Marlon Kazadi

Last updated
Marlon Kazadi
Marlon S. Kazadi.png
Born
Marlon S. Kazadi

(2004-11-16) November 16, 2004 (age 19)
Occupations
  • Professional Actor
  • Music Artist
Years active2018–present

Marlon S. Kazadi (born November 16, 2004) is a Canadian actor and music artist. He is known for the role of Mike Broadstreet in the film Zombie Town (2023), a zombie thriller based on author R. L. Stine's book of the same name. Before that, Kazadi's first lead role was in the independent film Chained in which he won "Best Young Actor" from the New York International Film Awards, and nominations for Best Actor for a Canadian Film at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards, as well as Best Lead Performance, Male at the UBCP/ACTRA Awards.

Contents

Early life

Marlon S. Kazadi moved to Vancouver, B.C. from the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the age of 7, with his mother, Fatou Kazadi; who later remarried music producer Kayvon Sarfehjooy (K-Salaam). Marlon Kazadi attended French-speaking schools – Ecole Anne Hébert and Ecole des Pionniers, before continuing his education in English.  

Career

Kazadi made his first acting debut at 9 years old, on the ABC series The Whispers. He decided to respond to an open call after his mother suggested that he may take a liking to acting, as she noticed his talent from him replaying movie characters that he watched as a child.  

Marlon then took a three-year hiatus from acting to pursue a career as a professional soccer player, which was his first dream. One day during his soccer training, Kazadi had an epiphany and realized that acting was his true calling. In 2018 he made his return to acting; where he landed the supporting role of Omar in the film Child's Play , a remake of the original classic horror film featuring the infamous Chucky doll. That same year, Kazadi was cast in two popular series: first as Young James (Jimmy) Olsen in Supergirl, and then in a recurring role as Malcolm in Riverdale.

By the age of 15, Marlon landed his first lead role as Taylor in the feature film Chained (2020), a crime thriller by Titus Heckel, in which Kazadi won, and was nominated for multiple awards based on his performance.

His work in Chained caught the eyes of various producers, which eventually landed him another lead role, this time as Mike Broadstreet in Zombie Town , a zombie thriller directed by Peter Lepeniotis, based on author R.L. Stine's book of the same name. The film premiered in theatres in 2023.

Filmography

Film and television
YearTitleRoleNote
2023 Zombie Town Mike BroadstreetLead Actor
2021 Chained TaylorLead Actor
2020Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are RingingDavidMain Cast
2019 Child's Play OmarMain Cast
2019 Supergirl Young JamesEpisode 419: "American Dreamer"
2019-2021 Riverdale MalcolmEpisodes: Chapter Sixty: Dog Day Afternoon

Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm

Chapter Seventy-Two: To Die For

Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Preppy Murders

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation

2019Christmas In Evergreen: Tidings of JoyDavidMain Cast
2018Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to SantaDavidMain Cast
2015 The Whispers Nomad BoyEpisode 2: "Hide & Seek"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated WorkResult
2021New York International Film AwardsBest Young Lead ActorChainedWon
2021UBCP/ACTRA Awards, VancouverBest Lead Performance, MaleChainedNominated
2021VFCC AwardsBest Actor in a Canadian FilmChainedNominated

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References

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