St. Louisan Joniagan Booth walked the red carpet during an event celebrating his first major role in the star-studded film The Underdoggs.
Family and friends came out to support the young actor at The Alamo Drafthouse on Thursday, January 25, and the movie theater was decked out with life-size photos of Booth and cast members including Grammy-winning rapper Snoop Dogg, and comedic show stoppers George Lopez and Mike Epps, and actress Tika Sumpter.
“This is incredible because I’m in half of the movie,” said Booth. He was excited to see family and friends come out and support him. The teenager is no stranger to the camera, he had a role in the hit NBC show, “This is Us.” where he played “young Marcus.”
Before the screening, Booth humorously apologized to his grandparents for the harsh language his character uses in the movie.
“The Underdoggs” is a combination of the Mighty Ducks and Hardball. Snoop Dogg plays the lead character “Two Js,” a hothead washed-up former athlete in need of a major attitude adjustment. After experiencing a run-in with the law, Snoop’s character must complete some hours of community service coaching a youth football team.
Lopez’s character is a heartwarming coach who helps the former athlete change his life.. Epps is a neighborhood friend who never left “hood” and makes himself the unofficial assistant coach. Sumpter plays Booth’s mother, a single mom doing the best that she can to raise a young Black boy in the inner city.
When first arriving on set, Booth said he was a bit nervous, but the 13-year-old soon warmed up to his seasoned castmates and even battle-rapped Snoop Dogg.
“We’re like family now,” Booth said of his castmates.
The young actor became so immersed in his character ‘Tre,’ he says it didn’t feel like acting; he was just being himself.
Laughing he said, “Except for all the cursing and when he was being a showoff.”
Stardom runs in the Booth family. Jonigan’s sister Jonica Booth stars in Issa Rae’s comedy series Rap Sh!t on HBO Max. She helped her little brother during filming, giving him advice and coaching him on how to get into character.
Their mother Shay Williams says the two are very close.
“When he puts his heart into something he is passionate about no one can stop him,” she said, adding that she has to make him stop rehearsing his lines before bed or he’ll stay up all night practicing.
“It can be a lot of kids auditioning for the same role as me, I have to stand out,” said the child actor.
On set, he learned some acting tips from Snoop Dogg, and watched how serious he was when it came to memorizing his lines.
“He’s always had an old soul, and Jonigan is just so humble and laid back,” said Williams.
Williams says he’s been acting since he was five years old, making YouTube videos singing and rapping with his sister Jonica. Booth looks up to his sister, she is such an inspiration to him.
“I hope to star in a basketball movie, I won’t need a stunt double for that and I want to work with Adam Sandler, he’s hilarious,” said Booth. This young actor is going places and making St. Louis proud.
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
