The 98th Academy Awards was a big night for Michael B. Jordan — and his family was there to celebrate with him.
The Sinners star won Best Actor for his work in Ryan Coogler‘s vampire thriller, and during his acceptance speech, Jordan shouted-out his mom, dad and siblings: older sister, Jamila Jordan-Theus and younger brother, Khalid Jordan, who were there to witness the special moment.
Michael is close with his family, an aspect of his life he spoke about, after being named Sexiest Man Alive in November 2020.
“Honestly, it’s like they all have had such an impact on me and who I am and how I approach each day. Without that, a lot of things about me just wouldn’t be the same. So it all comes back to that foundation. I’m really thankful for that.”
The trio of talented siblings were raised in New Jersey by mom Donna Jordan and dad Michael A. Jordan. Michael’s siblings also work in the entertainment industry, and the Just Mercy actor boasted to Entertainment Tonight in November 2022 that he’s “incredibly proud” of their achievements.
Here’s everything to know about Michael B. Jordan’s siblings, sister Jamila and brother Khalid.
Jamila and Michael were both born in Santa Ana, Calif., but their family moved to Newark, N.J., to be closer to their mom Donna’s family when the actor was 2 years old. Younger brother Khalid was born there, and despite Michael’s early years in California, he considers himself a full East Coaster.
“My first two years were in California, but I claim East Coast. I’m sorry, I don’t rep California,” he told HuffPost in January 2013.
Michael revealed that he had an “awkward” phase growing up and one his siblings wasn’t afraid to point it out.
“I think a lot of my childhood was awkward,” he recalled, adding that family nicknames didn’t exactly help. “They used to call me ‘Mr. Chippy,’ my sister used to tease me all the time because I had a chipped tooth.”
Later on, the siblings attended Newark Arts High School, where Donna was also a teacher.
While Michael’s athletic inclinations led him to the track and basketball teams, Khalid found himself drawn to football.
After graduating middle school from Link Community Charter School in 2006, the student-athlete began playing football for nearby Malcolm X. Shabazz High School, according to his Link alumni speaker profile.
His talents later earned him an athletic scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he continued to play college football.
Michael isn’t the only award-winning sibling in this family.
The eldest Jordan sibling has earned two Emmys for her work as a producer and development executive on various television and film projects, including 2021’s miniseries Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts and CNN’s 2021 historical movie Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street, which she co-executive produced along LeBron James.
Jamila’s work has been featured across platforms including Netflix, Disney+, CNN, OWN and more. Currently, she is the head of development and production at Taraji P. Henson’s TPH Entertainment, a position that she started in August 2024, per Variety.
“Taraji P. Henson is a prolific powerhouse and an icon in this industry,” Jamila said in a statement, according to the outlet. “I am elated to collaborate with her at TPH Entertainment where we will continue to build with dynamic visionaries, storytellers and artists. We are dedicated to celebrating cultural depth and challenging social norms by producing thoughtful, liberating and compelling content.”
Prior to TPH Entertainment, she worked as the head of motion picture for Genius Entertainment, a creative executive at SpringHill Entertainment and as a director of development at Sirens Media, according to her LinkedIn.
Jamila’s interest in the industry traces back to college when she graduated from Temple University with a broadcasting degree in 2006.
Khalid also works in the entertainment industry
Khalid is a literary manager at the representation firm M88. According to Variety, he joined the company in summer 2024.
Previously, Khalid was a director of development at Macro Television Studios, an executive position which he began in 2020, according to Variety. He was also involved at Warner Horizon, managing drama and comedy development.
His passion and pursuit of a career in entertainment dates back to childhood, when he majored in television production at Newark Arts High School, according to his Link alumni speaker page.
While studying at Howard University, he landed several internships with media companies, including Sesame Workshop and BET.
Upon graduating, Khalid moved to California and got his start working in the mail room at William Morris Endeavor, a talent agency.
He eventually worked his way up to the Television Literary and Digital Department, before landing a manager role at Mass Appeal and later, his first role as a development executive for Warner Horizon.
While Jamila largely keeps her private life out of the spotlight, she offered fans a brief glimpse into her Los Angeles-based life with husband Reggie Theus and their son, Lenox, when the trio stepped out for a rare public outing in 2023. The entire Jordan family was on hand to show support for Michael when he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jamila, who shared a Zola link to her wedding registry in August 2017, tied the knot with her husband Theus soon after. In early 2020, the couple welcomed their son Lenox, and two years later, their daughter Zorah was born, per Threads.
Speaking about his nephew during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in May 2020, Michael shared that he was doing “great” and was newly mobile. He went on to credit his adorable nephew with removing any urgent family pressure for the star to have a child of his own.
“He bought me some time,” said Michael. “Lenox definitely gave me a break right there.”
