Jason Michael Weaver (born July 18, 1979) is an American actor and singer who established himself as a performer during childhood. Also known by the stage name J-Weav, he became recognized for combining television acting with a musical career, moving between family entertainment, sitcoms, feature films, and contemporary R&B.
Weaver was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up around professional music. His mother, Marilyn "Kitty" Haywood, was a singer and member of the Chicago vocal group Kitty & the Haywoods, whose work included backing vocals on the soundtrack to the 1976 film Sparkle. This background helped expose Weaver to both recording and performance at an early age.
His screen career began in the early 1990s. He appeared in the television production Brewster Place and in the feature film The Long Walk Home, but his first major breakthrough came with the 1992 ABC miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. Weaver portrayed the young Michael Jackson, delivering a performance that drew attention for its combination of dramatic control and musical ability. The role earned him a Young Artist Award and firmly established him as one of the most promising young performers of his generation.
In 1993, Weaver joined the cast of the sitcom Thea, playing Jerome Turrell, the son of the title character. The series also featured Brandy Norwood and gave Weaver the opportunity to work in a lighter, ensemble-based format. Although the show had a short run, it added to his visibility at a time when he was becoming a familiar face on American television.
Weaver's most widely recognized musical performance came in Disney's 1994 animated feature The Lion King. He supplied the singing voice for young Simba on "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" and "Hakuna Matata", while JD McCrary provided Simba's speaking voice. The soundtrack became a defining success of the decade, and Weaver's vocal contributions remain among the most enduring parts of his early career.
Motown Records subsequently signed Weaver as a recording artist. His debut album, Love Ambition, was released in 1995 and presented him as an R&B vocalist rather than simply an actor crossing into music. The album included the singles "Love Ambition (Call on Me)" and "I Can't Stand the Pain", both of which appeared on the Billboard R&B chart. A later single, "Stay with Me", continued his association with the label, although Weaver's recording career did not develop into a long series of albums.
He returned to television prominence with the WB sitcom Smart Guy, in which he played Marcus Henderson from 1997 to 1999. The role introduced him to a new audience and demonstrated his ability to sustain a recurring character over several seasons. His later acting work included appearances in Drumline (2002), The Ladykillers (2004), ATL (2006), and Lottery Ticket (2010).
Music remained part of Weaver's career. In 2004, he was featured on Chingy's hit single "One Call Away", which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The collaboration connected his earlier R&B identity with the rap-oriented mainstream sound of the period.
From 2021, Weaver took on the recurring role of Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall in the Showtime drama The Chi. The character's story gave him one of his most substantial adult television roles, allowing him to explore themes of redemption, loyalty, and vulnerability. Weaver was later promoted to the regular cast for the show's eighth season, reinforcing his continuing presence in television after more than three decades in entertainment.