PHOTO BY LINSEY ROMINE LEWELLYN
e v i t a e g r n C Coupli ANDRE JACKSON & C.J. KIRKLAND
ndre Jackson and C.J. Kirkland are a really cool couple with exciting careers. Google them and you’ll see why. Married for eight years, these two have managed to balance family life with their busy careers in the spotlight. Thanks to roles in the military and the arts, this savvy, smart and talented couple has created a full, well-lived life; and while C.J. and Andre have an international background and have traveled the world, they love calling Memphis their home. “We have lived in all major cities across the country, and we love Memphis and appreciate what it has to offer,” C.J. says, adding this is a great city to raise their six-year-old son, Luke, and two Cairn Terrier dogs. Andre is an actor, currently appearing as a recurring co-star on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, and guest stars on the new Netflix Marvel series Luke Cage. He was cast in 2005 as an ensemble member for the U.S. national touring
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS
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By Lesley Harris Colvett; photography by Linsey Romine Lewellyn & Joan Marcus company of The Lion King, quickly being promoted into the lead role of Simba, where he remained until 2011. After working on several other television and film projects in Los Angeles, Andre rejoined The Lion King in 2014 as part of its Broadway cast. Though he is no longer the principal Simba due to his current television and film commitments, he can still occasionally be seen in the role on stage when needed.
Andre grew up in Forrest City, Arkansas, and attended both the University of Memphis and Wichita State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in biology. Immediately following high school graduation, at 17 years old, Andre enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, which led him all over the world as he was stationed in Afghanistan, Japan, Egypt, Iraq, Hawaii San Diego and North Carolina. Andre took the MCAT during his senior year in college and was accepted to numerous medical schools, including Harvard Medical School, Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Kansas School of Medicine. However, he decided to pursue acting after being accepted into the oldest, and one of the most prestigious, acting
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