{{short description|American actor (born 1984)}} {{Infobox person | name = Brandon Hammond | image = | caption = | birth_name = Brandon La Ron Hammond | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|2|6}} | birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1991–2002 (as an actor) }} '''Brandon La Ron Hammond''' (born February 6, 1984) is an American former child actor who appeared in several movie and television roles mainly during the 1990s. He appeared in the feature films ''Waiting to Exhale'' (1995), ''Mars Attacks!'' (1996) and ''Soul Food'' (1997). He won an NAACP Image Award for his work in the latter.
On television, Hammond recurred on Western series ''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' (1996−98) and sitcom ''The Gregory Hines Show'' (1997−98). He earned a Young Artist Award nomination after performing in ''Gregory Hines''. He also played the ten-year-old Michael Jordan in the 1996 family film ''Space Jam''.
Hammond's latest performance was in the television film ''Our America'' (2002). In adulthood, Hammond is a filmmaker who writes and directs short films.
==Early life== Hammond was born as '''Brandon La Ron Hammond'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/hammond-brandon-1984|title=Hammond, Brandon 1984–|website=Encyclopedia.com|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref> on February 6, 1984<ref>{{cite news|date=February 6, 2006|title=Today's Birthdays|page=7A|newspaper=Warsaw Times-Union}}</ref> in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,<ref name="marks">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/21/tv/cover-story-father-sure-but-dancer-in-his-dreams.html|title=COVER STORY; Father, Sure. But Dancer? In His Dreams.|last=Marks|first=Peter|date=September 21, 1997|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref> the son of Alfreda Williams,<ref name="perkins">{{cite news|last=Perkins|first=Ken Parish|date=January 14, 1998|title=Child Actor's Mom Worries About Hollywood's Toll|page=D4|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger}}</ref> who managed her son's acting career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/scene/people-news/players-178-1117780735/|title=Players|last=Loggia|first=Cynthia|date=April 19, 2000|website=Variety|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref>
==Career== He made his acting debut at the age of 6, appearing in commercials for Chevrolet and public service announcements.<ref name="marks"/><ref name="perkins"/> Hammond's first film role was in ''Menace II Society'' (1993) where he played the younger version of the main character Caine.<ref>{{cite book|page=229|title=Magill's Cinema Annual 1994|last=Magill|first=Frank N.|date=October 1994|publisher=Cengage|isbn= 9780893564131}}</ref> He followed this up with roles in ''Strange Days''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6zv5YiyHtYC&dq=%22Brandon+Hammond%22+%22Strange+Days%22&pg=PA111|page=111|title=Screen World 1996|last1=Willis|first1=John|author-link1=John A. Willis|last2=Monush|first2=Barry|date=January 1, 1997|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9781557832528}}</ref> and ''Waiting to Exhale'', both released in 1995. Hammond appeared in the horror anthology ''Tales from the Hood'' (1995) as Walter,<ref>{{cite book|page=168|title=Folklore/Cinema: Popular Film as Vernacular Culture|last1=Koven|first1=Mikel J.|last2=Sherman|first2=Sharon R.|date=September 30, 2007|publisher=Utah State University Press|isbn=9780874216738}}</ref> a young boy who is scared of his abusive stepfather.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gaul|first=Lou|date=May 28, 1995|title='Tales From Hood' more preachy than scary|page=C11|newspaper=Beaver County Times}}</ref> Hammond performed as Marcus Jr. in 1996 television film ''The Road to Galveston''.<ref>{{cite book|page=433|title=Movies Made for Television, 1964-2004: 1990-1999|last=Marill|first=Alvin H.|date=2005|publisher=Scarecrow Press}}</ref>
In 1996, Hammond appeared in three feature films. Hammond portrayed Sean Rayburn in ''The Fan'',<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZg-CgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Brandon+Hammond%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA168|page=168|title=The Baseball Filmography, 1915 Through 2001|edition=2nd|last=Erickson|first=Hal|date=March 23, 2016|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=9781476607856|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)}}</ref> the son of Wesley Snipes' character who is kidnapped by Gil (Robert De Niro).<ref>{{cite news|last=Horwitz|first=Jane|date=August 23, 1996|title='House' not an arresting effort|page=2-B|newspaper=The Daily News}}</ref> He played Neville Williams in Tim Burton's ''Mars Attacks!''<ref>{{cite book|page=117|title=The Nevada Filmography: Nearly 600 Works Made in the State, 1897 Through 2000|last=DuVal|first=Gary|date=July 29, 2002|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=9780786412716}}</ref> and was a young Michael Jordan in ''Space Jam''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/20/movies/space-jam-michael-jordan.html|title='Space Jam,' My Dad and Me|last=Marsh|first=Calum|date=July 20, 2021|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref>
