Justice Elio Smith (born August 9, 1995) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019), All the Bright Places (2020), Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), I Saw the TV Glow (2024), and Now You See Me: Now You Don't (2025).
Early life Smith was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Anaheim, California. He graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts in 2013 and performed in theatre around Orange County.
Career In 2014, Smith appeared in Nickelodeon's superhero comedy series The Thundermans, playing Angus in two episodes. He also appeared in the HBO documentary series Masterclass and some Vlogbrothers videos. In 2015, Smith had a supporting role as Marcus "Radar" Lincoln in Paper Towns.
In 2016, Smith had a lead role in Netflix's musical drama series The Get Down, playing Ezekiel Figuero, during which Smith employed method acting and took up residence in a dilapidated Bronx apartment. The Get Down premiered in August 2016 and concluded in April 2017.
In 2017, Smith was on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Smith also appeared opposite Lucas Hedges in the Off-Broadway stage production of Yen by playwright Anna Jordan. The production ran at the Lucille Lortel Theatre starting January 2017 and closed on March 4, 2017. In February 2018, Smith co-starred in Every Day as Justin. In June 2018, he portrayed Franklin Webb in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
In 2019, Smith starred in the film Detective Pikachu. He starred alongside Elle Fanning in All the Bright Places, for which filming commenced in the fall of 2018.
In 2020, Justice Smith participated in Acting for a Cause, a live play and screenplay reading series. Smith played Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and Dennis Ziegler in This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan. The reading raised funds for nonprofit organization including Mount Sinai Medical Center.
On August 7, 2026, it was announced that he had been cast as Harris Drover in the second season of Heated Rivalry.
Personal life Smith came out as queer in an Instagram post on June 5, 2020. He was in a relationship with actor Nicholas L. Ashe. They shot a Calvin Klein campaign ad together in mid-2022. In 2025, Smith said that he had no plans to date women ever again, though he clarified that he was still attracted to women as well as men. He explained that he found heterosexual relationships to be restrictive, as he felt the pressure to be "the man in the relationship", while he found same-sex relationships to be freeing.
Smith is an avid Pokémon fan.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 Trigger Finger Boy at school 2015 Paper Towns Marcus "Radar" Lincoln 2018 Every Day Justin Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Franklin Webb 2019Pokémon: Detective Pikachu Tim Goodman 2020 All the Bright Places Theodore "Theo" Finch2021 The Voyeurs Thomas Ron's Gone Wrong Marc Wydell (voice) 2022 Jurassic World Dominion Franklin Webb2023 Sharper Tom Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Simon Aumar2024 I Saw the TV Glow Owen The American Society of Magical Negroes Aren 2025 Now You See Me: Now You Don't Charlie Vanderberg Filming Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2014 Masterclass Himself 1 episode 2014–2015 The Thundermans Angus 2 episodes 2016–2017 The Get Down Ezekiel "Zeke" Figuero Lead role; 11 episodes 2019 Drunk History Ptolemy XIII Episode: "Bad Blood" 2021 Generation Chester Main cast; 16 episodes 2027 Harris Drover Season 2
Music videos Year Title Artist(s) Role 2019 "Graduation" Benny Blanco and Juice Wrld Jackson 2026 "Do Me Right" Mr. Fantasy Himself
Theater Year Title Role Venue Notes 2017 Yen Bobbie Lucille Lortel TheatreOff-Broadway 2019 The Mother Nicolas Atlantic Theater Company 2025 Creditors Adi Minetta Lane Theatre
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2022 The Quarry Ryan Erzahler Voice, motion capture, and likeness
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2017 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Yen Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play 2019 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Supporting Actor Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 2021 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series Generation Pena de Prata Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 2022 The Queerties Favorite TV Performance 2023 New York Game Awards Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game The Quarry 2024 Variety & Golden Globe's Breakthrough Artist Awards Breakthrough Award I Saw the TV Glow / The American Society of Magical Negroes Astra Midseason Movie Awards Best Actor I Saw the TV Glow Gotham Awards Outstanding Lead Performance Film Independent Spirit Awards Best Lead Performance Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Best Lead Performance 2025Dorian Awards Film Performance of the Year The Queerties Favorite Film Performance
References
External links