Jason Weaver facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Weaver
Weaver in 2023
Born	Jason Michael Weaver (1979-07-18) July 18, 1979 (age 46) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	J-Weav
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	1990–present
Children	1

Jason Michael Weaver (born July 18, 1979), also known as J-Weav, is an American actor and singer. He is famous for his roles as a child actor. He played a young Michael Jackson in the 1992 TV series The Jacksons: An American Dream. He also starred in the TV shows Thea (1993–1994) and Smart Guy (1997–1999). More recently, he has a role in the TV drama The Chi.

One of his most well-known works is providing the singing voice for young Simba in Disney's movie The Lion King (1994). As a singer, he was featured on Chingy's popular song "One Call Away" in 2004. This song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Early Life and Family

Jason Michael Weaver was born in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Marilyn "Kitty" Haywood, was a singer in a group called Kitty & the Haywoods. Her group sang backup for Aretha Franklin on a movie soundtrack. Because his mom was a singer, Jason grew up around the music business.

Jason Weaver's Acting Career

Early Roles and The Lion King

Jason Weaver started acting in 1990 in a TV show called Brewster Place. He became very well known in 1992. This was when he played Michael Jackson as a young boy in the TV series The Jacksons: An American Dream. People really liked his performance in this role.

After that, he joined the TV show Thea from 1993 to 1994. He played Jerome Turrell, the son of the main character. A young Brandy Norwood also starred in this show.

In 1994, Jason provided the singing voice for young Simba in Disney's animated movie The Lion King. He sang on popular songs like "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" and "Hakuna Matata". He was offered a large payment for this role. However, his family chose a smaller upfront payment. In return, they would get a percentage of the money from the movie's soundtrack sales. This turned out to be a very smart choice. The soundtrack was incredibly successful, earning him a lot of money over many years.

Smart Guy and Music Success

After his success, Jason Weaver signed with Motown Records. He released his first album, Love Ambition, in 1995. Two songs from the album, "Love Ambition (Call on Me)" and "I Can't Stand the Pain," appeared on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts.

From 1997 to 1999, Jason starred in the TV show Smart Guy. He played Marcus Henderson, the older brother of a very smart kid named T.J. Henderson. After Smart Guy ended, he continued acting in movies. These included Drumline (2002) and The Ladykillers (2004).

In 2003, Jason worked with rapper Chingy on the hit song "One Call Away." This song was a huge success. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2006, he also appeared in the movie ATL.

Recent Acting Roles

Jason Weaver has continued to act in different movies and TV shows. In 2021, he joined the cast of the TV drama The Chi. He plays a character named Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall. His role started in season 4 and has become an important part of the show.

Personal Life

Jason Weaver has one son named Jaylen.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations