TV's little stars with big talent

Jet, April 5, 2004 by Margena A. Christian

Pint-sized performers seem to be on television everywhere. Young actors are complementing TV families and keeping audiences glued to the tube once a week with their angelic faces, magnetic charm, sharp comedic timing and side-splitting humor.

Bobbe J. Thompson, the little wise-cracking, dancing machine on "The Tracy Morgan Show," and Noah Gray-Cabey, the tiny piano virtuoso on "My Wife and Kids, are hands-down some of TV's favorite little stars with big talent.

The great news is that they aren't alone. There is a crop of youthful actors, and here are a few of the bright performers to watch.

BOBBE J. THOMPSON

Bobbe J. Thompson doesn't see him as a star. "Nobody star," the witty 8-year-old tells JET. "Stars are up in the sky. I'm just a normal person least that's what he thinks anyway. TV critics are crediting the diminutive bundle of energy as the driving force behind the success of NBC's "The Tracy Morgan Show? The second-grader says acting, believe it or not, is "all right, but it's not my thing. MY thing is rapping." Bow Wow is his favorite "kid rapper" and 50 Cent is his favorite "adult rapper. Bobbe, who says, I learned how to dance by watching Bow Wow," first tasted fame at the age of 5 when he won the Apollo Theatre Talented Tykes competition in May 2002. His rendition of Bow Wow's song Bow Wow (That's My Name) blew everyone away. He was then offered a role in the comedy My Baby's Daddy, where he made his film debut and had the opportunity to rap for the world on the Silver screen at the end of the film. Bobbe is the second-youngest of nine siblings. "My father used to sing, but he didn't use his talent," says the Kansas City, MO, native. "So that's why I have it and I'm using It." A dream come true for Bobbe is to meet 50 Cent. "I think I'll meat him by 8," Bobbe says with confidence. "He talks about stuff in life that I can relate to." Bobbe recently made an appearance in Janet Jackson's video, I Want You.

NOAH GRAY-CABEY

Noah Gray-Cabey, at 8 years old, is always being called a piano prodigy because he plays compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach with seemingly innate effort. Ask him if he thinks he's a child prodigy and he'll flatly say, "Not really." He continues, "What does that mean? Anyone can play the piano if they really work at it." Noah was discovered performing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." He was then approached by ABC for the role of the neighbor Franklin on "My Wife and Kids." He didn't know a thing about acting. His parents had rid the family's household of a television until just last year! But young Noah has been comfortable in front of audiences. "I've been playing for awhile," he says of performing with his family group, the Gray-Cabey Family Ensemble. "I was with an orchestra and I was 4. Sometimes I get nervous, but I haven't in a long time." Noah doesn't read music or play by ear. His father teaches him through rote, a form of repetition. With such talent, you would think Noah looks forward to a future as an actor or pianist. "I want to be an astronaut, archeologist, paleontologist, veterinarian and a game warden," he rattles without losing a breath. "Oh, I also want to be a pilot and an engineer."

DEE DEE DAVIS

Dee Dee Davis plays Bryanna, or "Baby Girl," the niece of Bernie Mac on the popular FOX comedy "The Bernie Mac Show." "I like acting," she says. "It's really nice and fun because [Mac] plays jokes all the time." Dee Dee, 7, says acting can be hard "when you have to do stuff you want to do." One thing she doesn't have a problem doing is playing with her Barbie doll collection. "I have big boxes of them," she says with sheer delight. "I like Barbie because she's just hip and cool." Dee Dee wanted to show business to follow in the footsteps of her 13-year-old sister, Aree, who made her motion-picture debut in the Eddie Murphy comedy adventure The Haunted Mansion (JET, Jan. 5). Dee Dee also looks up to her mom, dad and "godbrother" Omari of the group B2K.

PARKER MCKENNA POSEY

Parker McKenna Posey is another young female actress who is winning hearts on television. Now 8, she knew she wanted to be an actress at only 2! The little English/Spanish bilingual dynamo was so serious about her craft that she landed her role on "My Wife and Kids" in 2001 after her first audition ever, Each week she is featured opposite Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin on the popular family sitcom. Singer Macy Gray used Parker as her kid double in the video for the song Sweet Sweet Baby. A native of Los Angeles, Posey also once made a guest appearance on the TV drama "NYPD Blue."

MARC JOHN JEFFERIES

Marc John Jefferies should look very familiar. In 1995, at the age of 4, Marc made his movie debut in the lead role as Isaiah, opposite Oscar-winner Halle Berry in the movie Losing Isaiah. "I was advanced at that age," the 4-foot-5 actor says. "I was reading basic words at 3 1/2. Acting was something I liked to do. When it was time to work, it was time to work." Today, at 13, Marc is Still working. This time ne is co-starring on "The Tracy Morgan Show." And movie roles have still been plentiful, including appearances in Stuart Little 2, Brown Sugar and The Haunted Mansion. "If you want to be an actor, it's not hard to do," says Marc who has been featured in numerous national commercials. "Just set out and fulfill your dreams." TV guest appearances have included "Cosby," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "The Practice," "Family Law," and "Third Watch." Look for Marc on Bill Cosby's animated children's series Fatherhood with Blair Underwood on Nickelodeon.