Jussie Smollett (born June 21, 1982) is an American actor, singer, director and photographer. He began his career as a child actor in 1987 starring in commercials and films, including The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner's North (1994). In 2015, Smollett attracted international attention and received rave reviews for his portrayal of musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire. Smollett has also appeared in Ridley Scott's science fiction film Alien: Covenant as Ricks and in Marshall as Langston Hughes. On January 29, 2019, Smollett was attacked in Chicago in what was described as a possible hate crime.[25] Smollett said to police that he was attacked after leaving a fast-food restaurant by two white men in ski masks, who made racial and homophobic slurs. According to a statement released by the Chicago Police Department, the two suspects then poured an unknown liquid on Smollett and put a noose around his neck. Smollett said that he fought off the attackers; he then admitted himself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital from which he was released "in good condition" later that morning.
