{{Short description|American actor and rapper (born 2002)}} {{for|the professional boxers|Benjamín Flores|BJ Flores}} {{Infobox person | name = Benjamin Flores Jr. | image = | birth_name = Benjamin Christopher Flores Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|7|24}} | birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | caption = Flores in 2021 at the Los Angeles premiere of ''Fear Street Part One: 1994'' | other_names = {{Flatlist| * Lil' P-Nut * BNJII }} | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|rapper}} | years_active = 2008–present }}
'''Benjamin Christopher Flores Jr.'''<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/iNCJdR0x9ck Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190922223416/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNCJdR0x9ck&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNCJdR0x9ck| title = Game Shakers {{!}} Benjamin Flores Jr. & Cree Cicchino's Nick Stars BFF Challenge {{!}} Nick | website=YouTube| date = 11 May 2017 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> (born July 24, 2002<ref name="Variety-pic">{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/gallery/photos-up-and-coming-young-talent-variety-youth-impact-report/flores-benjamin-jr-2/ | title=Up-and-Coming Young Talent: Variety Youth Impact Report (PHOTOS) – Benjamin Flores Jr. | work=Variety |date=July 24, 2013 | at=thumbnail 8 |access-date=December 6, 2016}}</ref><!-- Turned 11 in 2013 -->), also known as '''BNJII''' (formerly known as '''Lil' P-Nut'''), is an American rapper & actor. Starting out as a child actor, Flores starred as Louie Preston in the Nickelodeon television series ''The Haunted Hathaways'' (2013–2015), and as Triple G in ''Game Shakers'' (2015–2019). Transitioning to dramatic roles, he starred as Eugene Jones in ''Your Honor'' as well as Josh in the ''Fear Street'' trilogy.
==Life and career==
===Music=== Flores was born Benjamin Christopher Flores Jr. on July 24, 2002, in Memphis, Tennessee.<ref name="BET_News" /> Flores first came to wider notice <!-- ...at the Memphis Hip Hop Weekend & Expo, where... - this detail needs a source --> after he was interviewed by the local Memphis Fox 13 television station at age 7. After that interview, he appeared on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'', where he performed his first rap single as Lil' P-Nut, "You Might Be the One for Me";<ref name="memphisparent" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Appearance on Ellen|url=http://www.ellentv.com/2010/11/25/7-year-old-rapper-lil-p-nut/|website=ellentv.com|date=November 25, 2010}}</ref> it was released on September 25, 2010. He then appeared on Cymphonique's song, "All That".<ref name="BET_News" /> His other raps include "Bad Dream" and "Choosin'".{{clarify|reason=Were these released widely publicly? [If so, when?] If not, they made not be notable and should not be included.|date=November 2016}}
===Acting=== Flores appeared in an episode of the TBS sitcom ''Are We There Yet?'', and played Atticus the rapping penguin in the animated film ''Happy Feet 2'', in 2011.<ref name="memphisparent">{{cite web | author=Stephanie Painter | url=http://www.memphisparent.com/article/he%E2%80%99s-got-beat | title=Rapper Lil' P-Nut has caught Hollywood's attention — at age 9 | website=memphisparent.com | date=October 14, 2011 | access-date=December 9, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20111014125153/http://www.memphisparent.com/article/he%E2%80%99s-got-beat | archive-date=October 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Gail Choice | url=http://www.ourweekly.com/arts-and-entertainment/%E2%80%98happy-feet-two%E2%80%99%E2%80%94very-happy | title='Happy Feet Two'—very happy | website=ourweekly.com | date=November 17, 2011 | access-date=December 9, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905124337/http://www.ourweekly.com/arts-and-entertainment/%E2%80%98happy-feet-two%E2%80%99%E2%80%94very-happy | archive-date=September 5, 2012 }}</ref> He made a cameo appearance in Yo Gotti's music video for "Look In The Mirror". Flores appeared in the film ''Ride Along'', which was released in January 2014.<ref name="BET_News">{{cite web|author=Jacob Rohn|url=https://www.bet.com/article/xv01uq/benjamin-lil-p-nut-flores-jr-is-scary-good-in-new-role|title=Benjamin "Lil P-Nut" Flores Jr. Is Scary Good in New Role |work=BET News|date=July 11, 2013|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>
