Jessie Thezeire Usher
Jessie Thezeire Usher Jr. (born February 29, 1992) is an American actor. He is known for playing Lyle on the series Level Up, Cam Calloway on the series Survivor's Remorse, and Reggie Franklin / A-Train in the series The Boys. His film appearances include When the Game Stands Tall (2014), Teenage (2013), Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), Shaft (2019), and Smile (2022).
What were Jessie Usher's early life and educational experiences like?
Usher was born to Jessie T. and Judith Usher in Silver Spring, Maryland. His passion for acting ignited at the tender age of five, inspired by his sister Jesstia's success in booking a TV commercial. Usher's own journey into acting began with a role in an Oscar Mayer commercial. In 2003, his family made the pivotal decision to move to Los Angeles, aiming to support and advance Usher's burgeoning career. Remarkably, he completed high school by the age of 15. Subsequently, Usher became a member of Alpha Gamma Sigma and pursued culinary arts at a community college.
What is the career journey of Jessie Usher?
Usher began his professional acting career with a guest appearance on CBS's "Without a Trace" in 2005. He later featured in a 2007 episode of the Disney Channel's popular series "Hannah Montana." By 2011, Usher had landed a starring role in the Cartoon Network television film "Level Up," which was successful enough to generate a TV series where he reprised his character, Lyle Hugginson, for two seasons. In 2013, he lent his voice to the character American Boy in the documentary "Teenage." In 2014, Usher expanded his filmography with an appearance in "When the Game Stands Tall." That same year, he was cast as the lead in the Starz series "Survivor's Remorse," executive produced by NBA star LeBron James. The show premiered in October 2014. Usher continued to build his career with notable roles such as appearing in the blockbuster sequel "Independence Day: Resurgence" in 2016 and co-starring alongside Danny Glover and Kimberly Elise in the Christmas-themed comedy-drama "Almost Christmas" later that year. In 2019, he took on a significant role as the lead in a sequel to the iconic film "Shaft," playing the son of Samuel L. Jackson's character from the 2000 installment and grandson of Richard Roundtree’s original Shaft. In January 2018, it was announced that Usher would portray Reggie Franklin/A-Train in Amazon Studios' adaptation of "The Boys," based on Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic book series. Continuing his momentum, Usher starred alongside Camila Mendes in Netflix's thriller "Dangerous Lies" released in April 2020. Most recently, Usher appeared in September 2022’s psychological horror film “Smile,” further diversifying his acting portfolio.