Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson, Jr. (born February 13, 1997) is an American actor, YouTuber, music video producer, and the eldest child of pop legend Michael Jackson.
Biography
Prince is the eldest son of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe. He was named after his father as well as his paternal great-grandfather and great-great grandfather, the latter two of whom were also called Prince. He has one sister named Paris and one half-brother named Prince Michael "Blanket".
Prince was born on February 13, 1997, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Prince was raised by his father, who received full custody rights following his divorce from Rowe in 1999. Rowe had stated that it was her intention that Michael would raise and have custody of the children. Prince spent the early part of his childhood at Neverland Ranch with his siblings. Michael made his longtime friends Elizabeth Taylor and Macaulay Culkin the godparents of Prince and his siblings.
On June 25, 2009, Michael died of a drug overdose in his rented Holmby Hills mansion. Following his father's death in 2009, Prince's grandmother, Katherine, was made the permanent guardian of him and his siblings, while Rowe obtained visitation rights. Prince attended his father's public memorial at the Staples Center on July 7, 2009. He came onstage with his family and other performers to sing his father's songs, "We Are the World" and "Heal the World". He stayed onstage with members of his family while some gave eulogies. Prince was asked if he wanted to speak at the memorial, but he declined. In 2010, Prince and Paris came on stage at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards to accept a lifetime achievement award on behalf of their father. In 2012, Katherine split custody of Prince and his siblings with his older cousin, T.J. (Tito's son).
Career
Acting
Prince, on television series 90210.
In 2013, Prince became a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. He made his acting debut in the television series 90210 in March 2013. Prince has expressed a desire to do more acting in the future and he is also interested in filmmaking. He had a YouTube channel called Film Family with his brother, wgich has since been discontinued.
Heal Los Angeles Foundation
Logo
In 2016, a charitable organization under the name of Heal Los Angeles Foundation (also titled Heal LA) was launched by Prince and John Muto in Los Angeles, California.[1][2] The foundation's goal is to bring inner-city youth toys, food and such. The organization also hosts an annual Halloween party, "Thriller Night".
The foundation itself is also dedicated to Michael and his philanthrophy, being structured after the Heal the World Foundation.
Personal life
Prince and his sister Paris started attending The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks shortly after their father's death.
On June 26, 2013, Prince testified in court over the wrongful death lawsuit against AEG Live. The lawsuit alleged AEG was negligent in hiring physician Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor who served two years in prison for the death of Michael.
Jackson, his grandmother Katherine and his two siblings are in the works of putting together a documentary film titled Remembering Michael in remembrance of his deceased father via campaigning fans to donate funds to the site FundAnything to pay for costs for the making of the film.
Rumors
Ever since the birth of Prince and Paris, countless rumors surfaced, claiming they were not his biological children. This particular topic received more attention when their mother, Debbie Rowe refused to address how the children were conceived. Many websites and tabloids have claimed former English actor, Mark Lester to be the biological father of Prince and Paris. Other sources claim that they were fathered by Jackson's dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein.
On October 6, 2015, Prince took to Twitter to lash out against an Internet troll, who suggested he should stop trying to pretend to be a Jackson. Prince simply replied by saying: "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" I was raised by my dad with my brother and sister.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Living with Michael Jackson | Himself | TV special documentary |
| 2009 | Michael Jackson Memorial Service | Himself | A live telecast of the public memorial service for the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. |
| 2010 | The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards | Himself | TV special |
| 2010 | The Oprah Winfrey Show | Himself | All New! A World Exclusive: Oprah Talks to Michael Jackson's Mother, Katherine, and Visits His Children |
| 2011 | The X Factor | Himself | Live Performance Show #6 |
| 2013 | Entertainment Tonight | Himself | 25 February, 2 March, 5 March, 25 April, 13 May |
| 2013 | 90210 | Cooper | Season 5: Episode 22: "We All Fall Down" |