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Skai Jackson
Skai Jackson | |
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![]() Jackson in 2013 | |
Born | New York City, U.S. | April 8, 2002
Occupation |
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Years active | 2007–present |
Television | Jessie Bunk'd |
Skai Syed Jackson (born April 8, 2002)[1] is an American actress, YouTuber, and author who was included in Time's list of Most Influential Teens in 2016.[2] She portrayed the role of Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie (2011–2015), which she subsequently reprised in its sequel Bunk'd (2015–2018).
Jackson first began acting at the age of 5, making her debut in the film Liberty Kid (2007). She has provided the voice of Glory Grant across the Marvel Rising series (2018–2019) and voiced Summer in the animated series DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019–2020). In 2019, Jackson released her debut novel, Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback. The following year, she was a semi-finalist on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars in 2020.
Early and personal life
Jackson was born in the Staten Island borough of New York City, New York.[3] She is of Afro-Honduran and African-American descent.[4][5] She began her career as a child model, appearing in numerous national commercials, including for Band-Aid, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Old Navy.[6]
In March 2020, Jackson filled court papers for a restraining order against rapper Bhad Bhabie claiming that Bhabie had harassed her. The petition was temporarily granted, and later dropped by Jackson.[7] On June 6, 2020, Jackson faced criticism after tweeting an image of fans doxing an alleged minor over the use of a racial slur on an Instagram post.[8]
Acting career
Jackson’s first major acting role was in the independent film Liberty Kid (2007), which was followed by a guest appearance in an episode of Rescue Me (2008). In 2009, Jackson made a cameo in the film The Rebound, and in the same year was cast as a member of the Nickelodeon pre-school animated series Bubble Guppies, playing the role of Little Fish. She continued to make cameo and guest appearances in the television series Team Umizoomi, Royal Pains, and Boardwalk Empire, as well as the 2011 films Arthur and The Smurfs.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Jessie_Cast.jpg/250px-Jessie_Cast.jpg)
In 2011, she was cast as Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie, which aired from September 30, 2011 to October 16, 2015.[9][10] For the role, Jackson received an Image Award nomination.[11] In 2013, she appeared as Joetta Watson in the Hallmark Channel television film The Watsons Go To Birmingham[12] and in the year following guest-starred in an episode of Disney XD's animated series Ultimate Spider-Man.[13] In 2015, after Jessie ended, it was announced that Jackson would reprise her role as Zuri Ross in the Disney Channel series Bunk'd, a spin-off series.[14] Bunk'd premiered on July 31, 2015, and she departed from the series after its third season in 2018.
In 2016, Jackson was included on Time's list of Most Influential Teens,[2] and in 2017, she received a nomination from the Shorty Awards for Best Influencer.[15] Following her success with Disney, Jackson promptly made a guest appearance in K.C. Undercover.[16] In 2018, Jackson made a guest appearance in Marvel Rising: Initiation as Glory Grant, a role she reprised in Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts, and Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands.
In 2019, Jackson was cast in the music video for Lil Nas X's "Panini".[17] The video gained worldwide popularity, and spawned a variety of memes due to her character being unable to escape the rapper.[18] Also in 2019, Jackson made her writing debut with the book Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback,[19][20] and began voicing Summer on the Netflix animated series DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders, which ended in 2020. On September 2, 2020, Jackson was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars, which premiered on September 14, 2020. Her partner was Alan Bersten. The pair made it the semi-finals but was eliminated 10th on November 16, 2020.[21]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Liberty Kid | Destiny – age 3 | Independent film |
2008 | Rescue Me | Little Girl | Short film |
2009 | The Rebound | Museum Little Girl #1 | |
2011 | Arthur | Little Girl | |
2011 | The Smurfs | Kicking Girl | |
2013 | G.I. Joe: Retaliation | Roadblock's daughter | |
2014 | My Dad's a Soccer Mom | Lacy Casey | |
TBA | TBA |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Sesame Street | Herself | |
2010 | Team Umizoomi | Kayla | Voice role; episode: "The Rolling Toy Parade" |
2010 | Royal Pains | Maddie Phillips | Episode: "Big Whoop" |
2010-2012 | Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | Madison | Recurring voice role |
