mini biography of michael jackson

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Michael Jackson Biography

Despite achieving his goal to be a music performer, Michael’s childhood was far from happy. He was regularly beaten and threatened by his authoritarian father. This legacy of abuse left Michael scarred throughout his adult life.

Solo Career Michael Jackson

His second solo album, Thriller , launched Michael Jackson into a position as the most famous pop singer in the world. With little commercial advertising and promotion, Thriller rose to number one on album sales and remained at the number one spot for a total of 37 weeks. It gained one of many Guinness World Records for Michael Jackson, attaining 110 million global sales and 29 million sales in the US. Thriller included number one hits such as Beat It, Billie Jean .

Michael Jackson with the Reagans

In March 1983, Michael Jackson performed live on Motown 25, ‘Yesterday, today, forever’, – a TV special. He performed his distinctive and memorable dance move – the Moonwalk. In the dance routine, he effortlessly moves backwards with seemingly keeping one leg perfectly straight. His performance made him a global icon of not just music, but dance. Michael Jackson pioneered the importance of music video in promoting a pop artist. This iconic performance has been compared to the famous Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

By the late 80s, there was an increasing number of stories speculating on Jackson’s personal life, health and physical appearance. Michael Jackson underwent numerous operations of plastic surgery to fix his nose and add a dimple in his chin. During the 1980s, his skin started to lighten; this was due to a rare skin pigment disease, but it didn’t stop a wave of speculative press stories that he was bleaching his skin colour. The press covered a range of speculative stories about Michael Jackson, including imaginary stories Michael had invented himself (such as sleeping in an oxygen tent to avoid the ageing process)

“I’ve been in the entertainment industry since I was six-years-old, and as Charles Dickens would say, “It’s been the best of times, the worst of times.” But I would not change my career… While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me.”

—Michael Jackson

The press attention made Michael increasingly reclusive, spending much of his time in his ‘Never Land’ ranch.

Speaking on the Oprah Winfrey show, Jackson addressed the issue of skin colour change:

“OK, number one. There, as I know of, there is no such thing as skin bleaching…I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin, it’s something that I cannot help, OK? But, when people make up stories that I don’t want to be who I am, it hurts me…it’s a problem for me, I can’t control it.”

He married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994; it lasted two years though they remained friendly after the divorce. In 1996, he married Deborah Rowe in Sydney. Together they had two children. They divorced in 1999 and Rowe gave full custody of children to Jackson.

Allegations of child abuse were first raised in the 1980s and re-appeared in the 1990s. This led to the trial of The People v Jackson on 31 Jan 2005, in Sante Maria, California. After five months of high publicity, Jackson was acquitted. Though the experience left him physically weak and emotionally stressed. He departed America for the Persian Gulf Island of Bahrain.

“The minute I started breaking the all-time record in record sales—I broke Elvis’s records, I broke Beatles records—the minute it became the all-time best-selling album in the history of the Guinness Book of World Records, overnight they called me a freak. They called me a homosexual. They called me a child molester. They said I bleached my skin. They made everything to turn the public against me.”

– Remarks at National Action Network headquarters (9 July 2002)

Towards the end of his life, he was increasingly plagued by money troubles and ill health. He increasingly became dependent on a variety of drugs, which was said to have contributed to his ill health and premature death. Despite concerns over finance, he is said to have made career earnings of $500m and had assets in Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue worth over $300m alone.

“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe”

– M. Jackson Quoted by CNN June 2009.

Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009, at a rented mansion in the district of Los Angeles.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Michael Jackson”, Oxford, UK.  www.biographyonline.net , 28th Jul 2010. Updated 11th February 2018.

Charity Work of Michael Jackson

• Michael Jackson supported many charities. This included a burns charity in Culver City, California. This followed an incident where Michael Jackson was burnt in filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984.
• He also supported HIV / AIDS charities at a time when it was still unfashionable.
• In 1984, he received an award from President Ronald Reagan for his support of charities which help overcome alcohol and drug abuse.
• From his 1984, Victory Tour he donated all funds (around $8million to charity)
• In 1985, he also co-wrote the charity single “We are the World” with Lionel Richie. It sold over 30 million copies, and the proceeds were sent to the poor in the US and Africa.
• He continued his charity work to the end of his life supporting charity concerts such as Aid for victims of Kosovo war.

The Essential Michael Jackson

The Essential Michael Jackson at Amazon

The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson

The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson at Amazon

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Michael Jackson Biography

Michael Jackson, the legendary King of Pop, revolutionized the music industry with his extraordinary talent and passion for music. His chart-topping hits and mesmerizing performances captivated audiences worldwide, earning him numerous accolades and the title of the most successful entertainer of all time. Not only did he redefine pop and rock music, but he also left an indelible mark on dance, introducing iconic styles like the moonwalk and the Robot. With his angelic voice and unparalleled dance moves, Michael Jackson will forever be remembered as a global icon in popular culture.