Hammond portrayed the character of Ahmad in ''Soul Food'' (1997).<ref>{{cite magazine|date=15 December 1997|title=Hottest Child Stars on TV and in the Movies|magazine=Jet|volume=93|issue=4|pages=60–64|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsQDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Brandon+Hammond%22&pg=PA60|access-date=24 February 2016}}</ref> His performance in this film was well received, with critics describing Hammond as the film's standout actor,<ref>{{cite news|last=Philpot|first=Robert|date=September 25, 1997|title='Soul Food' leaves big soapy aftertaste|page=4-B|newspaper=The Daily News}}</ref> a natural<ref>{{cite news|last=Pendleton|first=Tonya|date=September 26, 1997|title=This film is food for the soul|page=18C|newspaper=Boca Raton News}}</ref> and having talent that "far surpasses his age."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newspapers.bc.edu/cgi-bin/bostonsh?a=d&d=bcheights19970929.2.77&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22Brandon+Hammond%22------|title=Soul Food cooks up a universal tale of family|page=27|newspaper=The Heights|last=Lane|first=Katherine|date=September 29, 1997}}</ref> He was awarded the NAACP Image Award in 1998 for Outstanding Youth Actor as Ahmad.<ref name="naacp">{{cite news|date=February 17, 1998|title='Soul Food' awarded 5 NAACP Image Awards|page=9B|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald}}</ref>
He had a recurring role on the television series ''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' during its final two seasons, playing the character of Anthony, an adopted son of Grace and Robert E.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 1, 1997|title=Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman|page=D6|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger}}</ref> Hammond continued playing the role until Anthony was killed off.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kwsVEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Brandon+Hammond%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA187|page=187|title=Race in American Television: Voices and Visions that Shaped a Nation|last1=Leonard|first1=David J.|first2=Stephanie|last2=Troutman Robbins|date=January 26, 2021|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781440843068}}</ref> Hammond played the role of Gregory Hines' son, Matty Stevenson, in the short-lived sitcom ''The Gregory Hines Show'' (1997−98).<ref>{{cite news|last=Huff|first=Richard|date=January 16, 1998|title=Son is shining on 'The Gregory Hines Show'|newspaper=Rome News-Tribune}}</ref> A reviewer for ''The New York Times'' opined Hines and Hammond had good chemistry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/15/arts/new-tv-season-in-review-111198.html|title=NEW TV SEASON IN REVIEW|last=Joyner|first=Will|date=September 15, 1997|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref> In 1998, Hammond received two nominations for an Young Artist Award and YoungStar Award in recognition of his acting on ''Gregory Hines''.
Hammond guest starred on various series during the 1990s and early 2000s, including ''Coach'', ''Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'', ''Dave's World'', ''Early Edition''<ref>{{cite book|page=1815|title=Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Television shows|last=Lentz|first=Harris M.|date=2001|publisher=McFarland & Company}}</ref> and ''The West Wing''. He appeared in crime drama ''Blue Hill Avenue'' (2001).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8NJbCQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Brandon+Hammond%22+%22Blue+Hill+Avenue%22&pg=PA66|page=66|last1=Berry|first1=S. Torriano|last2=Berry|first2=Venise T.|date=May 7, 2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442247024|edition=2nd|title=Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema|author-link1=S. Torriano Berry|author-link2=Venise T. Berry}}</ref> Hammond's last role to date was Lloyd Newman in the 2002 Showtime film ''Our America''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Crook|first=John|date=July 27, 2002|title=Sundance hit chronicles an inspirational NPR experiment|page=8D|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner}}</ref> He received his third Young Artist Award nomination for acting in ''Our America''.
