Who else is already obsessed with “Empire”? Two episodes in (the third will air tonight) and the plot line is already thick as a block of cheese and keeps us glued to the screen. And while there’s so much to learn and know about the cast of characters known as the Lyon family, there’s also a great deal to know and learn about the cast in real life. Here are 11 interesting factoids about the stars of “Empire.”
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Lee Daniels’ Connection To Prince
Daniels got his start in the business as a casting director. Interesting enough, he was the casting director for Prince’s classic, Purple Rain, as well as the Purple One’s other film, Under The Cherry Moon (underrated!).
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Taraji P. Henson’s First On-Screen Role
Before getting Academy Award nominations and taking over Hollywood as Cookie Lyon, Henson’s first role was on “Smart Guy.” She played a 16-year-old student…even though she was actually a 26-year-old at the time.
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Terrence Howard’s Faith
Howard and first wife Lori McCommas raised their children to be Jehovah’s Witnesses, even though neither one of them was a Jehovah’s Witness. McCommas was Jewish, and as for Howard, he has a great deal of appreciation for the denomination, but said in an interview with NPR in 2007 that he struggles with it because he often wants to do things that aren’t in line with the faith:
“I’m like most people in the world. I’m a little selfish in what I want. I like doing my thing, my way. In my heart, I wanted to be a Witness. If it wasn’t for the smoking of cigarettes and all … I would be a Witness.
Sometimes it takes awhile to be able to qualify. You have to qualify to run in the race. I’m exercising.”
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Jussie Smollett’s Family Ties
Name sound familiar? That’s because Smollett, who plays Jamal Lyon, the talented but ostracized gay son of Lucious, is the older brother of actress Jurnee Smollett. Along with their siblings Jake, Jazz, Jojo and Jocqui, Jussie and Jurnee co-starred together on the short-lived ABC show, “On Our Own.” The show was about siblings who lose their parents and are raised by their eldest brother so that social services won’t split them up. It was a comedy though!
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Bryshere Gray’s Musical Background
“Empire” is actually Bryshere Gray’s first acting role, because the star, who plays cocky Hakeem Lyon, was focused on trying to make it in music just about a week ago (“week agooooo” *in a Bobby Shmurda voice*). The rapper out of Philly performed at Budweiser’s Made In America festival in 2013, and to get his gig as Hakeem, Gray had to spit a verse like this:
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Trai Byers’ Soap-Filled Past
The Yale School of Drama graduate and Selma star, who plays uptight eldest son Andre Lyon, got his start in daytime soaps before trying his hand at the primetime soap that is “Empire.” Byers played the recurring character of Mookie on ABC’s now-defunct but long-running soap, “All My Children.”
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Grace Gealey Is A Caribbean Queen
Gealey, who plays the ever so annoying new love of Lucious Lyon, Anika Calhoun, was born and raised in the Cayman Islands. Caymanians stand up! She didn’t come to the States until she decided to attend the University of South Florida. She spoke about how very few actors and actresses come out of the Caymans:
“I never thought of the acting field because of the fact that it’s not a profession that was widely pursued by a woman in the Cayman Islands. It wasn’t that I thought ‘yes, acting is what I want to do.’ I just knew that I liked to perform and I love to express myself through art. As I got older I realized that was acting and that I loved performing. It wasn’t until I actually went to school at the University of South Florida, until I realized that in order to make this a profession; this is what I would have to do to pursue it.”
Rafael de la Fuente Is A Venezuelan TV Star
Before playing Michael, the boo of Andre, de la Fuente was doing big things abroad. He is a big Venezuelan actor who starred on shows like “Mas Sabe el Diablo” and a show called “Grachi,” about a teenage witch.
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Acting Is In Kaitilin Doubleday’s Blood
Doubleday, who plays Rhonda Lyon, the calculated wife of eldest son, Andre, was born to parents who are professional actors as well. Her father, Frank Doubleday, was a star in Assault on Precinct 13 and Escape From New York, which also stars Kurt Russell. Her mother, Christina Hart, has been in many films and TV shows over the years, including The Stewardesses and “Murder, She Wrote.” Kaitlin’s sister, Portia, is also an actress, recently seen in the films Her, and the Carrie remake.
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Malik Yoba Made History, And You Didn’t Even Realize It
Before he was playing Lucious Lyon’s business partner, Vernon Turner, Malik Yoba’s starring role as Detective J.C. Williams on “New York Undercover” made history. Alongside co-star Michael DeLorenzo, the show was the first cop drama to feature two people of color in both leading roles.
Extra credit: Did you know Yoba was born Abdul-Malik Kashie Yoba and was raised Sunni Muslim in Harlem? The more you know!
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Gabourey Sidibe Was…Or Still Is…An ‘N Sync Stan
The star, who plays Lucious’ assistant, Becky, was probably one of ‘N Sync’s biggest fans. Homegirl has loved the group since she was young, and has been to 23 of their concerts. Her fandom is so real that she was invited to and attended Lance Bass’ wedding.