In 2013, Flores was cast in a starring role on the Nickelodeon television series ''The Haunted Hathaways'', playing Louie, a young ghost that resides in the same house with a living family called the Hathaways.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nellie Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/nickelodeon-picks-up-comedy-the-haunted-hathaways-to-series-with-20-episode-order-407650/ |title=Nickelodeon Picks Up Comedy 'The Haunted Hathaways' To Series With 20-Episode Order |website=Deadline.com |date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/07/01/nickelodeon-scares-up-laughs-with-new-live-action-supernatural-comedy-the-haunted-hathaways-premiering-saturday-july-13-at-830-pm-et-pt-220213/20130701nickelodeon01/ |title=Nickelodeon Scares Up Laughs with New Live-Action Supernatural Comedy, "The Haunted Hathaways," Premiering Saturday, July 13, at 8:30 P.M. (ET/PT) |publisher=Nickelodeon |via=The Futon Critic |date=July 1, 2013 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> The show ran two seasons before ending in 2015. He was nominated for Favorite TV Actor at the ''Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards'' in 2014 and 2015 for his role on ''The Haunted Hathaways''.<ref name="KCA-2014" /><ref name="KCA-2015" />
On July 7, 2015, it was announced that Flores would be co-starring in Dan Schneider's newest TV series, ''Game Shakers'', playing the role of Triple G, the son of famous rapper Double G (Kel Mitchell).<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Dan Snierson |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/07/07/kel-mitchell-nickelodeon-game-shakers/ |title=Kel Mitchell returns to Nickelodeon to star in 'Game Shakers' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 7, 2015 |access-date=May 28, 2017 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807124522/https://ew.com/article/2015/07/07/kel-mitchell-nickelodeon-game-shakers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The series was renewed for a third season in November 2016.<ref>{{cite web|author=Denise Petski|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/henry-danger-game-shakers-renewed-nickelodeon-1201855768/|title=Henry Danger & Game Shakers Renewed by Nickelodeon|website=Deadline.com|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref>
On June 13, 2016, Flores was announced as the new voice of Gerald Johanssen in the television movie ''Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/exclusive-hey-arnold-movie-gets-name-hefty-slate-r-238121?|title=Exclusive: Hey Arnold! movie gets a name, hefty slate of returning voice actors|work=The A.V. Club|date=June 13, 2016}}</ref> In 2017, he had a role in the fantasy-action film ''Transformers: The Last Knight''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ethan Anderton|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-the-last-knight-clip/|title=New 'Transformers: The Last Knight' Clip: Isabela Moner Gets Help from an Autobot Ally|work=/Film|date=March 11, 2017|access-date=May 28, 2017|quote=Since this clip played during the Kids’ Choice Awards, it focuses on young new protagonist Izabella (played by Isabela Moner) as she's on the run with Nickelodeon star Benjamin Flores Jr. from some sentries who appear to be on the hunt for some Transformers.}}</ref> In 2018, Flores was cast in the Netflix film ''Rim of the World'', which was released in May 2019.<ref name="RofW">{{cite web |author=Amanda N'Duka |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/director-mcg-netflix-film-rim-of-the-world-cast-1202414461/ |title=McG Assembles Cast For Netflix Film 'Rim of the World' |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=June 20, 2018 |access-date=May 28, 2019}}</ref> In 2021, he starred as Josh in ''The Fear Street Trilogy'', beginning with ''Fear Street Part One: 1994''; the films were released on Netflix.<ref name="FS1">{{cite web|author=Amanda N'Duka|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/fear-street-benjamin-flores-jr-fox-and-chernin-entertainment-r-l-stein-movie-1202574503/|title='Fear Street': Benjamin Flores, Jr. Joins Fox and Chernin Entertainment's R.L. Stine Adaptation|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 12, 2019|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name="FS2">{{cite web|author=Mike Fleming Jr|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/rl-stine-fear-street-movie-trilogy-netflix-chernin-entertainment-leigh-janiak-director-the-summer-of-fear-2021-1203010276/|title=Slot After Landing R.L. Stine 'Fear Street' Movie Trilogy From Disney & Chernin; Leigh Janiak Directed The Trio|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 11, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref> From 2020 to 2021, he also played Eugene Jones in the Showtime television series ''Your Honor'' alongside actors Bryan Cranston and Hunter Doohan.<ref name="Your Honor">{{Cite web|author=Denise Petski|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/your-honor-tony-curran-keith-machekanyanga-lamar-johnson-benjamin-flores-jr-showtime-drama-1202763155/|title='Your Honor': Tony Curran, Keith Machekanyanga, Lamar Johnson & Benjamin Flores Jr. Join Showtime Legal Drama|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 18, 2019|access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref>
