Evan Ross

Evan Ross

Ross in November 2007
Born Evan Olav Næss
(1988-08-26) August 26, 1988
Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active 2006–present
Spouse(s) Ashlee Simpson (m. 2014)
Children 1
Parent(s) Arne Næss, Jr.
Diana Ross
Relatives Rhonda Ross Kendrick (maternal half-sister)
Tracee Ellis Ross (maternal half-sister)
Leona Naess (paternal half-sister)

Evan Olav Næss (born August 26, 1988), known professionally as Evan Ross, is an American actor and musician. He made his acting debut in the 2006 drama film ATL, and has since starred in the films Pride (2007), According to Greta (2009), Mooz-lum (2010), 96 Minutes (2011), Supremacy (2014), and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015).

On television, Ross had a recurring role as Charlie Selby on The CW's teen drama series 90210, and starred on ABC's crime drama series Wicked City as Diver Hawkes. As a musician, Ross released his first single, "Yes Me", in February 2011, and his second single, "How To Live Alone", in May 2015.

Ross is the son of the late mountaineer Arne Næss, Jr. and the Supremes lead singer Diana Ross. He has been married to singer-songwriter Ashlee Simpson since August 30, 2014, with whom he has one daughter.

Early life

Ross was born Evan Olav Næss on August 26, 1988, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to entertainer Diana Ross and businessman and mountaineer Arne Næss, Jr. His father was of German and Norwegian descent and his mother is African-American.[1][2] His paternal great-uncle was Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss.

Ross has one older full brother, Ross Næss. His parents divorced in 2000.[3] Ross has three older maternal half-sisters from his mother's first marriage. His sister Rhonda's dad is the legendary Berry Gordy the former owner of Motown Records (Rhonda, Tracee, and Chudney), three older paternal half-siblings from his father's first marriage (Christoffer, Katinka, and Leona),[4] and two younger paternal half-brothers from his father's third marriage (Nicklas and Louis).[5] In January 2004, Ross' father was killed at age 66 in a climbing accident near Cape Town.[6]

Career

Acting

Ross began his career as an actor while a student at Greenwich High School. His first major role was in the film, ATL, released in March 2006, in which he co-starred with rappers T.I. and Big Boi. Ross received rave reviews for his role as troubled teenager Amare McCarter in the HBO television film Life Support, starring alongside Queen Latifah and his real-life half-sister Tracee Ellis Ross, who portrayed his elder sister in the film. Ross later co-starred in the biographical film Pride, in which he portrayed a good-natured teen with a speech impediment. He also appeared (uncredited) in an episode of Girlfriends. The episode, titled "What's Black-A-Lackin'?", also guest starred Chrisette Michele, and was directed by his half-sister Tracee.[7]

Ross at a Girls Gone Wild magazine party, June 4, 2008

Ross has appeared in several other films, including the thriller Linewatch with Cuba Gooding, Jr. (2008), the drama Gardens of the Night (2008), and the crime drama film Life Is Hot in Cracktown (2009). He then starred as Julie, the love interest of Hilary Duff's character, in the 2009 comedy-drama film According to Greta. Ross has also appeared in The Notorious B.I.G. music video for the song "Nasty Girl" (2005), and the Lionel Richie music video for the song "Just Go" (2009).

In 2010, Ross joined the cast of The CW's teen drama series 90210 in its third season, portraying Liam Court's (Matt Lanter) half-brother and the love interest to Annie Wilson, played by Shenae Grimes.[8] That same year, he appeared in Case 219, and the critically acclaimed film festival winner Mooz-lum, also starring Danny Glover and Nia Long. He then starred in the comedy-drama The Family Tree (2011), and co-starred alongside Brittany Snow in the thriller 96 Minutes, which was released April 28, 2012 in select theaters. Ross won the Breakout Acting Award at SXSW for his performance in the film.

In 2012, Ross had a supporting role in the Jay and Mark Duplass-directed comedy-drama Jeff, Who Lives at Home. The following year, he portrayed music producer Dallas Austin in the VH1 biopic CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, about the 1990s Atlanta girl group TLC (the film was named after their second album CrazySexyCool).[9] He then appeared in the drama film All the Wilderness (2014), which premiered at SXSW; the Courteney Cox-directed comedy-drama Just Before I Go (2014), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; and the drama film Supremacy (2014), which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival.[10]

Also in 2014, Ross portrayed the role of Messalla in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, released on November 21.[11] He reprised the role in Mockingjay – Part 2, which was released on November 20, 2015. In July 2015, he joined the cast of ABC's crime drama series Wicked City, portraying crime scene paparazzo Diver Hawkes, replacing Darrell Britt-Gibson in the role.[12] In 2016, he will appear alongside Columbus Short and Vivica A. Fox in the romantic drama film True to the Game, based on the novel of the same name by Teri Woods.[13]

Music

In 2007, Ross began recording his debut album, which will encompass R&B and pop.[14] After four years in the studio, Ross released his single "Yes Me" on February 25, 2011, which was produced by Tony DeNiro and written by DeNiro and Ross. Ross released a sneak preview of another song, "How To Live Alone", on his Instagram on December 5, 2014.[15] On May 14, 2015, Ross released the song as a single, featuring rapper T.I.[16]