Quick Facts

• Nick Name: Wacko Jacko, The Gloved One
• Also Known As: Michael Joseph Jackson
• Died At Age: 50
• Spouse/Ex-: Debbie Rowe (m. 1996; div. 1999), Lisa Marie Presley (m. 1994; div. 1996)
• Father: Joseph Jackson
• Mother: Katherine Jackson
• Siblings: Brandon Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Tito Jackson
• Children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., Paris Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson II
• Born Country: United States
• Quotes By Michael Jackson
• African American Singers
• Height: 5’9″ (175 cm), 5’9″ Males
• Died on: June 25, 2009
• Place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States
• Personality: ISFP
• Cause of Death: Drug Overdose
• City: Gary, Indiana
• U.S. State: Indiana, African-American From Indiana
• Founder/Co-Founder: Heal the World Foundation

Childhood & Early Life

Michael Jackson was born in an African-American working-class family. He was the eighth of ten children of Joseph Walter “Joe” Jackson and Katherine Esther Scruse. His father worked as a steel mill worker, while his mother was a sincere Jehovah’s Witness. From a very young age, he was a music lover and started as a backup musician before becoming the lead singer of the family band, the Jackson 5.

The Jackson 5 started touring the Midwest and released their first single, ‘Big Boy’, in 1967. However, it failed to interest the audience. In 1968, they signed a contract with Motown Records and released their first album, ‘Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5’, in the following year. Their first single, ‘I Want You Back’, became a chartbuster and was followed by other bestsellers like ‘ABC’, ‘The Love You Save’, and ‘I’ll Be There’.

In addition to his work with the band, Michael Jackson also launched his solo career. His first solo single, ‘Got to Be There’, was a success and established his reputation as a solo artist. The Jackson 5 band withdrew its association with Motown Records in 1975 and signed with Epic Records under a new name, ‘the Jacksons’. From 1976 to 1984, the band toured internationally and released six new albums. Michael Jackson became a leading songwriter for the group, writing numerous hits.

Meanwhile, he also released his solo album ‘Off the Wall’ in 1979, in association with Quincy Jones. The album was a tremendous hit and generated four U.S. top 10 hits. His desire to make a bigger impact led to the release of the album ‘Thriller’ in 1982. It became the best-selling album of all time worldwide, selling 65 million copies and achieving Double Diamond status in the US.

In 1983, he reunited with his brothers for a live performance and showcased his signature dance style, the moonwalk, while singing ‘Billie Jean’. In 1985, he co-wrote ‘We Are the World’, which became the best-selling single of all time. He continued to release successful albums like ‘Bad’ in 1987 and ‘Dangerous’ in 1991.

Major Works

Michael Jackson’s eight albums have sold a total of 1 billion units worldwide and earned him $750 million in his lifetime. Five of his albums are among the world’s best-selling records. ‘Thriller’ is the biggest-selling album of all time, with reported sales of 65 million units.

Awards & Achievements

Michael Jackson received numerous awards, including 31 Guinness World Records, 13 Grammy Awards, Grammy Legend Award, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards, and 18 World Music Awards. He was inducted into the Hollywood Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Dance Hall of Fame.

Family, Personal Life & Legacy

Michael Jackson married twice in his lifetime. His first marriage was with Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, in 1994, but they divorced in 1996. He then married his long-time friend Deborah Jeanne Rowe, a dermatology nurse, in 1997. They had two children together, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, before separating in 1999. He also had a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, from a surrogate mother through artificial insemination.

Michael Jackson passed away unexpectedly on June 25, 2009, following a cardiac arrest due to a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011. A televised memorial was held in his honor, and memorials and statues were constructed all over the world.

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Entertainism

A Short Biography of the King of Pop Michael Jackson

Polarizing, controversial, but legendary, the King of Pop Michael Jackson was one of the greatest entertainers ever, and completely redefined pop culture. This biography showcases the moments and events that truly changed his life. Read on to know more in this Entertainism post.

Did You Know?

Michael Jackson has won 15 Grammy awards, including the Legend and the Lifetime Achievement Awards, and 26 American Music Awards. He also had 13 #1 singles in the US. The first two are still-intact records, while the latter is a record for male artists. Jackson is the most awarded musician in history, with more than 200 awards. He also holds the record of having supported 39 charities, with the Guinness Book of Records recognizing his extensive humanitarian work in 2000.

