If you grew up in the '90s, you probably remember a short-lived but charming sitcom called On Our Own. It featured a house full of kids with "J" names, and while the show didn't last forever, the real-life family behind it certainly did. Most people know Jurnee Smollett from her powerhouse roles in Lovecraft Country or as Black Canary, but her story is inseparable from the five other people she grew up with.
The Smollett household wasn't your average upbringing. We’re talking about six siblings, all of whom were child actors at some point. It’s a bit of a Hollywood anomaly. Usually, you get one breakout star and maybe a sibling who tries their hand at a reality show. With the Smolletts, it was a collective effort, a literal pack mentality that saw them moving between New York and Los Angeles, chasing a shared dream.
Who Are the Jurnee Smollett Brothers and Sisters?
To understand the dynamic, you have to look at the hierarchy. It’s not just a list of names; it’s a timeline of a family that functioned like a small production company. The siblings are Jojo, Jazz, Jussie, Jurnee, Jake, and Jocqui.
Their parents, Janet and the late Joel Smollett, raised them with a heavy emphasis on social activism and creative expression. Janet, who is African American, and Joel, who was Ashkenazi Jewish, created a biracial household that Jurnee has often described as "Blewish." This cultural blend shaped their worldviews long before they were ever in front of a camera.
Jojo Smollett: The Firstborn
Jojo is the eldest, born in 1977. While he isn't in the headlines as much these days, he was the pioneer. He had roles in Roseanne and The Practice back in the day. Honestly, he’s often seen as the protective "big brother" anchor for the younger five. You might have spotted him more recently on Smollett Eats, the family’s food-centric foray into reality TV.
Jazz Smollett: The Creative Multi-Hyphenate
Jazz is the second oldest and the only other girl in the mix besides Jurnee. Born in 1980, she’s moved more into the "lifestyle guru" and production lane. She’s a producer, an interior decorator, and a cook. If you’ve seen Living by Design, you’ve seen her work. She and her brother Jake basically run that show, proving that the family’s collaboration didn't end with their childhood sitcom.
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Jussie Smollett: The Talented Middle Son
We have to talk about Jussie. Born in 1982, he was arguably the biggest star of the family for a while due to his role as Jamal Lyon on Empire. His career took a massive hit following the 2019 incident in Chicago and the subsequent legal battles regarding a staged hate crime. Regardless of the controversy, his history with Jurnee is deep—they are exceptionally close and have consistently defended one another through the highest highs and lowest lows.
Jake Smollett: The Culinary Artist
Jake, born in 1989, followed the acting path early (appearing in Eve's Bayou with Jurnee), but he really found his niche in the kitchen. He’s a full-blown chef and TV personality now. He’s the one usually seen with Jazz, building furniture or whipping up a meal on camera.
Jocqui Smollett: The Tech Pivot
Jocqui is the baby of the family, born in 1993. While he was in On Our Own as a toddler, he is the one who took the most dramatic departure from Hollywood. He didn't stay in the "biz." Instead, he hit the books, studied global economics and math at UC Santa Cruz, and ended up in the tech world. He’s worked for big names like SurveyMonkey and Snowflake. It's kinda refreshing to see one of them thrive in a completely different ecosystem.
The 'On Our Own' Legacy
It’s impossible to talk about jurnee smollett brothers and sisters without mentioning the 1994 ABC sitcom. This wasn't just a job; it was a snapshot of their real lives. The show followed the Jerrico family—six siblings raised by the eldest after their parents died.
"We were basically playing ourselves, just with different last names," Jurnee once mentioned in an interview.
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The chemistry was real because the bond was real. They lived in a cramped house in real life, much like they did on screen. This era solidified the "Smollett 6" brand. Even though the show only lasted one season (20 episodes), it created a cult following that has tracked their careers for thirty years.
Why the Siblings Matter to Jurnee’s Career
Jurnee didn't just stumble into greatness. She was sharpened by her brothers and sister. When she was 10 and starring in Eve's Bayou, she had five other performers at home to talk shop with.
She’s often the first to say that her brothers taught her how to be tough, while Jazz gave her the space to be vulnerable. That balance is exactly what you see in her acting. She can play a hard-hitting vigilante and a grieving mother in the same season because she grew up in a household that was a constant revolving door of emotions and characters.
They are famously protective. When Jurnee's career exploded with Birds of Prey, the whole crew was there. When Jussie went through his legal turmoil, the siblings stood as a united front, often appearing at court together or releasing joint statements. You don't see that kind of loyalty in Hollywood often. It’s usually every person for themselves.
The Real Power of the Smollett Connection
What most people get wrong is thinking they are just a "celebrity family." They are more like a collective. They produce together, they cook together, and they advocate for social justice together.
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Janet Smollett, the matriarch, was a huge influence here. She was involved in the civil rights movement and made sure her kids knew that fame was a platform, not just a paycheck. This is why you see Jurnee involved in so many activism-heavy projects. It’s a family trait.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the Smollett siblings, don't just stick to the movies.
- Check out 'Smollett Eats': It’s a great way to see the raw, unscripted dynamic between all six siblings. You see who the bossy one is and who the joker is.
- Follow the Lifestyle Projects: If you like Jurnee's aesthetic, Jazz and Jake’s show Living by Design is where that family style actually gets built.
- Watch 'On Our Own': You can find clips on YouTube. It’s a time capsule of 1994 and a "before they were famous" look at the whole crew.
- Support the Youngest: Follow Jocqui's path if you're interested in how a child star successfully pivots into a high-level tech career—it’s a blueprint for career changes.
The Smollett story isn't over. With Jurnee’s career reaching new heights in 2026, the spotlight on her siblings is only going to get brighter. They've proven that while individual fame is great, having a pack of five people who have your back is the real win in Hollywood.
Look into Jurnee's production company if you want to see how she’s now hiring her own family and keeping the "On Our Own" spirit alive in a more professional, grown-up way.