When Jason Weaver made his professional acting debut in 1990, it didn’t take long for everyone to see that he had the potential to become a huge star. Weaver became a consistent TV presence throughout the 90s, and he also landed some solid big screen roles. Some of his most well-known credits include the TV series Smart Guy and the movie ATL. Throughout his career, he has proven that he is as skilled and versatile as they come. However, despite his immense talent, those who are familiar with Weaver’s catalog will probably agree that he hasn’t gotten nearly as much credit as he deserves over the years. Keep reading to learn 10 things you didn’t know about Jason Weaver.
1. He’s From the Midwest
Although some sources list Jason Weaver’s birthplace as Chicago, in an interview with DJ Vlad, he shared that he was actually born outside of Chicago in a small city called Harvey, IL, and raised in a nearby town called South Holland. He attended Thornwood High School in South Holland.
2. He Was the Voice of Simba in The Lion King Movie
1990s heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas is probably the first person who comes to mind when people think of the voice of young Simba in the 1994 movie The Lion King. However, it was actually Jason Weaver who voiced Simba’s singing parts in the film.
3. He Released an Album
Acting is what Jason Weaver is best known for, but he is also a very talented singer. He released his debut album, Love Ambition, in 1995. Unfortunately, though, his singing career never quite took off the way he hoped. To date, this remains the only full-length project he has ever released. In 2004, he was a featured artist on Chingy’s hit song “One Call Away“.
4. He’s a Proud Dad
In addition to all of the success Jason has found in his career, he has also had lots of great moments in his personal life. He is the proud father of a son named Jaylen, who is now a teenager. Although Jason and Jaylen’s mother are no longer together, they have managed to maintain a strong co-parenting relationship.
5. His Faith Is Important to Him
We weren’t able to track down the specifics of Jason’s religious beliefs, but we do know that he was raised in a Christian household, and his faith continues to play a major role in his life. He believes that his faith has been a contributing factor to all of the success he’s had over the years.
6. He Comes From a Creative Family
Those who are familiar with Jason’s background know that being a performer is simply part of his DNA. His mother, Kitty Hayward, is a talented singer who was a member of a group called Kitty & the Haywoods. The group sang background for Aretha Franklin on the soundtrack of the movie Sparkle.
7. He Likes His Privacy
Even though Jason Weaver has been in the entertainment industry for most of his life, he has never been the kind of person who likes to share his entire life with the world. Instead, he has done a good job of keeping his professional and personal lives separate. While it’s true that his fans would love to know more about him, it’s easy to understand why he’s chosen to be private.
8. It’s Unclear If He’s Had Formal Acting Training
We know that Jason started acting at a pretty early age, but it’s unclear exactly what inspired him to get into acting. We also weren’t able to find any information to suggest that he has ever gone to acting school or been part of a drama program. While he may have worked with some coaches over the years, it appears that his career is primarily the result of natural talent.
9. He’s an Only Child
The majority of people in the United States have at least one sibling. That, however, isn’t something that Jason can relate to. While talking to DJ Vlad, Jason shared that he is an only child. Some stereotypes about only children include claims that there are poorly adjusted, selfish, and spoiled. However, there are lots of only children out there who would beg to differ.
10. He Once Played Michael Jackson
Jason has gotten to play some awesome roles over the years. One of those roles includes being cast as the legendary Michael Jackson. Weaver played the younger version of Michael Jackson in the 1994 TV mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream. His role earned him a Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Performers Starring in a Mini-Series.
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