Life and times of Joel Smollett: Age, family, cause of death, net worth
Joel Smollett is best known as the patriarch of the Smollett family. Although he was not in the limelight most of his life, he is revered as the foundation upon which his famous children were raised. Joel motivated and supported his kids to pursue careers in the entertainment industry.
Source: UGC
Joel Smollett built a close-knit family that supported each other to become stars. His legacy lives on through his children, who often state how instrumental he was in their lives. Discover exciting details about the celebrity dad in this post.
Joel Smollett's profile summary and bio
| Full name | Joel Smollett |
| Nickname | Joel |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | October 8, 1956 |
| Date of demise | January 7, 2015 |
| Age at death | 58 years old |
| Birthplace | Russia |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Height in feet | 5'7" |
| Height in centimetres | 170 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Marital status | Married until death |
| Wife | Janet Smollett |
| Children | 6 |
| Parents | Peter Smollett and Molly Hirschenson |
| Siblings | 1 |
| Profession | Former civil rights champion and cable splicer |
How old was Joel Smollett?
Source: UGC
Joel Smollett (aged 58 at the time of his death) was born on October 8, 1956. His zodiac sign is Libra.
What is Joel Smollett's nationality?
The former civil rights champion held American nationality. He was born in Russia and spent some of his early years in Poland. Joel's family then migrated to the United States of America when he was in his late teens.
What happened to Joel Smollett?
Joel Smollett's cause of death was cancer. However, his family preferred keeping details about the type of cancer he had under wraps. The celebrity dad heroically fought the disease to the end. Before his passing, Joel's children spent time with him and provided the best medical care.
Joel Smollett's wife
The late cable splicer was married to Janet until his demise. The duo met in the Bay Area as they were championing civil rights and married in their twenties. Their union was blessed with six children, four sons and two daughters. Interestingly, Joel Smollett's children are renowned on-screen stars who have starred in various films and TV shows. They are Jojo, Jazz, Jussie, Jurnee, Jake and Jocqui.
Source: Getty Images
Jojo
Born on August 28 1977, Jojo is the firstborn of the family. He is an on-screen star and producer with six acting credits.
Jazz
She is the second-born and first daughter of the family. Jazz produced the 29th Annual Trumpet Awards and the Urban One Honors in 2021. She has three acting credits.
Jussie
Jussie is inarguably the most famous child in the family because he has appeared in over 20 films and television shows. He is the third born in the home.
Jurnee
Jurnee was born on October 1 1986 and is the second daughter and fourth-born of the family. She has starred in numerous films and television series and has two producer credits.
Jake
He is the fifth child in the family. Besides acting, he is a celebrity chef, television host and best-selling cookbook author.
Jocqui
Jocqui has appeared in Amanda's Return (2009) and Pitch This (2009). Unlike his siblings, Jocqui does not like being in the limelight. He is into tech, real estate investment, and public speaking.
Source: UGC
How rich was Jussie Smollett's dad?
Joel Smollett's net worth has never been disclosed to date. On the other hand, all his children have accumulated wealth through successful acting careers. For this reason, several online sources speculate that being the father of famous kids, he must have collected a decent amount.
Joel Smollett is tagged as the struggling father who gave his best to raise his children and make their lives better. Today, his family is famously known for impacting the global entertainment scene. He passed away in early 2015, leaving behind his wife and six successful kids.
READ ALSO: Where is Jamar Jakes? The inside story of T.D. Jakes' son
Briefly published intriguing facts about Jamar Jakes, an American celebrity son. Jamar is famous for being the eldest child of renowned author T.D. Jakes and his wife, Serita Jakes. T.D. Jakes is undoubtedly one of the most influential preachers in the world.
T.D. owns a Dallas-based megachurch, The Potter's House, and continues to spread the Gospel of Christ worldwide. In the mid-2000s, T.D. Jakes's son gave his parents a scare when he suffered several heart attacks.
Source: Briefly News
