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Jacob Latimore
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Key Information
Jacob O'Neal Latimore Jr. (born August 10, 1996) is an American actor, singer and dancer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2016, Latimore released his debut album Connection. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Black Nativity, The Maze Runner, Collateral Beauty, Detroit, and The Chi. He also starred in the Netflix Original movie Candy Jar alongside Sami Gayle.
Life and career
[edit]Latimore was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Latitia Taylor and Jacob Latimore Sr.[1]
Film
[edit]Latimore has co-starred in several major films, including Black Nativity (2013),[2] as Langston, and Ride Along (2014),[3] as Ramon. He also appeared in the movie The Maze Runner,[4] which was released in theaters September 19, 2014. He then starred in the drama film Collateral Beauty, which was released on December 16, 2016, and street magic drama movie Sleight, which was released on April 28, 2017. Latimore is currently starring on Showtime's The Chi as Emmett. In 2019, Bilal: A New Breed of Hero was released in which Latimore acted as a voiceover. In 2020, he co-starred in the comedy Like a Boss. In 2021, he starred in Gully.
Music
[edit]Latimore's first single "Best Friend" was released in 2005. In 2006, "Superstar" was released. In June 2014, he released his hit song "Heartbreak Heard Around The World" ft. T-Pain.[5] His debut album, Connection, was released in 2016.[6] His second effort, Connection2, the sequel to Connection, was released on April 26, 2019.[7]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Vanishing on 7th Street | James Leary | |
| 2013 | Black Nativity | Langston | |
| 2014 | Ride Along | Ramon | |
| The Maze Runner | Jeff | ||
| 2016 | Bilal: A New Breed of Hero | Bilal (teen) | |
| Collateral Beauty | Raffi / Time | ||
| 2017 | Sleight | Bashir “Bo” Wolfe | |
| Detroit | Fred Temple | ||
| Krystal | Bobby Bryant | ||
| 2018 | Candy Jar | Bennett Russell | |
| 2019 | Gully | Calvin | |
| The Last Summer | Alec | ||
| 2020 | Like a Boss | Harry | |
| 2022 | Texas Chainsaw Massacre | Dante Spivey | |
| 2023 | House Party | Kevin |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | One Tree Hill | Kid No. 1 | Episode: "Now You Lift Your Eyes to the Sun" |
| 2011 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Dante | Episode: "Growing Paynes" |
| 2011 | So Random! | Himself | |
| 2011 | Reed Between the Lines | Jacob | Episode: "Let's Talk About College Boys"[8] |
| 2012 | The Finder | Young Trey | Episode: "Life After Death" |
| 2014 | Survivor's Remorse | Johnny Miller | Episode: "How to Build a Brand" |
| 2018–present | The Chi | Emmett | Main |
| 2020 | Amazing Stories | Cody | Episode: "Signs of Life" |
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (April 2019) |
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Indie |
US R&B | ||
| Connection |
|
42 | 36 |
| Connection2 |
|
— | — |
| C3 |
|
— | — |
| JL |
|
— | — |
Mixtapes and extended plays
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Milwaukee's Latimore hoping 'Black Nativity' can boost career". Retrieved June 5, 2018.
- ^ "St. Joseph (Character)". Internet Movie Database.
- ^ "Ramon (Character)". Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Jacob Latimore Discusses The Maze Runner. YouTube. July 29, 2014.
- ^ Heartbreak Heard Around the World (feat. T-Pain) - Single by Jacob Latimore, June 10, 2014, retrieved June 5, 2018
- ^ "Connection by Jacob Latimore on Apple Music". December 6, 2016.
- ^ "[STREAM] Jacob Latimore Reveals His Sophomore Album, 'Connection 2'". April 26, 2019.
- ^ "Let's Talk About College Boys". BET.com. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012.