A child prodigy, Jackson, or MJ, as he is more commonly known, continued his progress into adulthood, going on to become a pop culture phenomenon and one of the most iconic dancers in living history. His songs are the stuff of legends, and his various dance moves are ingrained into pop culture. He is also known for his humanitarian efforts, but is, conversely, equally infamous for the various scandals in his life.

Let’s take a deeper look into this legend’s life.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 , in Gary, Indiana. The 8th of 10 children, Michael had his first tryst with music as a singer in the Jackson family band, Jackson 5, in 1964, at the tender age of five. Jackson 5 played at local nightclubs and also participated in competitions. Despite his young age, he soon carved a niche for himself as a singer and dancer of exceptional ability. Jackson 5 ruled the charts in the late ’60s and the early ’70s. After signing a contract with Motown, Jackson 5 had to shift their base to California. This was followed by chart busters like ‘I Want You Back,’, ‘Dancing Machine’, ‘The Love You Save’ and ‘I’ll Be There’ in 1970. Jackson 5 remained with Motown till 1975, while Jackson’s solo career started in 1972. In 1976, Jackson 5, now re-branded as the Jacksons, switched to Epic Records.

Jackson’s childhood was difficult, and had a heavy influence on his life. His father was a very strict disciplinarian, and though Michael later attributed his success to the strict singing practice conducted by his father, it also had a demoralizing effect on the budding entertainer’s mindset. He suffered from various psychological issues, including chronic and persistent sleep problems, due to his childhood.

Solo Career

Collaboration with quincy jones.

Michael first met his future producer, Quincy Jones, on the sets of The Wiz , a musical version of The WIzard of Oz starring an all-African American cast. Despite his later success as a musician, Jackson was an actor in this film; he played Scarecrow.

Jones was influential in Jackson’s most famous release, Thriller , in 1982. This record-busting album is reputed to have sold more than 60 million copies, though certified sales only indicate about 42.4 million. It is the highest-selling album in music history, and established Michael as the King of Pop, a moniker that has now very much become his own. 7 singles from the album reached the top 10 in the Billboard Top 100 chart, which is a joint record. The music video of ‘Billie Jean’ is among the most watched music videos of all time, and received regular airtime, consolidating the reputation of the nascent MTV in the process. It was also one of the very first music videos by a black artist to receive such consistent airtime, and one of the first to become equally popular across the racial divide. His success, aided by the furious efforts of CBS Music directors to get MTV to broadcast a black artist’s song, paved the way for future African American artists to receive as much airtime as white artists.

Quincy Jones first collaborated with Michael in 1979 on the album Off the Wall , a legendary production in its own right. Selling more than 20 million copies, it is also one of the best-selling albums of all time. With the success of Off the Wall , Jackson was able to secure the highest royalty rate in the music world: a whopping 37% of the album’s profits, which later equated to almost USD 2 for each copy!

Five years after Thriller , Jackson released his final album with Jones, Bad , in 1987. It was hugely popular, reputedly selling more than 30 million copies. Though it didn’t outsell Thriller , it bested it in one important aspect: five singles from Bad reached the top spot in the Billboard Top 100, which was the first time this feat had been achieved by a single album. It also became the first album to reach the top spot in 25 countries. The Bad world tour, held from September 1988-January 1989, broke multiple records of attendance in various countries; the 570,000-strong people that watched him in Japan were almost three times the previous record in the country, and his seven sellout shows in Wembley Stadium London, totaling a crowd of 504,000 people, broke a Guinness World Record. In total, he performed 123 shows on this world tour, reaching out to 4.4 million people in the process.

One of the most famous images in the world, and the one most associated with Michael Jackson, is the fantastic ‘moonwalk’. It was first performed by him in public on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever , a 1983 TV special commemorating the 25 th year of the popular music production company, Motown Records.

Michael at first declined the invitation, due to his reluctance to rejoin his brothers for a mini-reunion of the Jacksons, but was persuaded by Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, on the condition that Michael be allotted a solo slot in addition to the group gig.

According to some, Jackson only practiced the moonwalk once at his home before brandishing it on air. The iconic movement, where the performer appears to slide backwards while apparently walking forward, was not created by Jackson, but spread like wildfire after it was popularized by one of the premier artists of the time. It was performed during the song ‘Billie Jean’, and became a staple in Jackson’s subsequent live performances. This performance rocketed Jackson onto new heights of fame. In the words of Berry Gordy himself,

From the first beat of Billie Jean, I was mesmerized, and when he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked, it was magic, Michael Jackson went into orbit, and never came down.

In 1985, Jackson co-wrote We Are The World with Lionel Richie, for humanitarian purposes primarily in Africa. The song became one of the bestselling singles of all time.

