Jharrel Jerome
Jerome in 2019
Born	(1997-10-09)October 9, 1997 (age 28) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2016–present

Jharrel Jerome (born October 9, 1997) is an American actor. He made his film debut inBarry Jenkins's drama filmMoonlight (2016), and gained prominence for his portrayal ofKorey Wise inAva DuVernay'sNetflix miniseriesWhen They See Us (2019), which earned him thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Jerome has since starred as a 13 foot tall boy inBoots Riley's miniseriesI'm a Virgo (2023) and as wrestlerAnthony Robles in the sports biopic filmUnstoppable (2024).

Jharrel Jerome was born on October 9, 1997^[1] inThe Bronx,New York City, and was raised in the neighbourhood.^[2][3] He is ofDominican andHaitian descent.^[4][5] and grew up in a close-knit family with parents whom he described as "loving".^[6]

His mother suggested he pursue acting when he was in eighth grade, after which he joined the Riverdale Children's Theatre, a local youth theater organization. He attended and graduated fromFiorello H. LaGuardia High School and commuted to Manhattan each day by train.^[7][8]

Shortly after Jerome enrolled as an undergraduate atIthaca College, he was cast in his first professional acting role in the 2016 independent filmMoonlight, as young Kevin.^[9]A.O. Scott wrote inThe New York Times that he was "excellent" in the role.^[10] DirectorBarry Jenkins said about Jerome, in an interview with theLos Angeles Times, "When you watch Jharrel in that movie, he's not a guy who's been over-rehearsing. That's a dude learning by doing. It's amazing."^[9]

Since 2017, Jerome has appeared in theAudience seriesMr. Mercedes.^[2] He auditioned for the role of young Korey Wise in the 2019Netflix miniseriesWhen They See Us, based on theCentral Park jogger case.^[8] After his audition the series' director,Ava DuVernay, asked him to read the lines for adult Korey Wise, and he was subsequently cast in both roles.^[8] Jerome grew close to Wise throughout filming, and said in aLos Angeles Times interview, "He's my brother now. I look up to him. I look up to his courage. He's taught me so much on how to be strong."^[9] Following his performance in the series, Jharrel became the first Afro-Latino and Dominican to win an acting Emmy.

In 2024, with his filmUnstoppable premiering at the2024 Toronto International Film Festival, he was named a recipient of the Performer Award from theTIFF Tribute Awards.^[11]

On September 24, 2020, Jerome released his debut single "For Real", featuring Bronx rapperKemba and produced by duoTake a Daytrip.^[12][13] The song was released with a music video directed by Spence Hord.^[12] Jerome followed up on August 25, 2022, with "Someone I'm Not", which came with a music video following a day in Jerome's life at home, on a film set, and in a recording studio.^[14]

His third single, "Chinatown", was released on May 1, 2023, with a lyric video and the announcement of an upcoming project calledSomeone I'm Not set for a 2023 release.^[15] On August 23, Jerome posted a video on his Instagram of himself which included a snippet of a new song and announcedRap Pack, set for an August 30 release bySony Music.^[16][17]Rap Pack is the first part ofSomeone I'm Not, to be released as a four-part series.^[17]

Jerome's musical style has been compared to early careerKendrick Lamar.^[12][14]

• Jharrel Jerome onInstagram
• Jharrel Jerome atIMDb

• 1997 births
• 21st-century African-American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• American male voice actors
• American people of Dominican Republic descent
• American people of Haitian descent
• Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
• Living people
• Male actors from the Bronx
• Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from October 2020
• Articles with hCards