Trevor Howard Lawrence Jackson (born August 30, 1996) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for portraying Aaron Jackson on Freeform series Grown-ish, Kevin Blake on Syfy series Eureka, Kris McDuffy on Disney Channel's television film Let It Shine, Kevin LaCroix on American Crime and Dr. Wes Bryant on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
Other notable appearances include Broadway musical The Lion King, where he played the Young Simba, and television guest star roles on both Cold Case and Harry's Law. In 2012, he won the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series. In 2018, he starred in the crime drama Superfly.
Early life Jackson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, the younger of two sons of Cam Baxter and Kevin Jackson. Although he comes from a family interested in basketball, at age eight he decided that he would rather work in the entertainment industry. He honed his talents at local venues, performing both within his hometown and nationally, including a dance routine on Showtime at the Apollo. In 2004, the eight-year-old Jackson won the role of Young Simba on the national tour of The Lion King musical, with which he remained.
Career
2010–11: Career beginnings and Eureka Following his run with The Lion King, he transitioned from Broadway to the small screen appearing as a guest star in an episode of Cold Case in 2010. From 2010 to 2012 he played Kevin Blake in the final two seasons of Eureka. In early 2011, Jackson joined a "behind the scene" group with several up and coming music artists at the time known as "Before 2012." This didn't last long as success tore the group apart before it ever went mainstream. In August 2011, he continued his run on TV starring in an episode of Harry's Law for which he won the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series for his role of Willie Blue. Jackson later appeared as a guest star on the Disney Channel television show Austin & Ally.
2012–13: Let It Shine, musical beginnings, #NewThang EP
In 2012, Jackson expanded his acting career into film, playing the role of Quincy Smith in the film A Beautiful Soul. That same year, Jackson went on to star in the original Disney Channel television movie Let It Shine as Kris McDuffy alongside Tyler James Williams. Jackson portrayed the best friend and confidant of Cyrus (James), an aspiring hip hop musician who enters a songwriting contest and mistakenly wins his best friend's dream. Jackson has completed shooting the film Sons 2 The Grave alongside Darrin Dewitt Henson, Demetria McKinney and Justin Martin.
In 2012, Jackson signed with Atlantic Records continuing on to release his first single "Like We Grown" in February 2013. In the song's music video, Disney Channel actress, Zendaya Coleman, plays his love interest. Due to demand for new music from his fans, Jackson collaborated with producers Eric Hudson, J.R. Rotem and The Underdogs, to create his EP, #NewThang.
In September 2013, Jackson released the #NewThang EP. Jackson followed with his second single "Drop It", which was featured in McDonald's Monopoly Campaign commercial. To promote the #NewThang EP, Jackson toured with fellow Atlantic Records artist Justine Skye in the High School Nation Tour. He also played in a few shows.
2014–present: In My Feelings
In January 2014, Jackson released "New Thang" followed by a remix to his single "Drop It" featuring rapper B.o.B. In May, Jackson was featured on Diggy Simmons' single "My Girl". in the summer of 2015 Jackson released his debut full-length album. Jackson released the album's first single, "Good Girl, Bad Girl", on June 3, 2014. On July 22, 2014, Jackson posted a lyric video to a track with Kirko Bangz on his official YouTube channel titled "Me Likey" four days before its iTunes release. On August 3, 2014, Jackson partnered with fellow Atlantic Records artist Diggy Simmons on the Who Else But Us Tour. Jackson premiered the video for "I'll Be Who You Love (This Christmas)" on Rap-Up on December 3. Jackson followed with a new single, "Know Your Name", featuring Sage The Gemini on December 15. Jackson appeared as a guest on VINE and vocalist LianeV's new single "Keep Playin".
In early August, Jackson released the tracks on his YouTube channel and SoundCloud for stream with a visual for the song "Simple As This". On August 28, 2015, Jackson released the In My Feelings project on iTunes. In September he released the music video for his song "Bang Bang", which features Kevin Gates.
On December 3, 2015, Jackson released a video of "Like I Do" from In My Feelings on Billboard.
Jackson joined the regular cast of American Crime in its second season, playing the part of Kevin Lacroix. At the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards Jackson won the "Soul Train Certified Award".
From 2018 to 2024 he acted on the Freeform show "Grown-ish" as Aaron Jackson, a classmate and love interest of Zoey Johnson. Also in 2024, Jackson released an EP titled "Heads Up", followed by a full-length album titled "It’s Complicated". Both projects featured OnlyFans content creator and influencer Malaika Terry on the track "All The Way”, on which they addressed their real-life romantic relationship.
Since 2025 he plays Dr. Wes Bryant on Grey's Anatomy.
Artistry Jackson cites Michael Jackson, Gregory Hines, Donny Hathaway, Brian McKnight, and the Nicholas Brothers as his biggest musical influences.