==Filmography==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2011 |''Happy Feet Two'' |Atticus |Voice role; as Benjamin "Lil' P-Nut" Flores Jr. |- | rowspan="3" |2014 |''Ride Along'' |Morris |As Benjamin "Lil' P-Nut" Flores |- |''Take Me to the River (2014 film)'' |Himself |As Lil' P-Nut |- |''Santa Hunters'' |Alex | rowspan="2" |Television film |- |2015 |''One Crazy Cruise'' |Nate Bauer |- | rowspan="3" |2017 |''Transformers: The Last Knight'' |Kid | |- |''Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie'' |Gerald Johanssen |Television film; voice role; as Benjamin "Lil' P-Nut" Flores Jr. |- |''Pup Star: Better 2Gether'' |M.C. Bite |Voice role; as Benjamin "Lil' P-Nut" Flores Jr. |- |2019 |''Rim of the World'' |Dariush |Direct-to-video film<ref name="RofW" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2021 |''Fear Street Part One: 1994'' | rowspan="3" |Josh | rowspan="3" |Streaming film<ref name="FS1" /><ref name="FS2" /> |- |''Fear Street Part Two: 1978'' |- |''Fear Street Part Three: 1666'' |- |2023 |''Family Switch'' |Boss |Streaming film |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2013–2015 | ''The Haunted Hathaways'' | rowspan="2" |Louie Preston | Main role; as Benjamin "Lil' P-Nut" Flores Jr. |- | 2014 | ''The Thundermans'' | Crossover episode: "The Haunted Thundermans" |- | 2015–2017 | ''Henry Danger'' | Lil' Biggie/Triple G | Episodes: "The Beat Goes On" "Danger Games" |- | 2015–2019 | ''Game Shakers'' | Triple G | Main role; as Benjamin "Lil' P-Nut" Flores Jr. |- | 2018 | ''The Librarians'' | Freddy | Episode: "And the Hidden Sanctuary" |- | 2020–2022 | ''Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous'' | Brandon Bowman | 8 episodes; voice role |- | 2020–2023 | ''Your Honor'' | Eugene "Little Man" Jones | Recurring role (season 1); main role (season 2)<ref name="Your Honor" /> |- | 2023 | ''Quantum Leap'' | Dwain | Episode: "One Night in Koreatown" |- | 2024 | ''Jurassic World: Chaos Theory'' | Brandon Bowman | Episode: "Aftershock"; voice role |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Refs |- | rowspan=2|2014 | Imagen Awards | rowspan=4|Favorite Young TV Actor | rowspan=3|''The Haunted Hathaways'' | {{Won}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="Imagen-2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.imagen.org/awards/past-imagen-awards-winners/2014-imagen-awards-winners-nominees/|title=2014 Imagen Awards Winners & Nominees|publisher=The Imagen Foundation|year=2014|access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref> |- | Kids' Choice Awards | {{Nom}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="KCA-2014">{{cite web|author=Philiana Ng|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kids-choice-awards-2014-nominees-681858|title=Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards Nominations Revealed|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref> |- | 2015 | Kids' Choice Awards | {{Nom}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="KCA-2015">{{cite web|author=Stephanie Webber|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/kids-choice-awards-2015-complete-list-of-winners-2015283|title=Kids' Choice Awards 2015: Complete List of Winners!|work=Us Weekly|date=March 28, 2015|access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref> |- | 2017 | Kids' Choice Awards | ''Game Shakers'' | {{Nom}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="KCA-2017">{{cite web|author=Dani Levy|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-nominations-2017-full-list-1201975603/|title=Justin Timberlake and Kevin Hart Lead Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards Nominations|work=Variety|date=February 2, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2017}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|4652001}} * {{Discogs artist|Lil P-Nut}} * {{MusicBrainz artist|name=Lil' P-Nut|id=41b2fa76-f038-4f04-8d7e-e5d9e1375bb2}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flores, Benjamin Jr.}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century African-American male actors Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century American male actors Category:African-American male child actors Category:American child musicians Category:American male child actors Category:American male television actors Category:Hispanic and Latino American rappers Category:Nickelodeon people Category:Rappers from Tennessee