Smollett began his acting career as a child model in New York City, and later worked as an extra on the New York-shot movies "Mo' Better Blues" (1990) and "New Jack City" (1991) He went on to act in the films "The Mighty Ducks" (1992) and Rob Reiner's "North" (1994). On television, he starred alongside his five real-life siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom "On Our Own" in 1994–1995. In 2012, Smollett returned to acting with the leading role in Patrik-Ian Polk's LGBT-themed comedy-drama "The Skinny". Also that year, he released an EP titled "The Poisoned Hearts Club". He later guest-starred in "The Mindy Project" (2012) and "Revenge" (2014).