BHS Alum Jamal Henderson to Play Jermaine Jackson in "Michael" Film Debuting this Weekend
By Julie Perine on April 23, 2026
As a student at Bridgeport High School, Jamal Henderson was known for his academic and athletic success. Twenty years later, he’s an actor on the big screen.
Henderson, who now resides in LA, plays Jermaine Jackson in the anticipated blockbuster, “Michael,” which debuts in theaters and on IMAX this Friday, April 24. The film is a cinematic portrayal of Michael Jackson's life on and off stage and highlights some of his early-career iconic performances from "The Jackson Five" frontman to his dynamic solo artist.
The opportunity to audition for the role of Jermaine came at what he considers a “divine timing kind of moment.”
“Work had been its slowest for me since 2020 when the audition came to me in June of 2023,” he said. “And right before I was contemplating getting an additional side job, the audition for ‘Michael’ came.”
He did plenty of research to prepare for his role.
“I watched a lot of (Jermaine's) interviews from the time period - as much footage as I could find to catch his mannerisms, the way he spoke, also the way he performed both as a young Jackson as well as further into his career as an adult and solo artist to see how he evolved,” Henderson said. “I practically slept with the bass guitar next to me and played all of his music for days on end. As I’m portraying a public figure, I don't want to be an imitation of him, but I tried my best to find his essence and use myself to express that as best as I could.”
Since the story is about Michael's journey to becoming the icon he is, Henderson's role is not a large one in the context of the film, he said. But the relationship of the brothers certainly contributed to who the Jacksons were as a family unit, not just their stardom.
There’s so much Henderson likes about the “Michael” film project – the costumes and fashions of the era, the months of rehearsal, learning to play bass guitar, vocal lessons with amazing instructors and choreographers who actually worked with Michael Jackson.
“It was also great being able to be on location at the family estate house where the family lived in Los Angeles and 
meeting most of the family themselves, including the patriarch, Ms. Katherine Jackson, as well as working with Antoine Fuqua, who’s one of my favorite directors, and Graham King, who produced the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic.”
meeting most of the family themselves, including the patriarch, Ms. Katherine Jackson, as well as working with Antoine Fuqua, who’s one of my favorite directors, and Graham King, who produced the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic.”
Those who knew Henderson at BHS from 2002 to 2006 share their memories of him.
Former guidance counselor, Mickey Gerba, said she recalls his extreme respect, polite ways. and athletic prowess.
Dennis Hutson, who was the assistant basketball coach for the Indians when Henderson played, said his athleticism was notable.
“As an athlete, he had tremendous energy. He had what we call a really good motor,” said Hutson. “He was on the top of our full-court press, and he made our presses so much better because of his energy.”
Henderson was just as valuable to the team off the court.
“He was such a pleasant young man, always smiling and always happy – just a good guy to have in your locker room,” Hutson said. “Guys like that make your team have good chemistry.”
The former BHS coach said Henderson was disciplined and it was obvious 20 years ago that he would be a successful adult.
“I knew he could do anything he wanted in life because of his desire,” Hutson said.
Patrick Oliverio was a classmate and basketball teammate.
“Jamal was honestly one of the kindest-hearted kids at BHS. He was very softspoken and a super nice dude,” he said. “He was always well dressed and getting good grades; just an all-around good guy.”
Oliverio describes Henderson as a “freak athlete.”
“We played a lot of basketball together and he was one of those players you knew when he came into the game, he would be guarding the other team’s best player and doing a good job of it.”
Oliverio learned of Henderson’s acting career and casting in “Michael” from his social media pages.
“It was kind of surprising when I saw it, but after thinking about it and about how he was kind of funny, I think it’s a good fit for him,” he said.
When he was at BHS, Henderson did have big athletic aspirations.
“I wanted to go to the NBA; that was my first athletic dream,” he said. “I loved and still love basketball, so I definitely had visions of one day playing (professionally), but I knew I had a way to go if I was going to make that happen.”
But then he fell in love with track and field; first running for BHS then earning a scholarship to Tennessee State after walking onto the team as a college sophomore. While at TSU, he studied Architectural and Civil Engineering.
While focusing on school and track, he became interested in modeling and acting.
“My first acting job was a commercial in 2012 for Samsung with the TV show ‘Nashville,’” he said. “Before that, I did some background work on a couple of movies that filmed in Nashville, but that commercial was my first time seeing an actor up close working in that environment.”
After experiencing that, Henderson said he wanted to learn more about acting and its craft beyond the one theater class he had taken his freshman year at BHS.
He appeared in commercials for AT&T, Hyundai, Cadillac, Nespresso, and an independent feature that is still on Tubi called "South Central Love.”
He relocated to LA in 2014, after signing with a modeling agency.
Still an athlete at heart, Henderson continues to look for ways to push his body.
“That’s how I ended up getting into kickboxing over the last five to six years,” he said.
He also enjoys playing bass now, as well as reading, hiking, taking road trips, visiting museums and gardens and his newest passion, learning to play golf.
To see the trailer and movie times, visit Cinemark Cinema HERE.