Jackson didn’t relent his pursuit of musical innovation and success, with his album Dangerous selling more than 20 million certified copies. The album contained one of Jackson’s most famous songs, Black or White . This album was notable as the first Jackson album to feature a rapper, as well as one of the pioneering works in the new jack swing genre.

The Dangerous world tour, starting in June 1992 and ending 17 months later in November 1993, drew 3.5 million listeners in 70 concerts. HBO bagged the broadcast rights of the world tour for USD 20 million―a still-intact record.

In January 1993, Jackson also performed at the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII. His performance, where he sang four songs, was the first halftime show to have more viewers than the match in progress!

HIStory: Past, Present and Future , released in 1995, went straight to the number one slot in several countries. It contained a compilation of MJ’s hit singles, and also featured the lavishly made science-fiction video ‘Scream’. The second single, ‘You Are Not Alone’, surpassed the success of ‘Scream’ by becoming the first ever song to debut at the top spot in the Billboard Top 100. ‘Earth Song’, the third single released from this album, reached the top position and became MJ’s most successful single in the UK. ‘Earth Song’ gave a strong message to the viewers, as it addressed issues related to the environment and poverty. This album was reissued in 2001 as Greatest Hits: HIStory Volume I along with a second installment, HIStory Continues , and became the best-selling double album in history, with more than 20 million copies sold. The HIStory world tour, conducted between September 1996 and October 1997, included 82 concerts for a total audience of 4.5 million.

By Jackson’s astronomical standards, his only original album in the 2000s, Invincible , was not extremely popular. Having said that, it still managed to sell 13 million copies, in spite of being released at a time of a general slump in the music industry, without an accompanying world tour, and with very little promotion.

Solo Discography

Got to Be There (1972) Ben (1972) Music & Me (1973) Forever, Michael (1975) Off the Wall (1979) Thriller (1982) Bad (1987) Dangerous (1991) HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995) Invincible (2001)

Controversies

Due to his fame, Michael Jackson’s life was always under the microscope. His complicated personality and various long-standing psychological issues meant that he was never far from a controversy. He faced multiple child sexual abuse allegations, as well as general rumors about his mental health. His close association with his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, in particular, spawned worldwide mocking and parody.

Despite his success and influential role as a black musician, Jackson faced widespread rumors that he had repeatedly bleached his skin in order to achieve a lighter complexion―an action that was criticized roundly. He stated that he had vitiligo, an idiopathic condition that brings about a lighter skin, but can also be caused due to chemical bleaching of the skin.

He also underwent two rhinoplasty operations in order to make his nose successively thinner. One of the procedures did not pan out as hoped, and he suffered from breathing issues as a result.

Around the time of the release of Thriller , Jackson suffered from anorexia nervosa, and lost a considerable amount of weight in order to gain a “dancer’s body”.

Child Sexual Abuse Allegations

Michael faced allegations of child sexual abuse twice in his life. The first time was in 1993, when 13-year-old Jordan Chandler accused him of sexual abuse at Michael’s estate, Neverland. Despite conflicting evidence and doubts over Jordan’s father’s intentions in pursuing the case (there was some evidence which hinted that the boy’s father was primarily interested in blackmailing Jackson, rather than fighting for justice for his son), the case was settled out of court by Michael’s insurance company, without having notified him.

Following the depiction of certain encounters in Martin Bashir’s controversial documentary Living with Michael Jackson , Jackson was arrested on charges of child molestation. He was acquitted on all counts on June 13, 2005, and subsequently relocated to Bahrain as a guest of Sheikh Abdulla, son of the King of Bahrain. Jackson, asserting his innocence, later claimed that Bashir had deliberately portrayed him in a negative light.

Despite the absence of a conviction in either of the cases, Jackson’s reputation has been considerably tarnished by these allegations.

Marriages and Children

Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of ‘The King’ Elvis Presley, in 1994. Their acquaintance went back to 1975, but they got close after the renewal of their friendship due to Michael’s ongoing struggles with the child abuse allegations. Presley, who believed steadfastly in Michael’s innocence, married him secretly in 1994.

The marriage, claimed by tabloids to have been a publicity stunt (in spite of the initial secrecy about it) to help Michael’s image as a good-natured family man, lasted less than two years, though Presley later stated that they had reconnected and broken up several times in the next few years.

Jackson married Deborah Rowe, his dermatologist’s nurse, in 1996, during the early stages of the HIStory world tour. She was about six months pregnant at the time, and gave birth to Jackson’s first child, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., on February 13, 1997. Their second child, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, was born on April 3, 1998. Jackson and Rowe divorced in 1999, with Jackson getting full custody of their children.