- ^ "Jacob Latimore - This Is Me". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
- ^ "Jacob Latimore - Leo Season". iTunes. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
External links
[edit]Jacob Latimore
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Jacob O'Neal Latimore Jr. was born on August 10, 1996, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[7][8] He is the son of Latitia "Tish" Taylor and Jacob Latimore Sr., who were high school seniors at the time of his birth and did not remain together as a couple.[9][10] Latimore's mother worked in the music industry, beginning her career at Sony Music in the late 1990s shortly before graduating from college, which exposed him to professional entertainment environments from an early age.[11] Latimore's father played a significant role in his upbringing despite the separation, remaining actively involved and serving as a major influence. Jacob Latimore Sr. was a member of the gospel group The Latimore Brothers, formed with his own brothers (Latimore's uncles), who toured nationally in the mid-1990s under the name LaMore before rebranding.[9][12] This familial musical legacy, rooted in gospel traditions, fostered Latimore's early passion for performance; he began singing at age three, often alongside his father and grandfather.[8][13] In 2007, at the age of 11, Latimore relocated from Milwaukee to Atlanta, Georgia, with his mother to advance his budding entertainment pursuits.[9][12] His parents' encouragement, combined with the supportive atmosphere in Atlanta's music scene, further nurtured his talents in singing and performing arts during his formative years.[14]Musical beginnings
Latimore discovered his singing talent around the age of nine, drawing inspiration from his family's gospel music heritage, where his father performed with the group LaMore and his uncles formed the quartet The Latimore Brothers.[5][12] At that young age in 2005, with support from his family, he recorded his debut single "Best Friend" in a Milwaukee studio, marking his initial foray into professional music production.[5][3] The track quickly gained traction locally, as Milwaukee DJs embraced it and played it on air, providing early exposure for the budding artist.[15] The single's reach expanded nationally when Radio Disney picked it up, featuring it on their playlist and incorporating Latimore into the network's Incubator program, which spotlighted emerging young talent alongside performances with other child artists.[16][17][18] In 2007, at age 11, Latimore and his family relocated from Milwaukee to Atlanta to advance his music aspirations, immersing him in the city's vibrant industry hub.[14][19] Upon arrival, his management team organized a debut showcase to present him to Atlanta's music executives, tastemakers, and producers, fostering local recognition through live performances that highlighted his vocal and dance abilities.[20][19] During this unsigned phase from 2005 to 2010, Latimore continued building his profile independently, releasing follow-up singles like "Superstar" in 2006 and shopping demos to labels with family backing, while performing at regional events to attract interest from industry figures such as producer Rodney Jerkins and singer Lloyd.[15][21][17] These efforts culminated in growing buzz, setting the stage for his eventual major label signing.[22]Career
Music career
Latimore began his professional music career in 2010 when he signed a recording contract with Jive Records, a division of RCA Records. Prior to his major label signing, Latimore released mixtapes including I Am the Future (2009) and the This Is Me series (2012–2013).[23] His debut single, "Like 'Em All" featuring Diggy Simmons, was released in 2011 and gained airplay on Radio Disney, marking his entry into the contemporary R&B scene.[24] After releasing several singles under RCA, including the 2014 collaboration "Heartbreak Heard Around the World" with T-Pain, Latimore parted ways with the label in 2015 to pursue greater creative control.[2] In 2016, Latimore independently released his debut studio album, Connection, through his own imprint Jacob's Ink in partnership with FTE and distributed by Empire.[25] The album emphasized smooth, melodic R&B with themes of relationships and self-expression, featuring collaborations such as rapper IshDARR on the track "The Real."[23] It peaked at number 36 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, establishing Latimore as a promising voice in mature contemporary R&B.[23] Following Connection, Latimore continued his independent trajectory with Connection2 in 2019 and the double album C3 in 2020, both released via Jacob's Ink and Empire, exploring deeper emotional narratives in his songwriting.