Justin Pierce
Encyclopedia
Justin Charles Pierce was an English
-born American
actor
and professional skateboarder.
, England
to a Welsh
mother and an American father of English descent, Pierce was raised in the Marble Hill
section of New York City
. He attended P.S. 7 in the Bronx for Elementary School and J.H.S. 141 in the Riverdale section of the Bronx for Junior High School. Pierce's parents divorced when he was 15. After his parents' divorce, he began acting out by stealing cigarettes and food and skipping school in favor of skateboarding. Pierce soon quit school and moved out, staying in a basement of a building with fellow skaters. Pierce was later arrested for the possession of marijuana and heroin under his pants in a police road search. The results in the court hearing were found inconclusive which resulted in the release of Pierce. He went back to live with his parents at age 19.
, Pierce was discovered by film director Larry Clark
, who cast him in his controversial 1995 film Kids
. After the success of Kids, Pierce won an Independent Spirit Award for his portrayal of Casper, the profane and very heavily drug-addicted skateboarder friend of Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick
), and relocated to Los Angeles
. Pierce would go on to appear in the 1997 film A Brother's Kiss as the young Nick Chinlund
. Pierce also appeared in television movies including 1997's First Time Felon, and the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle
. He also starred alongside Ice Cube
and Mike Epps
in the motion picture Next Friday
as the film's tritagonist Roach. He was going to reprise his role in the sequel, Friday After Next
, but he committed suicide before production began.
Pierce's last on screen appearance was in the 2002 film Looking for Leonard, which was released after his death. The film was dedicated to his memory. A tribute to him was posted on the website YouTube
, in 2007.
in his room at the Bellagio
hotel by hotel security. It was confirmed that the death was a suicide. The following day, a Catholic memorial service for Pierce was held at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
in Manhattan's Little Italy
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and professional skateboarder.
Early life
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to a Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
mother and an American father of English descent, Pierce was raised in the Marble Hill
Marble Hill, Manhattan
Marble Hill is the neighborhood which makes up the northernmost part of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States. Although it is politically part of Manhattan and New York County, because of the re-routing of the Harlem River, it is located on the North American mainland contiguous...
section of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He attended P.S. 7 in the Bronx for Elementary School and J.H.S. 141 in the Riverdale section of the Bronx for Junior High School. Pierce's parents divorced when he was 15. After his parents' divorce, he began acting out by stealing cigarettes and food and skipping school in favor of skateboarding. Pierce soon quit school and moved out, staying in a basement of a building with fellow skaters. Pierce was later arrested for the possession of marijuana and heroin under his pants in a police road search. The results in the court hearing were found inconclusive which resulted in the release of Pierce. He went back to live with his parents at age 19.
Career
While skateboarding in Washington Square ParkWashington Square Park
Washington Square Park is one of the best-known of New York City's 1,900 public parks. At 9.75 acres , it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity...
, Pierce was discovered by film director Larry Clark
Larry Clark
Lawrence Donald "Larry" Clark is an American film director, photographer, writer and film producer who is best known for the movie Kids and his photography book Tulsa...
, who cast him in his controversial 1995 film Kids
Kids (film)
Kids is a 1995 drama film written by Harmony Korine and directed by Larry Clark.The film features Chloë Sevigny, Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Harold Hunter, and Rosario Dawson, all of them in their debut performances...
. After the success of Kids, Pierce won an Independent Spirit Award for his portrayal of Casper, the profane and very heavily drug-addicted skateboarder friend of Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick
Leo Fitzpatrick
Leonardo Aurellio Randy "Leo" Fitzpatrick is an American actor.-Biography:Leo Fitzpatrick was born in West Orange, New Jersey. He was discovered at age 14 by director Larry Clark at Washington Square Park in New York City, skateboarding. Fitzpatrick was trying to perform certain skating tricks,...
), and relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Pierce would go on to appear in the 1997 film A Brother's Kiss as the young Nick Chinlund
Nick Chinlund
Zareh Nicholas "Nick" Chinlund is an American actor.-Early life:Chinlund was born in New York City. He attended the Friends Seminary in Lower Manhattan, later moving to Albany, NY in order to participate in Albany High School's varsity basketball program...
. Pierce also appeared in television movies including 1997's First Time Felon, and the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
. He also starred alongside Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
and Mike Epps
Mike Epps
Michael Elliot "Mike" Epps is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, singer, and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the sequel-to-the-sequel, Friday After Next, and also starring alongside Ice Cube in All About the Benjamins...
in the motion picture Next Friday
Next Friday
Next Friday is a 2000 comedy film, and the sequel to the 1995 film Friday. This is the first film to be produced by producer Ice Cube's film production company Cubevision...
as the film's tritagonist Roach. He was going to reprise his role in the sequel, Friday After Next
Friday After Next
Friday After Next is a 2002 comedy film directed by Marcus Raboy, starring Ice Cube and Mike Epps. It is the third installment in the Friday series, and the sequel to the 2000 film Next Friday.-Plot:...
, but he committed suicide before production began.
Pierce's last on screen appearance was in the 2002 film Looking for Leonard, which was released after his death. The film was dedicated to his memory. A tribute to him was posted on the website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, in 2007.
Death
On July 10, 2000, Pierce was found hangingHanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
in his room at the Bellagio
Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
hotel by hotel security. It was confirmed that the death was a suicide. The following day, a Catholic memorial service for Pierce was held at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, New York
The Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral, or Old St. Patrick's, is located at 260-264 Mulberry Street between Prince and Houston Streets in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, with the primary entrance currently located on Mott Street...
in Manhattan's Little Italy
Little Italy, Manhattan
Little Italy is a neighborhood in lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italians. Today the neighborhood of Little Italy consists of Italian stores and restaurants.-Historical area:...
.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Kids Kids (film) Kids is a 1995 drama film written by Harmony Korine and directed by Larry Clark.The film features Chloë Sevigny, Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Harold Hunter, and Rosario Dawson, all of them in their debut performances... |
Casper | |
| 1997 | A Brother's Kiss | Young Lex | |
| 1998 | Wild Horses | Rookie | Alternative title: Lunch Time Special |
| Myth America | |||
| Freak Weather | Pizza Guy | ||
| 1999 | Too Pure | Leo | |
| Out in Fifty | Freddy | ||
| Pigeonholed | Devon | ||
| The Big Tease The Big Tease The Big Tease is a 1999 comedy film starring Craig Ferguson, directed by Kevin Allen, and written by Ferguson and Sacha Gervasi.- Plot :Ferguson plays Crawford Mackenzie, a Scottish hairdresser who, while being filmed as part of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, is invited to the World Hairdresser... |
Skateboard Kid | ||
| 2000 | Next Friday Next Friday Next Friday is a 2000 comedy film, and the sequel to the 1995 film Friday. This is the first film to be produced by producer Ice Cube's film production company Cubevision... |
Roach | |
| King of the Jungle King of the Jungle (film) King of the Jungle is a 2000 drama film starring John Leguizamo, Rosie Perez, Julie Carmen, Cliff Gorman, Michael Rapaport, Marisa Tomei, and Rosario Dawson. It was written and directed by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld.... |
Lil' Mafia | ||
| BlackMale | Luther Wright | Alternative title: Blackmail | |
| 2002 | Looking for Leonard | Chevy | Released posthumously |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | First Time Felon | Eddie | Television movie |
| 2000 | This Is How the World Ends | Zombie | Television movie |
| Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes... |
Justin | 2 episodes | |
Awards
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Independent Spirit Awards Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit... |
Won | Best Debut Performance | Kids |