Jackson had a third child from a surrogate mother on February 21, 2002. He was named Prince Michael Jackson II. He became the center of a controversy in his early days, when Jackson held him aloft in his room’s balcony in the Adlon Hotel in Berlin, in order to allow the gathered public to see him better. The baby dangled beyond the railing, an action which invited widespread criticism for Michael, who later apologized profusely.

This great entertainer died a controversial and mysterious death on his bed in a rented mansion in Los Angeles, on June 25, 2009. The news of his death caused a huge upsurge in internet usage, causing several prominent websites, including Google, Wikipedia, and Twitter, to crash due to user overload.

His death was mysterious, with suspicions of homicide, a drug-induced accidental death or suicide, or some malice on the part of his personal physician, who prescribed his daily medication. The physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and completed a two-year sentence in 2013.

Michael Jackson’s contribution to the world of pop and dance are irreplaceable and irrevocable. This legend’s music has a strong hold on all the music lovers over the globe. It is, therefore, not a surprise that we have his records playing in clubs even today, and wannabes still trying to perfect the moonwalk.

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Michael Jackson

• Occupation: Singer
• Born: August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana
• Died: June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
• Best known for: Thriller , the best-selling album in history
• Nickname: King of Pop

• He was the best selling artist in the United States for 2009, the year of his death. Around 35 million of his albums were sold worldwide in the 12 months after he died.
• He had two pet llamas on his ranch called Lola and Louis.
• The album Thriller was number one on the Billboard Chart for 37 weeks.
• He purchased the rights to the Beetles catalogue in 1985 for $47 million.
• His skin doctor said that his skin tone changed because he had a disease called vitiligo.
• He was burned when his hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
• Listen to a recorded reading of this page:

Michael Jackson: Behind the Scenes of His Iconic 'Thriller' Music Video

Similar to the way Queen pushed through doubters and disobeyed the normal three-minute length for a song when they debuted “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1975 as a five-minute-and-54-second track, Jackson also defied the traditional length with a five-minute-and-57-second version of “Thriller” on his 1983 album of the same name. But for the music video, it was stretched to a nearly 14-minute mini-movie, directed by John Landis — and was the first music video to be registered in the National Film Registry in 2009 .

Complete with a plot and ending credits, the video, which clocks in at 13:42 in its YouTube form , has been hailed as one of the greatest music videos of all time — so much so that even the accompanying Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller behind-the-scenes documentary won the 1984 Grammy for Best Video Album. (Ironically, the video itself lost the 1984 MTV Video Music Award Video of the Year to the Cars’ “You Might Think,” but did win Best Overall Performance in a Video, Best Choreography in a Video and the Viewer’s Choice Award that year.)

While pop culture homages to the video are as far-ranging as the Backstreet Boys’ sampling in their 1997 “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” music video to a viral sensation of 1,500 inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) doing the iconic choreography in their orange uniforms, the video has been as synonymous with Halloween as it has with Jackson’s own legacy.

But to achieve that level of influence took quite intricate planning and creativity. Here, go behind the video’s creation and dig into the secrets behind the scenes.

Jackson wanted to be a monster 'just for fun'

The idea for the music video came along when Jackson told Landis that he “wanted to be turned into a monster, just for fun,” Landis told Vanity Fair .

After all this was already the third music video — and seventh single — off of the 1982 Thriller album (which had been on the charts for a year already) after “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” so Jackson’s commercial success and acceptance wasn’t a priority — it was an opportunity to experiment.

“Jackson was the ideal video star,” as Vanity Fair put it. “Not only did he radiate an epicene glamour that was at once innocent and intensely erotic, but he was also conceptually inventive, a great dancer, and a sartorial trendsetter.”

READ MORE: The Surprising Reason Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury Never Released Their Duets

He suffered from childhood terrors from a mask his dad used to scare him

The irony of the monster look being “fun” was obvious. When Jackson was a child, his dad, Joseph Jackson , had once put on a mask and climbed through his son’s window to scare him, as detailed in a biography written by J. Randy Taraborrelli.

While the father’s purpose was to remind the child to close his window, it backfired. Young Jackson had nightmares for years stemming from the incident. Oftentimes even the sight of his own father terrified him.

“I never was a horror fan — I was too scared,” he had said . Yet Jackson wanted the kind of terror in “Thriller” to be more campy and comical than fear-eliciting. So he dialed up film director Landis who had done 1981’s An American Werewolf in London .

The video was conceived as a movie

At this point in time, it was unheard of to have film directors “stoop” to the level of a music video, so Landis suggested filming it as a full-blown narrative, shot on 35-millimeter film with makeup by Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker who had done the Werewolf film. Jackson jumped at the opportunity.

But there was one problem: Money. The half-million dollar budget was unheard of. And since there had already been two prior videos from this album, his label, CBS Records, refused to pay for another.

