1. Overview
Jeremy Steven Suarez is an American actor, born on July 6, 1990. He is widely recognized for his role as Jordan Thomkins in the popular television series The Bernie Mac Show, which aired from 2001 to 2006. Additionally, he gained significant recognition for his voice work as Koda in the animated Disney films Brother Bear (2003) and its sequel, Brother Bear 2 (2006). Suarez began his acting career as a child actor at the age of five, making his debut in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire. Throughout his career, he has received several accolades, including nominations for two NAACP Image Awards, two Young Artist Awards, and an Annie Award. After the conclusion of The Bernie Mac Show, Suarez faced challenges in finding consistent acting work, leading him to explore other professions before returning to acting in voice-over roles and supporting film appearances.
2. Early Life and Background
Jeremy Suarez's early life and the commencement of his acting career laid the foundation for his later success in Hollywood.
2.1. Birth and Family
Jeremy Steven Suarez was born on July 6, 1990. He is of African and Cuban descent, reflecting a diverse ethnic heritage. Suarez is the oldest of three siblings.
2.2. Beginning of Early Career
Suarez began his acting career at a very young age, making his debut as a child actor when he was five years old. His first notable appearance was as Tyson Tidwell in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, where he portrayed the son of Rod Tidwell. Following this film debut, Suarez transitioned into television, appearing in various series. He was cast as Ryce Watkins in the short-lived sitcom Built to Last in 1997, where he played the youngest son in a family of seven. He also made guest appearances on other sitcoms, including Sister, Sister in 1996 and The Wayans Bros. in 1998. Furthermore, he held a recurring role as Raymond Wilkes on the medical drama Chicago Hope from 1996 to 1998.
3. Career
Jeremy Suarez's professional acting career progressed from significant breakthrough roles in television and film to periods of professional challenge and diversification into other fields.
3.1. Early Career and Major Roles
At the age of eight, Suarez joined the cast of the popular sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001 to 2006. In the series, he played Jordan Thomkins, the nephew of the titular character, Bernie Mac. His portrayal of Jordan earned him two nominations for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
In addition to his television work, Suarez gained widespread recognition for his voice acting. He lent his voice to the character of Koda, a bear cub whose mother was killed by the protagonist, in the Disney animated film Brother Bear (2003). His performance as Koda was highly praised, with one book author considering it the best in the film. For this role, Suarez received an Annie Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production, though he ultimately lost to Ellen DeGeneres. He reprised his role as Koda in the direct-to-video sequel, Brother Bear 2, released in 2006.
In 2004, Suarez appeared in two feature films. He provided the voice of Russell in an animated sequence within the film Fat Albert and also portrayed Li'l Gawain in The Ladykillers.
3.2. Later Career and Challenges
Following the conclusion of The Bernie Mac Show, Jeremy Suarez encountered difficulties in securing consistent acting roles. This period led him to seek employment outside the entertainment industry, including working as a boilermaker.
Despite these challenges, Suarez continued to pursue acting, primarily focusing on voice-over work and supporting roles. He made guest appearances on King of the Hill and voiced a puppet in Nike commercials during the 2009 NBA Playoffs. In 2012, he provided the voice of Kai in the animated feature film Zambezia. In 2014, Suarez appeared in Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, where he played Cooper Folly, the sidekick to the titular character. His most recent known role was as Nathaniel in The Fix (2017).
4. Awards and Nominations
Jeremy Suarez has been recognized for his acting contributions with several awards and nominations throughout his career.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | The Bernie Mac Show | Nominated |
| 2004 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| BET Comedy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actor | Nominated | ||
| Annie Award | Outstanding Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production | Brother Bear | Nominated | |
| Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role - Young Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2005 | BET Comedy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | The Bernie Mac Show | Nominated |
5. Personal Life
Jeremy Suarez's personal background includes his diverse ethnic heritage and religious upbringing. He is of African and Cuban descent. He was raised within the Muslim religion.
6. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Jerry Maguire | Tyson Tidwell | |
| 1998 | Susan's Plan | Kevin | |
| 2001 | The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze | Tippy | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2002 | Treasure Planet | Alien Kid, additional voices | Voice (deleted scenes) |
| 2003 | Brother Bear | Koda | Voice |
| 2004 | The Ladykillers | Li'l Gawain | |
| Fat Albert | Russell | Voice | |
| 2005 | Room to Grow | Teasel | Short |
| 2006 | Brother Bear 2 | Koda | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2008 | Extreme Movie | RJ | |
| 2012 | Zambezia | Kai | Voice |
| 2014 | Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie | Cooper Folly | |
| 2017 | The Fix | Nathaniel |
7. Televisionography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Sister, Sister | Little Boy | Episode: Kid-Napped |
| 1996-98 | Chicago Hope | Raymond Wilkes | 6 episodes |
| 1997 | Built to Last | Ryce Watkins | 8 episodes |
| 1998 | The Wayans Bros. | Dexter | Episode: The Son of Marlon |
| 1998 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Ryan | Episode: Local Hero |
| 2000 | MADtv | Cowboy Trick or Treater | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Max Steel | Nuebert | Voice, episode: "Fun in the Sun" |
| 2001-06 | The Bernie Mac Show | Jordan Thomkins | 104 episodes |
| 2002 | Hey Arnold! | Scared Boy | Voice, episode: "The Journal" |
| 2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Wally | Voice, television film |
| 2007-08 | King of the Hill | Arrow Kid #1, Jack | Voice, 3 episodes |