Smollett-Bell was born Jurnee Diana Smollett in New York City,[1][1] the daughter of Janet (née Harris) and Joel Smollett (1956-2014). Her father was Jewish (his family immigrated from Russia and Poland),[2][3][4] and her mother is African American.[5][6][7] She is the fourth of six performing siblings,[8] one sister, Jazz, and four brothers: Jussie, JoJo, Jake, and Jocqui.[9]