So Jackson and Landis got creative — and perhaps a bit cocky about the video’s impending success. They conceived a 45-minute behind-the-scenes documentary called Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller — yes, even before the video was made. But it worked. MTV and Showtime each agreed to pay about $250,000 .

A playmate was cast after Jennifer Beals turned down the video

Fresh off the success of 1983’s movie Flashdance , Jennifer Beals was the top pick to costar with Jackson. Landis wanted someone who could play the love interest in both a 1950s and 1980s setting — and she was perfect for the role. Except that she turned down the offer.

“I auditioned a lot of girls and this girl Ola Ray [stood out],” Landis told Vanity Fair . “First of all, she was crazy for Michael. She had such a great smile. I didn’t know she was a Playmate.”

And she made her feelings for Michael obvious. On the 1983 set, she said, “Michael is very special, not like any other guy I’ve met. Since we’ve been working together we’ve been getting closer. He was a very shy person, but he’s opened up. I think he’s lived a sheltered life. He knows a lot of entertainers, but he needs friends that he can go out and relax and enjoy himself with, instead of talking to his mannequins in his room.”

Jackson’s beliefs affected his on-set behavior — and elicited a 'warning' label on the video

At the time “Thriller” was filmed, Jackson was a 25-year-old, 5-foot, 7-inch tall, 100-pound superstar — who was just as dedicated to his career as he was to being a practicing Jehovah’s Witness. His beliefs deemed, among other things, that he abstain from swearing and pre-martial sex. In fact, he was so dedicated that he told Landis he closed his eyes during An American Werewolf in London ’s sex scenes.

Paired with Jackson’s shy persona, this often created challenges on set for what Landis hoped would be a sexy video. “In adolescence, youngsters begin to grow hair in unexpected places and parts of their anatomy swell and grow,” he said in his book Monsters in the Movies . “Everyone experiences these physical transformations in their bodies and new, unfamiliar, sexual thoughts in their minds. No wonder we readily accept the concept of a literal metamorphosis.”

He’s even documented as going as far as instructing Jackson to “Make it sexy this time… “You know, as if you want to f**k her.”

Jackson pulled it off — and even possibly experimented a bit behind the scenes with Ray, who said she had some “intimate moments” with him in his trailer but at a “kindergarten level”: “I won’t say that I have seen him in his birthday suit, but close enough.”

Even the very concept of werewolves were hard for Jackson to grasp. Eventually, a “warning label” of sorts was added to the beginning of the video stating, “Due to my own strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult.”

READ MORE: How Michael Jackson's Child Stardom Affected Him as an Adult

Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Fred Astaire and Marlon Brando visited the set

Already the bonafide King of Pop, Jackson’s circle of friends was star-studded — and his list of on-set visitors was mind-bogglingly A-list.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis , who was a book publisher at Doubleday at the time, flew out from New York City to talk about a memoir on the set (it was later published as his 2009 book Moonwalk ).

Marlon Brando also dropped by to give Jackson acting tips, with Jackson once saying, “Marlon told me to always go for the truth, not the words.

Also on the guest list: Fred Astaire , Rock Hudson and Quincy Jones .

The music video had a celebrity-filled Hollywood premiere

To fully lean into the mini-movie concept of the film, a full-on movie premiere was held at the 500-seat Crest Theater in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on November 14, 1983.

The biggest names in Hollywood flocked to the event, including Diana Ross , Warren Beatty , Prince and Eddie Murphy . First, a Mickey Mouse cartoon called The Band Concert aired and then the 14-minute music video — in which the first note wasn’t even played until four minutes and 13 seconds in — with the volume at rock-concert level.

“Encore! Encore! Show the goddamn thing again!” Murphy shouted. The video was indeed shown again.

By the time December 2 rolled around for the television premiere, there had been tons of promotion and hype. It was played twice an hour and both the video and making-of special were repeated over and over on MTV. Album sales doubled, making it the top-selling album in the U.S. for years — until it lost top honors to The Eagles in August 2018 , according to the Recording Industry Association of America .

But the legacy of the video itself is yet to be unmatched.

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Michael Jackson

• Born November 8 , 1970 · Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Height 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
• Michael Jackson was born on November 8, 1970 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is an actor, known for Trailer Park Boys (2001) , K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) and Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006) .
• Avid skateboarder.
• An accomplished bass guitar player who has played in numerous bands over the years in the Halifax area.
• Has an encyclopedic knowledge of late 70s/early 80s punk music.
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Everything to Know About the Michael Jackson Biopic

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The biopic will star Michael Jackson 's nephew Jaafar as the King of Pop

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The story of Michael Jackson ’s life and career is being adapted for the big screen.

In January 2023, it was announced that Lionsgate was working on a biopic about the King of Pop , which will simply be titled Michael .

