{{Short description|Canadian actor (1991–2021)}} {{more citations needed|date=March 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Jahmil French | birth_date = {{birth date|1991|07|29}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|3|1|1991|7|29|mf=yes}} | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2009–2019 }} '''Jahmil French''' (July 29, 1991 – March 1, 2021) was a Canadian actor, most noted for his role as Dave Turner in ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' (2009–2013).
==Early life== Jahmil French was born on July 29, 1991 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to an African-Caribbean couple. He went to Vradenburg Elementary School, where he performed in the play "Name of the tree" based on an illustrated book. He attended the Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Scarborough, Ontario.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Jahmil French, star of Degrassi: The Next Generation and Soundtrack, dead at 29 {{!}} CBC News|language=en-US|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jahmil-french-dead-1.5933793|access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref>
He was an only child.
== Career == French made his television debut in 2009, guest starring on the CTV/CBS police procedural series ''Flashpoint''. The episode would earn him a Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor 14 and Over nomination at the Young Artist Awards.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Young Artist Awards (2010) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000716/2010/1/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=IMDb}}</ref>
From 2009 to 2013, French starred as Dave Turner on the Much/TeenNick teen drama series ''Degrassi: The Next Generation''. During his time on the show, he earned a nomination from the Canadian Screen Awards for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-03 |title=Remembering 'Degrassi' Star Jahmil French |url=https://www.essence.com/news/remembering-jahmil-french/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Essence |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2014, he starred alongside Nia Long in the American legal drama ''The Divide''.<ref name=":2" />
In 2016, he joined the cast of the television series ''The Infamous'' as Luke Ward, however the series was passed on by A&E. It was not picked up by any other network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2016-03-02 |title=ABC's 'Designated Survivor' Casts LaMonica Garrett; Jahmil French Joins A&E's 'The Infamous' |url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/designated-survivor-lamonica-garret-jahmil-french-the-infamous-1201712662/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2016-06-17 |title='The Infamous' Pilot Not Going Forward at A&E, May Be Shopped Elsewhere |url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/the-infamous-pilot-dead-ae-shopped-1201774885/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
He appeared in Pop TV's 2018 series ''Let's Get Physical'' as Snacks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aquilina |first=Tyler |date=2 March 2021 |title='Degrassi' star Jahmil French dies at 29 |url=https://ew.com/tv/degrassi-star-jahmil-french-dies/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}</ref>
French was in the film ''Boost'', for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 6th Canadian Screen Awards and as well as at the Prix Iris in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 March 2021 |title=Jahmil French, star of Degrassi: The Next Generation and Soundtrack, dead at 29 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jahmil-french-dead-1.5933793 |access-date=March 2, 2021 |work=CBC |language=en-US |quote=}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2018-04-22 |title=Boost Nominated for 8 Iris Awards (Quebec Cinema Awards) |url=https://www.bunburyfilms.com/news/2018/4/22/boost-nominated-for-8-iris-awards-quebec-cinema-awards |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Bunbury Films |language=en-US}}</ref>
His final TV role was in Netflix's musical drama series ''Soundtrack'' as ex-felon Dante Sands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bosselman |first=Haley |date=2021-03-02 |title='Degrassi' Actor Jahmil French Dies at 29 |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/jahmil-french-dead-degrassi-1234919815/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Death == French died on March 1, 2021, at the age of 29. Neither the circumstances nor the cause of his death were disclosed.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://deadline.com/2021/03/jahmil-french-dead-degrassi-the-next-generation-actor-was-29-1234704994/|title = Jahmil French Dies: 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' Actor was 29|work = Deadline Hollywood|date = March 2, 2021|accessdate = March 2, 2021|last = Petski|first = Denise}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mauch |first=Ally |date=2 March 2021 |title=Degrassi: The Next Generation Star Jahmil French Dead at Age 28: 'Truly One of a Kind' |url=https://people.com/tv/jahmil-french-dead-degrassi-star-was-29/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref>
=== Legacy === In 2021, the Armstrong Acting studio announced the "Jahmil French Legacy" scholarship in memory of French and his work with the studio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SCHOLARSHIPS |url=https://www.armstrongactingstudios.com/scholarships |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=armstrongacting |language=en}}</ref>
At its inaugural ceremony in 2022, the Legacy Awards introduced the Jahmil French award. The award is meant to recognize rising Black stars in Canadian media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alleyne |first=Ainara |date=26 Sep 2022 |title=Behind the scenes at the 1st Legacy Awards celebrating Black Canadian talent |url=https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/behind-the-scenes-at-the-first-legacy-awards-celebrating-black-canadian-tal |access-date=8 March 2024 |website=CBS Kids News}}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role !Notes |- |2012 |''Jamestown'' |Duane |Short film |- |2013 |''Detention'' |Jeremy |Short film |- |2016 |''Boost'' | Anthony "A-Mac" Macdonald | |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |''At First Light'' |Nathan | |- |''TMI Crossing the Threshold'' |James Langston | |- |2019 |''Dalia'' |Rock |Short film |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2009 |''Flashpoint'' |Matt Medeiros |Episode: "Exit Wounds" |- |2009–2010 |''Degrassi: Minis'' | rowspan="2" |Dave Turner |7 episodes |- |2009–2013 |''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' |Main cast |- | rowspan="3" |2014 |data-sort-value="Divide, The" | ''The Divide'' |Trey Page |7 episodes |- |data-sort-value="Day Late and a Dollar Short, A" | ''A Day Late and a Dollar Short'' |Dingus | rowspan="3" |TV film |- |''Rocky Road'' |Razor |- | rowspan="2" |2015 |''Lead with Your Heart'' |Jackson |- |''Remedy'' |PJ Byrd |7 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |2016 |''Incorporated'' |Spider |Episode: "Cost Containment" |- |data-sort-value="Night Before Halloween, The" | ''The Night Before Halloween'' |Kyle |TV film |- |2018 |''Let's Get Physical'' |Snacks |7 episodes |- |2019 |''Soundtrack'' |Dante Mendoza |10 episodes |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref. |- |2010 |Young Artist Awards |Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor 14 and Over |''Flashpoint'' (Episode'': "Perfect Storm"'') |{{Nominated}} |<ref name=":1" /> |- |2013 | rowspan="2" |Canadian Screen Awards |Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series |''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' (Episode: ''"Smash Into You"'') |{{Nominated}} |<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=McGinn |first=Dave |date=2018-03-01 |title=Canadian award nominations mark career milestone for young Boost stars |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/canadian-award-nomination-gives-young-boost-star-a-leg-up/article38167271/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role | rowspan="2" |''Boost'' |{{Nominated}} |<ref name=":4" /> |- |Prix Iris |Best Performance by an Actor in Supporting Role |{{Nominated}} |<ref name=":3" /> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|3457380}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:French, Jahmil}} Category:1991 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Place of birth missing Category:Black Canadian male actors Category:Canadian male child actors Category:Canadian male film actors Category:Canadian male television actors Category:Male actors from Toronto
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