[23] Notable releases during this period included the 2020 single "Midnight Snack" with Muni Long, which highlighted his versatility in blending sensual R&B with pop elements.[26] In 2023, he issued the EP Closure through Jacob's Ink and FTE, focusing on themes of resolution and personal growth.[27] Latimore's shift to independence allowed him to infuse his music with more autobiographical lyrics, evolving from youthful romance to introspective, "grown and sexy" R&B that reflects real-life experiences.[28] This progression culminated in his self-released album JL on May 2, 2025, via Jacob's Ink, a 12-track project including singles "WIN WIN" and "Again" that charted on R&B platforms.[6] In June 2025, Latimore appeared at the BET Awards, discussing his career in a backstage interview and performing elements of his recent work.[29]Acting career
Latimore began his acting career with early appearances in television and film, drawing on his musical background to enhance his performances. His feature film debut came in 2010 with the post-apocalyptic thriller Vanishing on 7th Street, where he portrayed James, a young survivor navigating a darkened world alongside stars like Hayden Christensen and Thandiwe Newton.[30] Prior to this, he made his on-screen acting debut in a guest role on the CW series One Tree Hill in 2009, and had appeared in music videos, building his on-camera presence through performance-oriented projects.[31] Latimore achieved his breakthrough in 2013 with the lead role of Langston, a street-smart teenager on a journey of self-discovery, in the musical drama Black Nativity, directed by Kasi Lemmons and featuring an ensemble including Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, and Jennifer Hudson.[32] The film marked a pivotal moment, showcasing his singing and acting abilities in a narrative adaptation of Langston Hughes' play, and was hailed as a breakout performance by outlets like Variety.[18] This success led to supporting roles in major films, including Ramon in the action-comedy Ride Along (2014) opposite Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, Chuck in the dystopian thriller The Maze Runner (2014), where he played a loyal friend in a high-stakes survival story, and Fred Temple in Kathryn Bigelow's historical drama Detroit (2017), depicting the 1967 riots with emotional depth.[33] He further demonstrated versatility in Collateral Beauty (2016), contributing to an all-star cast exploring grief and human connection.[34] On television, Latimore landed his most prominent role as Emmett Washington, an aspiring entrepreneur and father navigating Chicago's South Side, in the Showtime series The Chi, created by Lena Waithe, starting in 2018.[33] By November 2025, the series had aired through its seventh season, with an eighth and final season announced for 2026, allowing Latimore to evolve the character across multiple arcs of personal and communal growth.[35] His work in the ensemble has been recognized for its dramatic range, particularly in handling themes of resilience and family amid urban challenges, earning praise for anchoring the show's interconnected narratives.[36] Latimore continued building his film resume with roles in The Last Summer (2019), a Netflix coming-of-age romance, and as the charismatic Harry in the comedy Like a Boss (2020), opposite Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne.[33] He took on darker fare in Gully (2021), a gritty drama about street life, and Dante in the horror reboot The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2022).[34] Throughout his career, his ability to convey emotional nuance in ensemble-driven stories has solidified his reputation as a multifaceted performer.[18]Filmography
Film
Latimore made his feature film debut in Vanishing on 7th Street (2010), portraying James, an armed young boy who survives a mysterious mass vanishing in Detroit and bands together with other survivors to fend off encroaching darkness in an abandoned theater.[37] In Black Nativity (2013), he starred as Langston, a street-smart teenager from Baltimore who journeys to Harlem for Christmas, confronting family secrets and personal growth amid a musical retelling of the Nativity story.[38] Latimore appeared in Ride Along (2014) as Ramon, a clever high school student and brother to a petty criminal, who gets caught up in a chaotic night of police action alongside his sister's boyfriend.