Lonnie Chavis
Lonnie Chavis | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lonnie Chavis, Jr. November 23, 2007 Downey, California,U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2015–present |
Lonnie Chavis Jr.(born November 23, 2007) is an African American teenage actor and activist. He is known for playing young Randall Pearson onNBC's drama,This Is Us.Chavis has been nominated for several awards and shared the win for theScreen Actors Guild Awardfor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Serieswith hisThis Is Uscast mates. In 2017, he starred inShowtime's short lived sitcomWhite Famous.In 2020, Chavis starred in his first feature film,The Water Man.
Early life
[edit]Chavis was born on November 23, 2007, in Downey, California.[1]Chavis is the son of Najah and Lonnie Chavis. He has three younger brothers.[2]In 2016, an 8-year-old Chavis made headlines when he was nearly abducted from outside his home inLong Beach, Californiawhile taking out the trash. He fought off his would-be captors and alerted his neighbor who escorted Chavis back home to his mom, who had contacted the police.[3][4]As of 2017, Chavis was homeschooled.[5]
Career
[edit]In 2016, Chavis joined the castThis Is Usas a young version ofSterling K. Brown's Randall Pearson.[6]In early 2017, Chavis appeared as a guest star in an episode of his favorite show, theNickelodeonsitcom,The Thundermans.[7]Later that year, Chavis appeared in an episode ofThe CW'sSupergirl.[8]In June 2017, Chavis was promoted to series regular inseason 2ofThis Is Us.[9]Chavis would go on to star oppositeJay Pharoahin the comedyWhite Famous,executive produced byJamie Foxx.[10]Chavis revealed that the series was his first experience with improvisation.[11]Chavis made his feature film debut in Disney'sMagic Campwhich starredAdam DeVine.[5]The 2018 theatrical release was cancelled and later streamed onDisney+.[12][13]He also appeared inKevin Hart's Guide to Black Historywhich premiered onNetflixin 2019.[5]Chavis also appeared in the short filmSkinfromGuy Nattiv.[14]The film won theAcademy Award for Best Live Action Short Filmat the91st Academy Awards.[15]
In 2018, Chavis was cast oppositeJason WilesinSunny Daze,which Wiles wrote and directed.[16]In 2019, Chavis was cast opposite Academy Award nomineeDavid Oyelowoin Oyelowo's feature film directorial debut,The Water Man.With Chavis as the lead, the film also starredRosario DawsonwithOprah Winfreyattached to executive produce.[17]The film marked Chavis's feature film debut[18]and he credited Oyelowo with making him a better actor.[19]In 2020, Chavis was cast to star inThe Boy Behind the Door,a thriller from the writing-directing team of David Charbonier and Justin Powell.[20]
Activism
[edit]In June 2018, Chavis posted a video toInstagramin response to online bullying about the gap in his teeth. Chavis said, "Braces can fix [my teeth], but like, can you fix your heart, though?" While Chavis assured concerned fans that he could handle negative comments, not everyone could, he said, with some people even being driven to suicide.[21]While his parents typically filtered the comments, the couple showed Chavis one comment and he decided to post the video. The video garnered over 600,000 views with friends and celebrities reposting it using Chavis's own hashtag: #FixYourHeart. In October 2018, Chavis partnered withAd Councilon an anti-bullying campaign.[2]In 2020, Chavis said "This movement is about having the accountability to correct your own actions and be better to others."[19]In 2021, the organization launched a clothing line, for which Chavis models.[22]
In the wake of theMurder of George Floydand the subsequentprotests,Chavis, aged 12, wrote a letter to his mother about his experiences with racism in U.S. as he struggled to verbally express his feelings. The letter was later published byPeopleon June 17, 2020.[23]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Skin | Bronny | Short film |
| 2019 | Sunny Daze | Sean | Lead role |
| 2020 | Magic Camp | Cameron | Supporting role |
| The Water Man | Gunner Boone | Lead role | |
| The Boy Behind the Door | Bobby | Lead role |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Bella and the Bulldogs | Young Troy | Episode: "Dudes & Chicks" |
| 2016-22 | This Is Us | Randall Pearson | Series regular |
| 2017 | Supergirl | Marcus | Episode: "City of Lost Children" |
| White Famous | Trevor Mooney | Series regular | |
| 2018 | The 5th Quarter | Fetus Jones | Episode: "Fetus Jones" |
| The Thundermans | Gilly | Episode: "Revenge of the Smith" | |
| 2019 | Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History | Robert Smalls' son | Netflixvariety special |
| 2020 | God Friended Me | C.J. | Episode: "Miracles" |
| 2023 | Lawmen: Bass Reeves | Arthur Mayberry | Recurring role |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Ceremony | Award | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards | Tearjerker | This Is Us | Won | [24] |
| 49th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-series) | Nominated | [25] | ||
| 2018 | BET Awards 2018 | BET YoungStars Award | — | Nominated | [26] |
| Gold DerbyTV Awards | Ensemble of the Year | This Is Us | Nominated | [27] | |
| 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | [28] | ||
| 50th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-series) | Nominated | [29] | ||
| 2019 | 51st NAACP Image Awards | Nominated | [30] | ||
| 2020 | 52nd NAACP Image Awards | Nominated | [31] | ||
