- Born
- Birth nameJade Elizabeth Pettyjohn
- Height5′ (1.52 m)
- Jade Pettyjohn is a dynamic and versatile actress whose career spans more than a decade of acclaimed work across both comedy and drama. She first gained international recognition as the breakout star of Paramount and Nickelodeon's School of Rock, the twice Emmy-nominated series where her sharp comedic instincts and musical talent earned her a devoted global fan base.
Since that breakout role, Pettyjohn has built an impressive and diverse résumé, defined by emotionally complex, deeply resonant characters. She starred as Lexie Richardson in Hulu's Emmy-winning Little Fires Everywhere, opposite Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington-earning critical praise for her layered and dynamic performance.
On the big screen, she delivered a standout performance alongside Nicole Kidman in the Golden Globe-nominated Destroyer, directed by Karyn Kusama, and appeared in HBO's Emmy-nominated Deadwood: The Movie, sharing the screen with Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant.
Her versatility continues to shine in television, from the satirical comedy of HBO's The Righteous Gemstones to the emotionally charged role of a human trafficking survivor in David E. Kelley's Big Sky.
In 2023, Pettyjohn starred in Fish Out of Water, directed by Francesca Scorsese, portraying a young mother struggling to reconnect with her family. The film was selected for both the Cannes and Tribeca Film Festivals, where her performance was widely noted for its raw authenticity. She also stars in Marcus Dunstan's All My Friends Are Dead-a 2023 Tribeca official selection.
In 2024, she took on the role of Jamie Pisarcik opposite Nicholas Chavez in Ryan Murphy's acclaimed Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, and will reunite with Murphy again in the upcoming Doctor Odyssey. Beyond acting, Jade is a passionate storyteller and lifelong musician. She plays piano, guitar, bass, and sings-often writing original music rooted in emotional honesty. She is also trained in gymnastics, dance, and boxing, bringing both physicality and discipline to her performances.
With each role, Pettyjohn continues to bring boldness, precision, and emotional depth to the screen. Her ability to move effortlessly between genres while anchoring her characters in truth has established her as one of the most compelling and versatile young talents in the industry today.
- IMDb mini biography by: Karen Renna
- Child actress who played McKenna Brooks in McKenna Shoots for the Stars (2012) and appeared on multiple episodes of Jade Pettyjohn and United States of Tara (2009). She is also well-known for her role as Summer Hathaway in the Nickelodeon series School of Rock (2016) and Lexie Richardson on the Hulu drama television miniseries Little Fires Everywhere (2020). She appeared on Nickelodeon's Ho Ho Holiday Special (2015) in 2015.
- She started her career with a national commercial in 2007-08. She has acted in various films and short films, including: S.H.M.I.L.U. (2009), Dakota's Summer (2014), and Girl Flu. (2016). She has also been a part of the video game World of Final Fantasy (2016). She has acted alongside Kenneth Branagh, an academy nominated director and actor, as a powerful child with extraordinary abilities in Prodigal (2011).
- At age eight, Jade made her television debut on The Mentalist (2008), first season, episode #4, "Ladies in Red".
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