When Hammond was 13 years old, he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Castleman disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/former-child-star-reveals-super-rare-disease-made-him-quit-acting-11819985|title=Former child star reveals 'super rare' disease forced him to quit acting: 'Told not to talk about it'|last=Shewfelt|first=Raechal|date=September 26, 2025|website=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref>
Following the end of his acting career, Hammond attended Saddleback College, where he submitted a student film titled ''Summer Blame'' (2006). His film was nominated at the Newport Beach Film Festival.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAR20060411.2.31&srpos=1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22Brandon+Hammond%22-------1|title=Student film focuses on teens in trouble|last=Sollberger|first=Nicole|date=April 11, 2006|page=8|newspaper=The Lariat}}</ref> Hammond wrote the short film ''Amaru'', which received the award for best screenwriting at the John Singleton Short Film Competition in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lasentinel.net/john-singleton-short-film-competition-winners.html|title=John Singleton Short Film Competition Winners|date=March 5, 2020|website=Los Angeles Sentinel|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/soul-food-25-see-the-cast-then-and-now/|title='Soul Food' Turns 25: See The Film's Cast Then And Now|last=Jones|first=Okla|date=September 27, 2022|website=Essence|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref>
==Filmography==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1993 |''Menace II Society'' |Young Caine Lawson | |- |1995 |''Tales from the Hood'' |Walter Johnson |Segment: "Boys Do Get Bruised" |- |1995 |''Strange Days'' |Zander | |- |1995 |''Waiting to Exhale'' |John Harris Jr. | |- |1996 |''The Fan'' |Sean Rayburn | |- |1996 |''Space Jam'' |Young Michael Jordan | |- |1996 |''Mars Attacks!'' |Neville Williams | |- |1997 |''Soul Food'' |Ahmad Joseph | |- |2001 |''Blue Hill Avenue'' |Young E-Bone | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1993 |''Lies and Lullabies'' |Kenny |Television film |- |1994 |''Coach'' |Charles Williams |Episode: "Blue Chip Blues" |- |1996–1998 |''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' |Anthony |7 episodes |- |1997–1999 |''The Gregory Hines Show'' |Matty Stevenson |21 episodes |- |1998 |''Early Edition'' |Jesse |Episode: "Hot Day in the Old Town" |- |2000 |''The West Wing'' |Jeffrey Morgan |Episode: "The White House Pro-Am" |- |2002 |''Our America'' |Lloyd Newman |Television film |}
===Home video=== * 1994 ''Mickey's Fun Songs: Campout at Walt Disney World''
==Awards and nominations== {| Class="wikitable" |+Awards |- ! Year ! Result ! Award ! Category ! Nominated work |- |1998 |{{won}} |NAACP Image Awards |Outstanding Youth Actor<ref name="naacp"/> |rowspan=2|''Soul Food'' |- |1998 |{{nom}} |rowspan=2|Young Artist Awards |Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor<ref name="youngartist">{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms19.htm|title=Nineteenth Annual Youth in Film Awards|website=Young Artist Awards|access-date=October 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222144713/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms19.htm|archive-date=December 22, 2016}}</ref> |- |1998 |{{nom}} |Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Supporting Young Actor<ref name="youngartist"/> |rowspan=2|''The Gregory Hines Show'' |- |1998 |{{nom}} |rowspan=2|YoungStar Awards |Best Young Actor in a Comedy TV Series<ref name="youngstar">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nominations+for+the+3rd+Annual+Hollywood+Reporter+YoungStar+Awards.-a053015735|title=Nominations for the 3rd Annual Hollywood Reporter YoungStar Awards.|date=September 17, 1998|website=The Free Library|access-date=October 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004424/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nominations+for+the+3rd+Annual+Hollywood+Reporter+YoungStar+Awards.-a053015735|archive-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref> |- |1998 |{{nom}} |Best Young Actor in a Drama Film<ref name="youngstar"/> |''Soul Food'' |- |2003 |{{nom}} |Young Artist Awards |Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Young Actor |''Our America''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms24.htm|title=Twenty-Fourth Annual Young Artist Awards|website=Young Artist Awards|access-date=October 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204172303/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms24.htm|archive-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref> |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0358650|name=Brandon Hammond}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammond, Brandon}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century African-American male actors Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century African-American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:African-American male child actors Category:American male child actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Saddleback College alumni Category:People with Castleman disease