M&R
- Oct 4, 2019
- 3 min read

Ice T and 'Law & Order: SVU' Writers Praise Ja’Siah Young on Tonight’s Episode

Ja’Siah’s Character Calls 911 After Father Abuses Mother

Appears on NBC’s “Philly Live” Today

8-Year-Old Actor Plays Child With Superpowers and Son of Michael B. Jordan’s Character in Hit Netflix Series “Raising Dion”

(Ice T, Ja’Siah Young Photo Credit: Lawaine Young)

WATCH CLIP OF JA’SIAH AND ICE T ON LAW & ORDER: SVU

WATCH JA’SIAH ON NBC10’S PHILLY LIVE

Ja’Siah Young, the star of Netflix series “Raising Dion,” is already receiving accolades for his latest role, a dramatic character in “Law & Order: SVU” episode “At Midnight in Manhattan” that airs tonight, Thurs., Oct. 4, at 10 p.m. on NBC. Ja’Siah portrays Andre, a young boy who calls 911 after his father physically abuses his mother. In a scene with sergeant Odafin Tutuola (Ice T), Andre asks if his dad is going to be sent to jail. See the clip on SpoilerTV.

Ice T acknowledges Ja’Siah’s acting chops. “I just got finished doing an incredible scene with Ja’Siah, this little guy can really act,” Ice T said in a clip posted to Ja’Siah’s Instagram page. SVU Showrunner Warren Leight also commended Ja’Siah on his performance. “Welcome @JasiahYoung_ to the @nbcsvu family,” Leight said to Ja’Siah via Twitter on Thursday. “Everyone in the @SVUWriters room was thrilled with your performance! We expect great things for you!”

SVU writer Lisa Takeuchi Cullen echoed Leight’s sentiments. “Good morning, @JasiahYoung_ ...your performance in #SVU Episode 5 made all of us in @SVUWritersRoom cry,” she said in a Twitter post. “Your family must be so proud of you. We can’t wait for the world to see you tonight on #SVU21.”

Ja’Siah said he enjoyed taking on the emotional role and that he thought about “sad things” to get into character. He was especially excited to work with Ice T. “I got to meet a rapper,” he said.

Today, NBC10 “Philly Live” host Aunyea Lachelle interviewed Ja’Siah about his acting career (see photos).

The “Law & Order: SVU” appearance follows the charismatic 8-year-old actor’s debut in the title role of Netflix series “Raising Dion,” a 9-episode sci-fi drama about a child learning how to use his newfound superpowers. Dion is being raised by single mother Nicole (Alisha Wainwight) following the death of his father Mark (Michael B. Jordan).

About Ja’Siah Young

A native of Easton, PA, Ja’Siah Young always aspired for greatness. At 2 years old, he expressed an interest in becoming a prince when in the mall he saw a promotional poster for a pageant. He asked his mother if that was the way to become a prince. His mother began to enter him in pageants and his stage presence and singing and dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Billie Jean” spawned a winning streak. Within a year, he landed his agent after initiating an impromptu conversation with a representative from the agency.

A natural on camera, Ja’Siah booked a series of great acting jobs, a Probiotics commercial, appearance on Billy on the Street, a commercial for Nickelodeon’s Nick Chefs 2 as well as a scene-stealing role with Katie Couric for the opening video for Bloomberg Hopkins 100 Awards event. Ja’Siah made his theatrical film debut playing Zoe Kravitz’s son in “Rough Night” also starring Scarlett Johansson.