In the heartfelt post, Jussie shared how his father had helped him and his siblings gain their stance in the world and vowed to make him proud.
He wrote: “Yesterday, January 7, 2015, my family lost our king, but we gained a righteous angel. You showed the deepest strength and dignity until your very last breath. You are not just a fighter… You are the CHAMP.”
Smollett’s passing was a bittersweet day for his family as it was also the premiere day of the hit show Empire on Fox, which Jussie starred in. Irrespective of his father’s demise, the show became a massive success and catapulted Jussie to mainstream media, but it was also a reminder of the loss of his beloved father.
Before his passing, the father of six had already accepted and supported Jussie’s sexuality being gay, as he had come out to his parents when he was 19 years old. Smollett’s thirdborn did not feel the need to come out to the world until later in his career and his family continued to support and love him unconditionally throughout his journey.
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