Since then, more details have been announced about the project, including the actor playing the titular role. Stepping into the iconic shoes of the musician is Jackson’s own nephew Jaafar Jackson , who is the son of Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson .

The film comes on the heels of the success of Broadway‘s MJ: The Musical , which chronicles the "Bad" singer’s creative process, focusing on his preparation for his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. The show, which scored four Tony Awards in 2022, premiered in Februray 2022 with Myles Frost and kicked off its first national tour in August 2023 with Roman Wellington Banks .

From the release date to the cast, here’s everything to know about Michael .

Related: Michael Jackson's 3 Kids: All About Prince, Paris and Bigi

Who is in the cast of the Michael Jackson biopic?

Jackson’s 27-year-old nephew Jaafar is set to play him in the new movie. "It's incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life," director Antoine Fuqua said in a statement to Variety . "There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera."

Jaafar was selected for the role after a worldwide casting search was conducted, of which producer Graham King said, "It was clear that he is the only person to take on this role."

In January 2024, Lionsgate announced that 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi had been cast to portray a young Jackson, since the film covers his rise to fame with his brothers in the Jackson 5.

Towards the end of the month, it was announced that Oscar-nominated, Rustin actor Colman Domingo was cast as Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson. Producer King said the actor "has such incredible range" and is "grateful to be working" with him on the project.

Playing the Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson will be Nia Long, who called her character "an incredible pillar of strength and grace for the entire Jackson family." She added, "As a mother, she was selfless and endured forces beyond her control yet still managed to help build a legacy beyond measure. I am honored to bring her voice to the screen and share Michael Jackson’s story with audiences everywhere.”

Rounding out the rest of the Jackson 5 group will be Jayden Harville and Jamal R. Henderson as Jermaine, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter and Tre Horton as Marlon, Judah Edwards and Rhyan Hill as Tito and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre and Joseph David-Jones as Jackie.

Miles Teller is also set to play John Branca, who became Michael's manager after Joe Jackson, and was instrumental in helping launch his early career as a solo artist — notably with the release of "Thriller."

What will the Michael Jackson biopic be about?

Fin Costello/Redferns

According to the film’s official synopsis, “ Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop.”

“The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances,” the statement continues. “As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.”

The biographical movie is set to cover all aspects of the singer’s life, however, it is currently unknown whether the film will address Jackson's controversies including allegations of child sex abuse levied against Jackson that were most recently publicly detailed in the 2019 documentary film Leaving Neverland .

Who is directing the Michael Jackson biopic?

Vivien Killilea/Getty Images

The film will be helmed by Antoine Fuqua, who is best known for directing The Equalizer trilogy, Southpaw , Emancipation and several critically acclaimed documentaries such as What's My Name: Muhammad Ali and Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers .

“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am,” said Fuqua in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter . “For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson. I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work — the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV. His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible.”

The film will be written by Oscar nominee and Tony winner John Logan and produced by Graham King, who previously worked on the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody . King will producing along with John Branca and John McClain, who are the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate.

What has Michael Jackson’s family said about the Michael Jackson biopic?

Dave Hogan/Getty

In addition to having Jackson’s estate involved as producers, the movie has already gotten the seal of approval from those closest to the singer, including his mother Katherine, who said that Jaafar "embodies" her son.

"It's so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers," she told The Hollywood Reporter .

When did filming begin for the Michael Jackson biopic?

According to a press release shared by Lionsgate on Jan. 18, 2024, filming for principal photography began the week of Jan. 22.

When will the Michael Jackson biopic be released?

FRANCIS Sylvain/AFP via Getty

The film will be released worldwide on April 18, 2025.

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Read the original article on People .

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Michael Jackson’s nephew looks just like the King of Pop in first photo from biopic

Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson is the spitting image of his late uncle.

On Feb. 13, Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International shared a first-look photo of Jaafar Jackson dressed as the iconic singer in the upcoming biopic “Michael."

In the picture, Jaafar Jackson channeled his late uncle by rocking a white V-neck shirt, a pair of black pants and a ponytail, which was a signature style of the "Man in the Mirror" singer.

According to Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International, Jaafar Jackson was recreating one of Michael Jackson's performance looks from his legendary 1992-'93 "Dangerous" tour.

Once the snap circulated online, fans were quick to react to how they felt about Jaafar Jackson being cast in the role.

"He look like MJ :)," one person commented on X.

Another said , "Woa I had to do a double take."

A third added , "Crazy how much they look alike."

A fourth joked , "Was he resurrected?"

The first-look photo was captured by photographer Kevin Mazur, who is one of the many photographers who documented Michael Jackson over the years.