| 2021 | BET Awards 2021 | BET YoungStars Award | — | Nominated | [32] |
References
[edit]- ^"Lonnie Chavis – Actor".TV Insider.TVGM Holdings, LLC.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^abLane, Cassandra (October 31, 2018)."'THIS IS US' STAR LONNIE CHAVIS EXPANDS HIS #FIXYOURHEART MESSAGE ".L.A. Parent.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"8-year-old boy escapes masked kidnappers in Long Beach".April 13, 2016.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Yee, Greg (April 13, 2016)."Attempted kidnapping of boy, 8, in Los Cerritos area shocks family, neighbors".Press-Telegram.Digital First Media.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^abcRodriguez, Leslie (May 1, 2017)."TV's Golden Child, Lonnie Chavis".Posh Kids.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^DeSantis, Rachel (December 9, 2016)."This Is Us stars share family photo from set".Entertainment Weekly.Meredith Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Richter, Katherine (February 15, 2017)."FIRST LOOK: Little Randall Is Branching Out! See This Is Us' Adorable Lonnie Chavis' New Gig".People.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Webb Mitovich, Matt (April 17, 2017)."Supergirl: Pivotal James Olsen Episode Casts This Is Us' Young Randall".TVLine.TVLine Media, LLC. (Penske Media Corporation).RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Petski, Denise (June 30, 2017)."'This Is Us': 7 Young Actors Upped To Series Regulars For Season 2 Of NBC Drama ".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Braxton, Greg (October 13, 2017)."Jay Pharoah jumps from 'Saturday Night Live' to the fame game of 'White Famous'".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Steinberg, Jamie (November 19, 2017)."Lonnie Chavis – White Famous".Starry Constellation Magazine.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 8, 2018)."Disney Unveils Inaugural Streaming Service Launch Slate To Town; No R-Rated Fare".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Taylor, Drew (July 16, 2020)."Here's Everything New on Disney Plus in August 2020".Collider.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Evans, Greg (February 8, 2019)."Oscar-Nominated Short Film 'Skin' Acquired By Fox Searchlight".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"The 91st Academy Awards (2019) Nominees and Winners".Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2019.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Galuppo, Mia (April 19, 2018)."'This Is Us' Actor Lonnie Chavis to Star in Indie 'Sunny Daze'".The Hollywood Reporter.MRC.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Vlessing, Etan (March 27, 2019)."David Oyelowo Sets Feature Directorial Debut With 'The Water Man'".The Hollywood Reporter.MRC.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Chuba, Kirsten (September 16, 2020)."'The Water Man' Star Lonnie Chavis on His Big Screen Debut ".The Hollywood Reporter.MRC.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^abMedini, Elias (November 24, 2020)."A Conversation With Lonnie Chavis".Fucking Young.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^N'Duka, Amanda (February 4, 2020)."'This Is Us' Lonnie Chavis Toplines Indie Thriller 'The Boy Behind The Door'".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"'This Is Us' star Lonnie Chavis pushes back against online trolls who mock his smile ".Good Morning America.ABC News.June 27, 2018.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"The Water Man's Lonnie Chavis On Working with David Oyelowo, Talks This Is Us (Exclusive)".TooFab.com.EHM Productions, Inc. May 4, 2021.RetrievedOctober 10,2021.
- ^Chavis, Lonnie (June 17, 2020)."This Is Us Star Lonnie Chavis, 12, Shares His Experiences with Racism: 'America Needs to Change'".People.Meredith Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Lakshmin, Deepa (May 2, 2017)."The" Cash Me Outside "Meme Is An MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominee, How Bout Dat?".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon May 2, 2017.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Hipes, Patrick (December 13, 2016)."NAACP Image Awards: Nate Parker & Donald Glover Lead Film & TV Noms; Beyonce Tops Field".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"BET Awards 2018 Winners & Nominees".BET.com.Archived fromthe originalon December 6, 2019.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"2018 Gold Derby TV Awards winners: 'Versace' and 'Handmaid's Tale' are top winners, but 'Game of Thrones' takes Best Drama".Gold Derby.Penske Media Corporation.September 6, 2018.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Ceremony Will Be January 21, 2018 TNT and TBS Will Live Simulcast the Sunday Event".Screen Actors Guild.March 7, 2017.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"50th NAACP Image Awards".April 2, 2019.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^"NAACP Image Awards".Visit Pasadena.Archived fromthe originalon February 5, 2020.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Jackson, Angelique (March 23, 2021)."Barack Obama, 'The Last Dance,' 'John Lewis: Good Trouble' Earn NAACP Image Awards".Variety.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedMay 31,2021.
- ^Amabile Angermiller, Michele (May 27, 2021)."Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby Lead BET Awards Nominations: The Full List".Variety.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedJune 3,2021.