Diksha Arya
The TV adaptations of Harlan Coben’s novels have been proven to be quite successful, with ‘Stay Close’, ‘The Stranger’, and ‘Safe’ leaving the audience hooked. Similar is the case with ‘Shelter,’ which follows the story of Mickey Bolitar as he navigates through his new circumstances. Jaden Michael, who essays the character of the protagonist, captured the attention of the audience with his brilliant portrayal and continues to make waves in the entertainment industry with his versatile performances and remarkable talent.
At such a young age, Jaden has garnered a considerable fanbase by showcasing his acting prowess in critically acclaimed movies and shows. One of his standout performances has been in the role of young Colin Kaepernick in ‘Colin in Black & White’, which sheds light on the early years of the former football star and his journey to becoming a prominent activist. Jaden’s immense talent and rising fame have made many curious about his life. If you’re one of them, you’re at the right place. Here is all you need to know!
NYC Native Jaden Michael: Ethnicity and Early Life
Born on October 5, 2003, in New York City, Jaden Michael comes from a family of Dominican Republicans. He spent a huge portion of his early life in New Jersey and Harlem, but the actor says that his heart will always be in the latter, where his family moved when he was just 9. Hailing from NYC, Jaden’s roots have definitely had an impact on the dynamic approach to his craft. He was brought up by a single mother, Clara Caminero, who exposed him to the city’s eclectic blend of cultures. As per reports, she is a former Financial Analyst.
Jaden’s family has been his pillar of support throughout his journey into the world of entertainment, including his uncles, Israel, Cris, and Fidel, who helped him with basketball for his role in ‘Colin in Black & White.’ The 19-year-old finished his primary education at Dwight Global Online School, a coeducational independent school. He is a talented actor who is fluent in English, Spanish, and sign language, which was taught to him by his ‘Wonderstruck’ costar, deaf actress Millicent Simmonds. Jaden also has an interest in the world of fashion and loves putting together weird pieces that normally don’t work together.
Jaden Michael’s Professional Timeline
Jaden Michael’s performance in the role of young Kaepernick in ‘Colin in Black & White’ was highly praised, which is not surprising given the track record of the young actor. At the mere age of 2, he got a modeling contract, after which he signed up with a talent agency and launched his career. A year later, his mom enrolled him in acting classes, and he began booking gigs left and right. He made his short film debut with ‘Love Seat’ in 2009, where he plays the Bumblebee. The same year, Jaden bagged a minor role in ‘Daycare Diaries.’ Jaden also made a brief appearance on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ in 2012 as an Easter Child, followed by a role in the police procedural drama ‘NYC 22’.
However, it was in 2013 when Jaden was first noticed as an actor after he played the role of Ollie in the short film ‘Out There.’ In the same year, he got to voice Baby Jaguar in’Dora the Explorer,’ a character he was obsessed with as a child. In 2016, he had the opportunity to work alongside actress Viola Davis in the indie film ‘Custody’. His performance landed him pivotal roles in the film ‘Wonderstruck’ and the Netflix show ‘The Get Down’. After finding a footing as an actor, Jaden hasn’t looked back. His other credits include ‘Vampires vs. the Bronx,’ ‘Gotham’, ‘Blue Bloods‘, ‘Seed of the Fight’, ‘Penzai.’ and ‘Shelter.’
Even at such a young age, Jaden’s dedication to his craft is admirable. In an interview for A Book Of, he mentioned how he physically prepared for the role of young Kaepernick, saying, “Instead of eating three meals, I would probably eat one or one and a half. I just tried to thin out more than I already was.” He further added, “Once we started shooting I started eating more so I can gain a little bit more weight or eat normally at least. I started lifting weights and also through basketball and baseball training, started to grow a little bit more and I think that made me feel and look bigger and more like an actual football player.”
Jaden Michael is Likely Not Dating Anyone
While Jaden Michael’s professional life is now under the spotlight, his personal life has remained relatively private. From what we know, he is focusing on himself and not dating anyone as of writing. In the aforementioned interview, the young man talked about his love for acting and indicated how he has put all of his attention in honing his skills and furthering his career in the field.
The actor stated, “I love learning and I always love reading. I’ve always loved meeting new people and I’ve always loved mimicking their voices and their personality and their mannerisms. Acting gives me a platform to do it at a morally acceptable level.” So unless he spills the beans on his love life and actually confirm he is seeing someone, we infer that Jaden Michael is enjoying his single life.
Read More: Where is Harlan Coben’s Shelter Filmed?
