KC-area native Jermel Nakia guest stars on hit NBC show ‘This is Us’

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He's a star on one of TV's biggest hits, but newcomer Jermel Nakia says he's still trying to soak it all in. "From the first time I saw a clip of the pilot, I knew the show was right down my alley. Jerritt Clark/GettyA Kansas City native, Nakia, who plays the younger version of William Hill, Randall's biological father, began acting in plays in third grade. "It's really incredible because we can capture the hyper sensitive state of the black man and what is happening now," Nakia says. It's about understanding the world around you."Next, "I would love the opportunity to do a biopic," Nakia says.

KC-area native Jermel Nakia guest stars on hit NBC show 'This is Us'

A teenage victim from a weekend triple shooting has been identified as 17-year-old Fernando Perez. Perez was one of three teens who drove to a local fire station after being shot Saturday night near Ashland Square Park in the 2200 block of Cypress Avenue.

This Is Us Actor Jermel Nakia on Playing the Younger William

as declared in Nakia plays the younger William, a talented writer and poet whose life eventually sinks into a heroin addiction. "But that was actually some of the funnest parts of it all, because I really feel like that's the soul of Memphis and that's the soul of who William is. The sky opens, and then it goes back."To play the younger William, Nakia had to refer to the version of the character everyone already knew: the sage, philosophical version played by Jones. "I watched every episode religiously because I felt like it was definitely a part of my job," Nakia said. "This entire experience, going to Memphis and really living in the soul of William added so many layers for me to bring in.

This Is Us Actor Jermel Nakia on Playing the Younger William