Jackson aimed for his debut album to serve as a cohesive unit, saying it was his goal to "make an album that is not just a bunch of singles, but an album that can be listened to from top to bottom." Conversely, he also "wanted every song to say something, to be an experience."
Philanthropy Jackson supported Snoop Dogg's anti-violence "No Guns Allowed" campaign by releasing his own cover of Snoop Lion's single "No Guns Allowed", in March 2013. In April 2013, Jackson volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Chicago. Jackson participated in the Strike Out Cystic Fibrosis's Bowling Charity Event on July 29, 2013. Jackson hosted the Duffy's Hope 11th Annual Teen Youth Empowerment Summit in Dover, Delaware on August 3, 2013. The organization helps provide youth with mentoring, health, education and more. Jackson has also worked with NBA Cares and The League of Young Voters Education Fund.
Discography
Studio albums + List of albums, with selected details Title Details Rough Drafts, Pt. 1 Released: March 22, 2018 Label: Born Art, Empire Format: Digital download Rough Drafts, Pt. 2 Released: June 4, 2019 Label: Born Art, Empire Format: Digital download The Love Language Released: March 26, 2021 Label: Born Art, Empire Format: Digital download
Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details Title Details #NewThang Released: September 9, 2013 Label:Born Art Music Group Atlantic Format: Digital download
Mixtapes + List of mixtape, with selected details Title Details In My Feelings Released: August 28, 2015 Label: Atlantic Format: Digital download
Singles As lead artist + List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album US R&B Airplay "Like We Grown" 2013 — #NewThang "Drop It" 44 rowspan="4" "Good Girl, Bad Girl" 2014 — "Me Likey" (featuring Kirko Bangz) — "Know Your Name" (featuring Sage the Gemini) — "Rock wit Me" (featuring Iamsu!) 2016 — In My Feelings"B&W (Benz and Wallet)"2017-Non-album single "Apocalypse" 2018 — Rough Drafts, Pt. 1 "Good Enough" — Non-album single "Warning"2019 -Rough Drafts, Pt. 2"Spam In a Can" -"Puddles" -In My Crocs -"Tell Me" (featuring Lil Yachty ) -Tell You the Truth - "Why Worry" (featuring Leon Hlabathi) 2020—Non-album single "Just Friends" —The Love Language "River" —Non-album single "Get To You" 2021 —The Love LanguageYour Everything "—" denotes items that did not chart.
As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album US R&B Airplay "My Girl" (Diggy Simmons featuring Trevor Jackson) 2014 48 "Keep Playin" (LianeV featuring Trevor Jackson) 2015 — Question of Heart "Broke Us" (Cierra Ramirez featuring Trevor Jackson) 2019 — Over Your Head "Don't Cry" (ADÉ featuring Trevor Jackson) 2020 — "—" denotes items that did not chart.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 Showtime at the Apollo Himself Episode: Episode #19.10 2010 Cold Case Leon Episode: "Bombers" 2010–2012 Eureka Kevin Blake 16 episodes 2011 Harry's Law Willie Blue Episode: "In the Ghetto" Austin & Ally Trent Episodes: "Backups & Breakups" and "Crybabies & Cologne" Dr. Phil Himself Episode: "Is My Child a Star?" 2013 Criminal Minds Tyler Rogers 17 episodes 2015 K.C. Undercover Lincoln Treadwell Episode: Pilot Punk'd Himself Episode: "Russell Simmons & Zendaya" 2016 American Crime Kevin LaCroix 10 episodes 2017 Black-ish Aaron Jackson 2 episodes 2018–2024 Grown-ish Aaron Jackson 105 episodes2018 Wild 'n Out Himself Episodes: "Trevor Jackson / D.R.A.M." and "Trevor Jackson / Deon Cole" 2019 Weird City Chester Episode: "Go to College" Ridiculousness Himself Guest 2025–present Grey's Anatomy Dr. Wes Bryant 20 episodes
Film Year Title Role Notes 2010 Albert! Or, My Life in the Ocean Albert Film The Way He Makes Them Feel: A Michael Jackson Fan Documentary Himself Film 2011 A Moment of Youth Albert Film The Joey & Elise Show Himself Film 2012 Let It Shine Kris McDuffy Film, main role A Beautiful Soul Quincy Smith Film 2017 Burning Sands Zurich Film Lead role 2018 Superfly Youngblood Priest Film Lead Role 2024 This Is Me... Now: A Love Story Husband #3 Musical film
Awards and nominations + Award Year Nominated work Category Result Young Artist Award2012"Himself"33rd Young Artist Awards #Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor 14-17 Soul Train Music Awards 2019 "Himself" Soul Train Certified Award
See also Coco Jones Jennifer Hudson Iggy Azalea
References
External links