Remembering Lee Thompson Young: Star of Disney’s The Famous Jett Jackson and Member of Kappa Alpha Psi

Lee Thompson Young (1984-2013), best known for his breakout role as the lead character on the Disney Channel series The Famous Jett Jackson, was a proud member of the Beta Omega Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Young discovered his passion for acting at age ten when he portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in A Night of Stars and Dreams, a production by Dwight Woods and the Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theater of Greenville, South Carolina. That early performance set him on a path that would make him a household name.

In 1997, Young auditioned for The Famous Jett Jackson. A year later, in June 1998, Disney Channel selected him for the lead role. The show ran from 1998 to 2001 and made Young one of the most recognizable young Black actors of his generation.

After Disney, Young continued building his career with guest roles on CBS’s The Guardian and a memorable turn as running back Chris Comer in the critically acclaimed film Friday Night Lights (2004). He went on to appear in numerous television series, including Smallville, Scrubs, and FlashForward, before landing a starring role on TNT’s Rizzoli & Islesin 2010.

Tragically, Young’s life was cut short in August 2013 when he was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment at the age of 29. His death was ruled a suicide.

In his memory, Young’s family established the Lee Thompson Young Foundation, dedicated to removing the stigma surrounding mental illness and providing resources for those in need. The foundation continues his legacy of service and advocacy—values he carried as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi.