Jason Kingsley (actor)

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Jason Kingsley (born June 27, 1974 [1] ) is an American actor who was born with Down syndrome. In 1975, Kingsley made his television debut on Sesame Street at 15 months old and appeared in 55 episodes. [2] He also guest-starred in a 1984 episode of The Fall Guy , [3] and episodes of All My Children and Touched by an Angel . [1] [4]

Contents

Kingsley was born to Emily and Charles Kingsley. His mother is a writer for Sesame Street and his father was a painting contractor. [5] Kingsley graduated from Lakeland High School in 1994, and passed all six special education Regents Competency Tests. In June 1997, he graduated from Maplebrook School, a post-secondary school for students with learning disabilities. [6]

In 1994, Harcourt Brace published Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome , a book Kingsley co-wrote with friend Mitchell Levitz about their experiences with Down syndrome. [6]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975– Sesame Street Jason55 episodes
1984 The Fall Guy JasonEpisode: "The Winner" [7]
1997 Touched by an Angel DavidEpisode: "An Angel by Any Other Name" [8]
2004Sesame StreetHimselfEpisode: 4072

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References

  1. 1 2 Winerip, Michael (March 11, 2007). "They'll Do It Themselves, Thanks". The New York Times . Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  2. Davis, Michael (December 26, 2008). Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. Penguin. p. 232. ISBN   978-1-4406-5875-4 . Retrieved May 3, 2016. Just like Sesame Street itself, it all started with a preschooler. For in the early-to-mid- 1970s, Jason Kingsley blended with the other kids on set, appearing in fifty-five episodes as his charming, exuberant self.
  3. Gunther, Marc (July 26, 1989). "A Tv Breakthrough". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  4. Dickman, Irving; Gordon, Sol (February 1, 1993). One Miracle at a Time: Getting Help for a Child with a Disability . Simon & Schuster. p.  23. ISBN   978-0-671-78934-3 . Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  5. Farrell, Mary H.J.; Sugden, Jane (May 2, 1994). "Growing Up Down". People . 41 (16). Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Wetzler, Cynthia Magriel (August 24, 1997). "Meeting the Challenge of Down Syndrome". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  7. "The Winner". TV Guide . Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  8. "An Angel by Any Other Name". TV Guide. Retrieved March 22, 2017.