Personal life

In July 2013, it was reported that Ross had begun dating singer Ashlee Simpson.[17] Ross and Simpson became engaged in January 2014,[18] and married on August 30, 2014 at Ross' mother's estate in Connecticut.[19] In December 2014, Ross and Simpson announced that they are expecting their first child together, a girl.[20][21][22] Their daughter, Jagger Snow Ross, was born on July 30, 2015.[23] Through his marriage, Ross also has one stepson, Bronx Mowgli Wentz (born November 2008), from Simpson's previous marriage to musician Pete Wentz.[24] In December 2014, Ross and his wife both filed requests to change their surname to Ross-Næss.[25]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 ATL Anton Swann
2007 Pride Reggie
2008 Gardens of the Night Donnie
2008 Linewatch Little Boy
2009 According to Greta Julie Robinson
2009 Life Is Hot in Cracktown Romeo
2009 Black Water Transit Gary Vermillion
2010 Case 219 Cameron Porter
2010 Mooz-lum Tariq Mahdi
2011 The Family Tree Josh Krebs
2011 96 Minutes Dre
2012 Jeff, Who Lives at Home Kevin
2013 N.Y.C. Underground Sam
2014 All the Wilderness Harmon
2014 Just Before I Go Romeo Semple
2014 Supremacy Anthony Walker
2014 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 Messalla
2015 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Messalla
2016 True to the Game In post-production
2017 Buckout Road Aaron Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Life Support Amare McCarter Television film
2008 Girlfriends Marco Episode: "What's Black-a-Lackin'?"
2010–11 90210 Charlie Selby 9 episodes
2011 Luck Doorman Episode: "Pilot"
2013 CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story Dallas Austin Television film
2015 Wicked City Diver Hawkes 8 episodes

Music videos

Year Title Artist Notes
2005 "Nasty Girl" The Notorious B.I.G. Cameo appearance
2009 "Just Go" Lionel Richie Main role

Awards and nominations

Year Award Work Result
2008 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Life Support Nominated
2011 Black Reel Award for Best Actor Mooz-lum Nominated
SXSW Competition Award for Breakthrough Performance 96 Minutes Won

References

  1. ↑ "Evan Ross". The New York Times. All Movie Guide/Rovi. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  2. ↑ "ATL, Evan Ross". People. Time. April 3, 2006. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
  3. ↑ Stewart, Allison (November 16, 2004). "A 'suburban mom': Diana Ross at 60". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  4. ↑ Grogan, Diane. "Stop! in the Name of Love". People. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Arne Naess Jr. -- Norwegian Shipping Tycoon, 66". The New York Times. January 16, 2004.
  6. ↑ "Ross' ex-husband killed in fall". BBC News. January 14, 2004.
  7. ↑ "What's Black-A-Lackin'?". The New York Times.
  8. ↑ "Diana Ross' Son Joins the Cast of 90210". TV Guide.
  9. ↑ Breezy, Elle (March 11, 2013). "Diana Ross' Son Evan Ross to Play Producer Dallas Austin in TLC Biopic". SingersRoom.
  10. ↑ Martinez, Vanessa (March 20, 2012). "Derek Luke, Evan Ross, Lela Rochon Join Danny Glover in "Supremacy"". Indiewire.
  11. ↑ Gallagher, Brian (August 27, 2013). "Evan Ross Is Messalla in'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay'". MovieWeb.
  12. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (July 6, 2015). "ABC's 'Wicked City' Adds Jeremy Sisto, Evan Ross in Recastings". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ↑ McNary, Dave (October 13, 2015). "Columbus Short to Star in Romance-Drama 'True to the Game'". Variety.
  14. ↑ Davis, Peter (March 27, 2007). "Beautiful People 2007: Evan Ross". Paper. Paper Publishing Company. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Evan Ross Teases "Incredible" New Music With Ashlee Simpson, Would "Love" to Duet With Diana Ross". E! Online. November 22, 2014.
  16. ↑ "New Music: Evan Ross feat. T.I - "How To Live Alone"". Rap Up. May 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ Billups, Andrea (July 3, 2013). "Is Ashlee Simpson Dating Evan Ross?". People. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  18. ↑ Cosgrove Baylis, Sheila (January 13, 2014). "Ashlee Simpson Engaged to Evan Ross". People. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  19. ↑ McNiece, Mia (August 31, 2014). "Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross Are Married". People. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  20. ↑ Stanhope, Kate (December 18, 2014). "Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross Expecting Their First Child". TV Guide. United States. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  21. ↑ Leon, Anya; Garcia, Jennifer (December 18, 2014). "Baby on the Way for Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson". People. United States. Time Inc. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  22. ↑ Finn, Natalie (December 18, 2014). "Ashlee Simpson Is Pregnant With Her and Husband Evan Ross' First Child Together". E!. United States: NBCUniversal. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson Welcome Daughter Jagger Snow". People. July 31, 2015.
  24. ↑ Laudadio, Marisa (November 21, 2008). "It's a Boy for Ashlee & Pete!". People. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  25. ↑ Stutz, Colin (December 29, 2014). "Ashlee Simpson & Husband Evan Ross Changing Names to Honor Mother-In-Law Diana Ross". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
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