Jason Michael Weaver (born July 18, 1979), also known by his stage name J-Weav, is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his roles as a child actor, portraying a young Michael Jackson in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, and starring in the television sitcoms Thea (1993–1994) and Smart Guy (1997–1999). He has played the recurring role of Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall in the Showtime drama series The Chi.
His most globally recognized work is providing the singing voice of young Simba in Disney's animated feature film The Lion King (1994). As a recording artist, he was featured on Chingy's 2004 hit single "One Call Away", which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Early life and family
Jason Michael Weaver was born in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Marilyn "Kitty" Haywood, was a member of the Chicago-based female vocal group Kitty & the Haywoods. The group provided backing vocals on Aretha Franklin's soundtrack album for the 1976 film Sparkle. Due to his mother's career, Weaver was exposed to the music industry from a young age. He attended Thornwood High School.
Career
1990–1996: Child stardom and The Lion King
Weaver's acting career began in 1990 with a role in Oprah Winfrey's television drama series Brewster Place. His breakthrough came in 1992 when he was cast to portray the pre-teen version of Michael Jackson in the acclaimed ABC miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. His performance was well received by critics and audiences.
Buoyed by his success, Weaver signed with Motown Records and released his debut studio album, Love Ambition, on June 27, 1995.
1997–2010: Smart Guy and musical collaborations
From 1997 to 1999, Weaver starred as Marcus Henderson, the older brother of child prodigy T.J. Henderson, in the WB sitcom Smart Guy. In 2006, he appeared in a supporting role as Teddy in the coming-of-age film ATL.
2011–present: Later acting roles and The Chi
In his later career, Weaver has continued to act in various films and television series. In 2021, he joined the cast of the Lena Waithe-created Showtime drama series The Chi in a recurring role as Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall. His character was introduced in season 4 and has since become a significant part of the series.
Personal life
Weaver has two sons, Jaylen Zylus Weaver (b. 2002) and River Jeremiah Weaver (b. October 2025).
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details
! scope="col"| Peak chart positions
|-
! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US R&B<br/>
|-
| 1994
| Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series
| Thea (Shared with cast)
|
|
|-
| 1995
| Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Voiceover
| The Lion King
|
|
|}