Jharrel Jerome
He became the first Afro-Latino to win a lead acting Emmy, channeling the harrowing story of a wrongfully convicted teen into a performance of profound empathy.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American actor·Birthday: October 9·Generation Z
Biography
Jharrel Jerome emerged from the Bronx with a quiet intensity that found its perfect stage in Barry Jenkins's 'Moonlight,' where his small but pivotal role hinted at a major talent. His career-defining moment arrived when Ava DuVernay cast him as Korey Wise in 'When They See Us,' a miniseries detailing the Central Park Five case. Jerome didn't just portray Wise; he inhabited his decades-long trauma and resilience with a raw vulnerability that captivated audiences and critics. His 2019 Emmy win for the role was a historic and emotional triumph. Never one to be pigeonholed, he later stretched into surreal comedy as a literal giant in Boots Riley's 'I'm a Virgo,' proving his range is as formidable as his dramatic depth.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Jharrel was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jharrel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Jharrel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series for his role as Korey Wise in 'When They See Us.'
- Made his film debut in the Academy Award-winning drama 'Moonlight' at the age of 19.
- Portrayed the lead role of Cootie, a 13-foot-tall teenager, in the surreal Amazon series 'I'm a Virgo.'
- Starred as wrestler Anthony Robles in the 2024 biographical sports film 'Unstoppable.'
Did You Know?
He is of Dominican descent and grew up speaking Spanish at home in the Bronx.
He attended the prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
His Emmy win for 'When They See Us' made him the youngest winner ever in the Outstanding Lead Actor category at the time.
He initially auditioned for a different role in 'When They See Us' before being cast as Korey Wise.
“I hope this is a step forward for not just me, but for a lot of other young actors of color.”
