Lonnie Chavis facts for kids

Lonnie Chavis Jr. (born November 23, 2007) is an American actor and activist. He is best known for playing the younger version of Randall Pearson in the popular NBC TV show, This Is Us.

For his role in This Is Us, Lonnie and his castmates won a Screen Actors Guild Award. He has also starred in the TV show White Famous and the movie The Water Man.

Early Life and Family

Lonnie Chavis was born in Downey, California, to his parents, Najah and Lonnie Chavis. He is the oldest of four brothers.

When he was eight years old, Lonnie showed great bravery. While taking out the trash at his home in Long Beach, California, a dangerous situation occurred where strangers tried to grab him. He was able to get away and find a neighbor who helped him get back home safely to his mom. As of 2017, Lonnie was homeschooled, which allowed him to focus on both his education and his acting career.

Acting Career

Breakthrough with 'This Is Us'

In 2016, Lonnie landed his most famous role as young Randall Pearson in the hit drama This Is Us. He played the childhood version of the character played by actor Sterling K. Brown. His performance was so popular that he became a series regular in the show's second season.

Television and Film Roles

In 2017, Lonnie guest-starred on one of his favorite shows, the Nickelodeon comedy The Thundermans. He also appeared in an episode of the superhero show Supergirl. That same year, he acted in the comedy series White Famous, which was produced with the help of actor Jamie Foxx. Lonnie said this was his first time trying improvisation, which is when actors make up their lines on the spot.

Lonnie made his movie debut in Disney's Magic Camp, which was released on Disney+. He also appeared in Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History on Netflix and the short film Skin. The film Skin was a huge success and won an Academy Award.

In 2020, Lonnie starred in his first major movie, The Water Man, directed by David Oyelowo. Lonnie played the main character, Gunner. He said that working with Oyelowo helped him become a better actor. He also starred in the thriller movie The Boy Behind the Door.

Work as an Activist

#FixYourHeart Campaign

In 2018, Lonnie stood up to online bullies who were making fun of the gap in his teeth. He posted a video on Instagram telling them, "Braces can fix my teeth, but can you fix your heart, though?"

The video went viral, and many celebrities and fans shared it using his hashtag, #FixYourHeart. Lonnie wanted to remind people that words can hurt and that it's important to be kind. He later worked with the Ad Council on an anti-bullying campaign. In 2021, a clothing line was launched to support the #FixYourHeart message.

Speaking Out for Change

In 2020, after the Murder of George Floyd, 12-year-old Lonnie wrote a letter to his mom about his own experiences with racism. He found it hard to talk about his feelings, so he wrote them down instead. The letter was published in People magazine, sharing his powerful message with the world.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations