Most Famous Jermaines in the World

The name Jermaine has shown up across music charts, movie credits, and television screens for decades. From Motown royalty to modern hip-hop chart-toppers and prime-time sitcom leads, these Jermaines have built careers with recognizable credits, awards, and headline achievements. You’ll see singers with global hits, producers behind era-defining albums, and actors with memorable roles everyone quotes.

Below is a friendly, fact-packed tour of well-known Jermaines across entertainment. Each entry highlights concrete career milestones—albums released, shows and films starred in, awards earned, and the kinds of projects that shaped their public profiles—so you can quickly place each name and body of work.

Jermaine Jackson

Jermaine Jackson is a founding member, bassist, and vocalist of the Jackson 5, the Motown group behind hits like ‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’, and ‘I’ll Be There’. He launched a solo career with successful singles including ‘Let’s Get Serious’ and ‘Do What You Do’, and recorded duets with artists such as Pia Zadora. Over the years he has worked as a producer and musical director on Jackson family projects and appeared in television specials and series covering the group’s history.

Beyond the stage, Jackson authored memoirs detailing his family’s career and took part in reality programming including ‘The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty’. He has performed internationally, participated in tribute concerts for his brother Michael, and remained active in live events tied to Motown anniversaries and legacy celebrations.

J. Cole (Jermaine Lamarr Cole)

J. Cole is an American rapper, producer, and label founder whose studio albums—beginning with ‘Cole World: The Sideline Story’—have repeatedly debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He established Dreamville Records and executive-produced compilation projects like ‘Revenge of the Dreamers III’. As a producer and writer, he has credits across his own catalog and collaborations with artists spanning mainstream hip-hop and R&B.

Cole earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song for his contribution to ‘A Lot’ and has headlined major festivals and arena tours in North America and Europe. He graduated from St. John’s University, launched the annual Dreamville Festival in North Carolina, and has released widely streamed singles and guest verses that keep a consistent presence on radio and digital charts.

Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri is a producer, songwriter, and executive who founded So So Def Recordings, launching acts such as Kris Kross, Xscape, and Da Brat. He co-wrote and produced major R&B and pop hits for artists including Mariah Carey and Usher, contributing to multi-platinum releases like ‘Confessions’ and singles such as ‘We Belong Together’. His early production on Kris Kross’s ‘Jump’ helped define 1990s crossover hip-hop.

Dupri has earned Grammy recognition as a producer and songwriter and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has served as a TV host and mentor on music competition and docu-series formats, curated tours showcasing So So Def’s roster, and managed publishing and production ventures that continue to place songs across radio, streaming, and film/TV placements.

Jermaine Fowler

Jermaine Fowler is an actor and comedian who starred as Franco Wicks in the CBS sitcom ‘Superior Donuts’. He played the lead role of Lavelle Junson in the feature film ‘Coming 2 America’, appearing opposite Eddie Murphy. Fowler’s screen credits also include ensemble horror-comedy ‘The Blackening’ and roles in independent features that premiered at major U.S. festivals.

On stage, Fowler built his profile with stand-up specials and national tours, and he has performed voice roles for animated projects. He has guest-hosted televised events, appeared on late-night talk shows to promote film and TV releases, and developed scripted projects as a writer-producer, expanding his work beyond acting.

Jermaine Hopkins

Jermaine Hopkins is an American actor who made his film debut as Thomas Sams in ‘Lean on Me’, a drama set in a New Jersey high school. He later co-starred as Eric “Steel” Thurman in ‘Juice’ alongside Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. These early performances established him in coming-of-age and urban drama narratives that remain part of 1990s film retrospectives.

Hopkins continued acting in television episodes and made-for-TV films, with appearances that connected back to the street-level dramas of his breakout roles. He has participated in fan conventions, anniversary screenings, and interviews documenting the making of ‘Lean on Me’ and ‘Juice’, contributing behind-the-scenes context on casting, locations, and production.

Jermaine Stewart

Jermaine Stewart was a pop and R&B singer best known for the international hit ‘We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off’. Before his solo success, he danced on ‘Soul Train’ and worked as a backing vocalist for the group Shalamar. His albums in the mid-to-late 1980s produced additional singles that charted in the U.S. and the UK.

Stewart toured extensively across Europe and North America during his peak years and appeared on music television programs promoting his releases. His work remains a staple of 1980s playlists and has been featured in film and TV soundtracks, keeping his signature single in steady rotation long after its original chart run.

Jermaine Paul

Jermaine Paul is an American singer who won Season 2 of ‘The Voice’, performing under Team Blake Shelton. Prior to that national exposure, he toured as a backing vocalist for Alicia Keys and contributed live and studio vocals to R&B and pop recordings. His televised performances highlighted a repertoire spanning classic soul and contemporary chart material.

After his win, Paul released singles and performed on concert bills and televised specials tied to the series. He has continued to appear at festivals and live events, leveraging his reality-TV platform to book headlining and support slots while collaborating with producers on original material.

Jermaine Jenas

Jermaine Jenas is a former professional footballer who transitioned into broadcasting as a television presenter and analyst. In the UK, he has co-hosted ‘The One Show’ and appeared regularly on ‘Match of the Day’ and other sports programs, providing analysis and front-of-camera presenting across live and magazine-format broadcasts.

Jenas has anchored documentaries and interview specials, contributed columns and features to print and digital outlets, and hosted podcast series focused on sport and culture. His presenting work includes red-carpet and awards coverage, expanding his profile beyond sports into mainstream British television.

Jermaine Dye

Jermaine Dye is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder who earned the World Series Most Valuable Player award with the Chicago White Sox in 2005. Over his MLB career he played for teams including the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and the White Sox, recording multiple 30-home-run seasons.

Post-retirement, Dye has made guest studio appearances during baseball coverage, participated in alumni and ceremonial events, and supported charitable initiatives connected to his former teams. He has been featured in documentary segments recounting the White Sox championship run and notable postseason moments.

Jermaine Crawford

Jermaine Crawford is an actor recognized for playing Duquan “Dukie” Weems on ‘The Wire’. He began performing at a young age with credits in stage productions and later appeared in film and television projects that continued his association with drama and coming-of-age storytelling.

Crawford has taken part in cast reunions, panel discussions, and interviews reflecting on ‘The Wire’ and its depiction of Baltimore. He remains active in independent film and theatre, and he has pursued music and philanthropic work, including youth outreach tied to arts education and community programs.

Jermaine Williams

Jermaine Williams is an American actor whose film and TV credits include supporting roles in ensemble dramas and dance-themed features such as ‘Stomp the Yard’ and period pieces like ‘The Great Debaters’. He has appeared in guest roles on television series across network and cable platforms.

Williams has contributed to soundtracks and performed choreography-adjacent roles that draw on dance training. He continues to work in independent features and short films and participates in workshops and readings that develop screenplays for festival-bound productions.

Share your favorite Jermaine—and the project you first noticed them in—in the comments!