[39] He played Jeff in The Maze Runner (2014), a supportive Glader and medic in the dystopian maze who aids the protagonist in navigating the deadly trials and uncovering escape secrets. In Collateral Beauty (2016), Latimore portrayed Raffi, the personification of Time, who engages a grieving advertising executive in profound conversations about loss and existence as part of an elaborate emotional intervention.[40] Latimore starred as Fred Temple in Detroit (2017), a young man enduring the harrowing events of the 1967 Detroit riots, particularly the Algiers Motel incident, highlighting themes of racial injustice and survival. In Sleight (2017), he led as Bo, a talented street magician and foster brother who uses his sleight-of-hand skills and emerging electromagnetic abilities to protect his sister while entangled in the drug trade.[41] He appeared in Krystal (2018) as Bobby Bryant, the wheelchair-bound teenage son of a recovering alcoholic, who navigates family dynamics and forms an unlikely bond during his mother's path to sobriety.[42] Latimore played Alec in The Last Summer (2019), a young man dealing with a breakup and the uncertainties of post-high-school life during a transitional summer in Chicago with friends. In Like a Boss (2020), he portrayed Harry, the charming young love interest and masseur entangled in the comedic rivalry between two entrepreneurial best friends launching a beauty business. Latimore starred as Calvin in Gully (2021), a troubled young man with mental health struggles living on the fringes of society in South Central Los Angeles, whose self-destructive path intersects with old friends amid cycles of violence.[43] In Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), he played Dante, an ambitious entrepreneur and influencer who, along with his group, encounters the infamous Leatherface while attempting to gentrify a remote Texas town.[44] Latimore co-led House Party (2023) as Kevin, an aspiring club promoter and loyal best friend who schemes to throw the ultimate party at LeBron James's mansion to escape their dead-end cleaning jobs, leading to chaotic and humorous mishaps.[45]Television
Latimore made his television debut as a young performer on the talk show Maury, where he was featured as one of "Maury's Most Talented Kids" in 2006.[46] His first scripted acting role came in 2009 on the CW drama One Tree Hill, appearing as Kid #1 in the episode "Now You Lift Your Eyes to the Sun".[47] In 2011, Latimore had a breakout year with multiple guest spots, including a musical performance of his single "Like 'Em All" on Disney Channel's sketch comedy series So Random!.[48] He also portrayed the prodigious 14-year-old college student Jacob Matthews in the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines episode "Let's Talk About College Boys".[49] Additionally, he guest-starred as Dante in the TBS comedy Tyler Perry's House of Payne episode "Growing Paynes". In 2012, Latimore played Young Trey in the Fox procedural The Finder episode "Life After Death".[50] He returned to television in 2014 with a guest role as aspiring basketball player Johnny Miller in the Starz comedy-drama Survivor's Remorse episode "How to Build a Brand".[51] Latimore's role as Cody, Alia's boyfriend and protector, in the Apple TV+ anthology series Amazing Stories episode "Signs of Life" marked his 2020 television appearance, involving a story of a mother's miraculous recovery from a coma.[52] Since 2018, Latimore has starred as Emmett Washington in the Showtime drama The Chi, a main role spanning over 70 episodes across eight seasons, with the eighth being the final season as of 2025. Emmett is a young Chicago South Side resident and aspiring chef who evolves into a family man and entrepreneur, grappling with personal growth, relationships, and community challenges in an interconnected ensemble narrative.[53] The series, created by Lena Waithe, has been renewed for an eighth and final season set to premiere in 2026.[35]Discography
Studio albums
Jacob Latimore has released four studio albums to date, each showcasing his evolution as an R&B artist through introspective lyrics and smooth vocal delivery. His discography emphasizes personal connections, relationships, and growth, often self-produced under his Jacob's Ink imprint.| Title | Release Date | Label | Tracks | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection | December 9, 2016 (digital); January 13, 2017 (physical) | FTE / Jacob's Ink / EMPIRE | 11 | #21 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |
| Connection 2 | April 26, 2019 | FTE / Jacob's Ink / EMPIRE | 13 | No major chart entry |
| C3 | May 22, 2020 | FTE / Jacob's Ink / EMPIRE | 35 | #1 on Apple Music R&B Chart |
| JL | May 2, 2025 | Jacob's Ink / CWE Distro | 12 (35 minutes) | Top 20 on Apple Music R&B/Soul Chart as of May 2025 |