"Seeing Jaafar perform, I thought, ‘Wow, it is Michael.’ The way he looks and acts, his mannerisms, everything — he’s Michael Jackson. For anyone who didn’t have the chance to see Michael perform live during his lifetime — this is how it was," Mazur said in a press release.

Producer Graham King echoed the same sentiment. He said, “With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael. He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.” 

Read on to learn more about Michael Jackson's new biopic "Michael."

What is Michael Jackson's new biopic 'Michael' about?

"Michael" will tell the story of the late King of Pop.

"The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, captured by his most iconic performances," according to a statement from Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International. "As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known."

When is Michael Jackson's new biopic 'Michael' coming out?

"Michael" is set to be released in theaters worldwide on April 18, 2025. The film is currently in production.

Who is cast in the film?

A few actors have already been announced for "Michael."

Alongside Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo is set to play Michael Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, and Nia Long will take on the role of Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson.

Miles Teller is also set to star in the film and play the singer's manager John Branca.

“We have assembled an incredible team of artists for this project — hair & makeup, costumes, cinematography, choreography, lighting, everything — and some who knew and worked with Michael are reuniting for this film," said "Michael" director Antoine Fuqua in a statement.

"Most importantly, it’s Jaafar who embodies Michael," he continued. "It goes beyond the physical resemblance. It’s Michael’s spirit that comes through in a magical way. You have to experience it to believe it.” 

Michael Jackson Movie Trailer Footage Reveals Recreations Of Iconic Pop Star's Life At CinemaCon

• The Michael trailer features iconic performances of Michael Jackson's greatest hits, capturing his magic on stage.
• The film will explore Michael Jackson's personal struggles and introverted nature, providing a deeper look at his life.
• Despite not addressing abuse allegations, the movie promises to delve into all aspects of the pop star's life and legacy.

A Michael trailer screens at CinemaCon featuring footage recreating the iconic pop star's life and performances. Directed by Antoine Fuqua , with a script written by John Logan, the upcoming musical biopic chronicles the complicated life and career of the legendary singer and dancer. Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, plays the pop star, alongside Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Jessica Sula, Kevin Shinick, and Kendrick Sampson.

At CinemaCon 2024, with SR in attendance, Lionsgate revealed the first trailer for Michael . The footage features Michael Jackson walking a red carpet into a venue and a young Michael Jackson being told he’s special by his mother, played by Nia Long. Michael Jackson performs "Man in the Mirror," with audiences singing along. There is a lot of Michael Jackson’s iconic looks from various moments in his life — the black-and-white outfit, when he was wearing a black mask, and more.

Everything Revealed By The Michael Footage

First and foremost, the Michael footage reveals that much of the movie will be dedicated to recreating the pop star's iconic performances that made him the greatest entertainer of all time. The footage flashes between performances of his greatest hits, "Man in the Mirror" and "Thriller," as hysterical fans sing along. The film will feature over 30 Michael Jackson songs and recreate several live performances, starting with "ABC" on American Bandstand back when Michael Jackson was six years old and still a member of the Jackson 5, with the younger version played by Juliano Krue Valdi.

The footage features voice-over from Michael Jackson exploring his mental state as he performs, " It’s not just a sound; it moves through your body; transports your entire being. That is what I want the world to feel: magic ." The footage suggests a sweeping look at his life, exploring the personal struggles faced by the reserved and introverted superstar . He says, while in a car surrounded by fans, " When I’m not on stage, everything feels foreign to me ." His mom tells him, " There might be some people who think you’re different, and that’s gonna make life a little harder for you ."

A Michael Jackson Film Biopic Risks Making The Genre's Biggest Issue Worse

One major aspect of Michael Jackson's life that the footage doesn't seem to touch on is the multiple allegations of child sexual abuse that he faced , but repeatedly denied, throughout his life. Michael producer Graham King promises the film will explore all aspects of the pop star's life, including the abuse allegations. However, since the movie was made with the involvement of Michael Jackson's estate, this will likely influence how the film contends with the more controversial aspects of his life and legacy.

Michael releases in theaters on April 18, 2025.

Michael (2025)

Michael is an upcoming biographical film created by GK Films by director Antoine Fuqua and details the highs and lows of the King of Pop's storied career. From career to controversies, this documentary aims to cover significant moments in Michael Jackson's life, who Jaafar Jackson plays

Director Antoine Fuqua

Release Date April 18, 2025

Studio(s) GK Films

Distributor(s) Lionsgate

Writers John Logan

Cast Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Rhyan Hill, Judah Edwards, Tre Horton, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, Jamal R. Henderson, Jayden Harville, Juliano Krue Valdi, Jaafar Jackson, Miles Teller, Joseph David-Jones

Rating Not Yet Rated

Genres Biography