2011 | Boardwalk Empire | Aneisha | Episode: "What Does the Bee Do?" |
2011–2013 | Bubble Guppies | Little Fish | Main voice role (seasons 1–2) |
2011–2015 | Jessie | Zuri Ross | Main role |
2012 | Austin & Ally | Zuri Ross | Episode: "Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year" |
2012–2014 | Dora the Explorer | Isa the Iguana | Recurring voice role |
2013 | Good Luck Charlie | Zuri Ross | Episode: "Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas" |
2013 | The Watsons Go to Birmingham | Joetta Watson | Television film (Hallmark) |
2014 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Zuri Ross | Voice role; episode: "Halloween Night at the Museum" |
2015–2018 | Bunk'd | Zuri Ross | Main role (season 1-3) |
2015 | K.C. Undercover | Zuri Ross | Episode: "All Howl's Eve"[16] |
2018 | Marvel Rising: Initiation | Glory Grant | Voice role; Episodes: "Floor Toms and Spider Webs", "Ghost Hunter" |
2019 | Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts | Glory Grant | Voice role |
2019 | Marvel Rising: Battle of the Bands | Glory Grant | Voice role |
2019–2020 | DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders | Summer | Voice role |
2019 | Marvel Rising: Operation Shuri | Glory Grant | Voice role |
2020 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant with Alan Bersten; eliminated 10th |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2019 | "Panini"[22] | Lil Nas X |
Bibliography
Books
- Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback (2019)
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Image Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series) | Jessie | Nominated | [11] |
2017 | Shorty Awards | Best Influencer and Celebrity | Herself | Nominated | [15] |
2018 | Young Entertainer Awards | Best Young Ensemble in a Television Series | Bunk'd | Won | [23] |
References
- ^ "UPI Almanac for Wednesday, April 8, 2020". United Press International. April 8, 2020. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
…actor Skai Jackson in 2002 (age 18)
- ^ Jump up to: a b Staff. "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016". Time. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ Houlis, AnnaMarie (June 30, 2020). "The stunning transformation of Skai Jackson". The List. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ @skaijackson (February 4, 2021). "No, I'm Honduran" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/skaijackson/posts/how-was-everyones-christmas-i-was-in-honduras-meeting-my-grandfather-and-uncles-/899279873429145/
- ^ "Skai Jackson TV Commercials". iSpot.tv. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Bonner, Mehera (June 16, 2020). "Skai Jackson Just Dropped Her Restraining Order Against Bhad Bhabie". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ Samuels, Alexandra (June 21, 2020). "Some people want to cancel Skai Jackson after she 'doxed' a 13-year-old". The Daily Dot. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Show bios - Skai Jackson" (Press release). Disney Channel. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- ^ "Skai Jackson, from Disney's "Jessie", crowned Queen of Lip Sync at Premiere Event". Premiere Event. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Skai Jackson". IMDb. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ The Watsons Go to Birmingham (TV Movie 2013) - IMDb, retrieved August 7, 2019
- ^ Ge, Linda (October 9, 2014). "'Jessie' Stars Get Animated for 'Ultimate Spider-Man' Crossover (Exclusive Photos)". The Wrap. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 25, 2015). "Disney Channel's 'Jessie' Ending Run, But Spinoff Series Set With Stars Peyton List, Karan Brar & Skai Jackson". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "The Shorty Awards - Honoring the best of social media". shortyawards.com. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "All Howl's Eve". Disney Channel Press. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ "Skai Jackson Can't Escape From Lil Nas X in New Panini Music Video". E! Online. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ "Complex".
- ^ "SKAI JACKSON 'REACHES FOR THE SKAI' WITH NEW BOOK". BCK Online. November 19, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- ^ "Skai Jackson Writing Book About Life Lessons & Clapping Back". theJasmineBRAND. November 21, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- ^ ""Dancing with the Stars" 2020 Celebrity Cast Announced!". ABC.com. September 2, 2020.
- ^ Lil Nas X - Panini (Official Video), retrieved September 7, 2019
- ^ Hartshorn, Tori. "Third Annual Young Entertainer Awards Spectacular at Universal Studios Hollywood Set for 4/14". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
External links
- Skai Jackson at IMDb
- 2002 births
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from New York City
- African-American actresses
- African-American child actresses
- American child actresses
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- Living people
- Afro-Honduran