Jake Smollett

Jake Smollett has been active in the entertainment industry for over three decades. He embarked on his career as a model in New York City when he was just three months old. The subsequent year, his family relocated to Los Angeles, and he secured acting roles in ABC’s "Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper" and "On Our Own," a sitcom featuring him and his five real-life siblings. This marked a milestone as the first time an entire family of Black siblings appeared in a scripted series. Smollett later landed numerous film and television roles, including one in the critically acclaimed feature film, "Eve’s Bayou," where he acted alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Lynn Whitfield. Notably, he also played the character Noser in ABC Family's "The Middleman."

As a teenager, Smollett decided to combine his passion for acting with his love for food. At just fifteen years old, he began to make a name for himself in Los Angeles with his family company called Mommy’s Baked Goods, which specialized in delicious vegan treats taken from his mother's own recipes. Smollett continued to develop his culinary skills, from his family roots in New Orleans to pizza and pasta classes in Positano and Naples, he immersed himself in the art of food. His cooking prowess evolved to the point where he began producing his own cooking shows, including a stint on the Food Network's "Smollett Eats," a show where he joined his siblings in cooking family-style meals.

Smollett's culinary journey led him to work out a deal with the Los Angeles Metro system’s TRANSIT TV for his show, "Take Ten," which showed riders how to make any moment great with food while never spending over $10.00. He also showcased his delicious recipes on hit shows such as "The Chew," "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," and "Rachael Ray," where he joined Rachael Ray for cooking segments as a featured resident chef. His culinary expertise extended to being a guest judge on Food Network's "Chopped Junior."

Smollett's love for cooking culminated in the publication of his cookbook, "The Family Table: Recipes & Moments from a Nomadic Life," which he co-authored with his three siblings and was published by Harper Collins. He also co-hosts and executive produces CLEO TV’s "Living By Design with Jake and Jazz." In this show, Smollett showcases his culinary, furniture design, and construction skills, which have contributed to the show securing the number one spot on CLEO TV, a new millennial cable network.

In 2020, Smollett founded a new production company, IronPack Productions. With its emphasis on food and lifestyle shows, he now oversees a full-service production company that produces both unscripted and scripted content.