Jermaine Harris: From Disney’s Saturdays to Tyler Perry’s Netflix Films
Introduction
Jermaine Harris is an American actor known for playing London Johnson in Disney Channel’s Saturdays (2023) and B.J. Simmons in Tyler Perry’s Netflix comedies Madea’s Destination Wedding (2025) and Joe’s College Road Trip (2026).
His career started with smaller television roles. Then came Disney. Later, he joined one of America’s best-known comedy film franchises.
By 2026, Harris had moved from supporting parts to sharing the screen with Tyler Perry in a leading role. His work now covers family sitcoms, romantic comedy, and road-trip films.
Quick Facts About Jermaine Harris
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jermaine Harris |
| Profession | Actor |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Pittsburg, California, United States |
| Birthday | July 16 |
| Known For | Saturdays, Madea’s Destination Wedding, Joe’s College Road Trip |
| Disney Character | London Johnson |
| Netflix Character | B.J. Simmons |
| First Regular Television Role | Saturdays (2023) |
| Other Credits | Ballers, Mad About You, Bunk’d, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things |
| Recent Major Film | Joe’s College Road Trip (2026) |
| Announced Film Project | Inauguration Day |
Early Life and Interest in Acting
Acting wasn’t his first plan.
Before entering entertainment, Harris spent time dancing and playing baseball. Both activities interested him, but he eventually found another direction.
A teacher helped change that.
During fifth grade, his teacher suggested trying acting. He took the advice and auditioned for a school play.
That experience changed his interests.
In a June 2026 interview with TresA Magazine, Harris explained that acting became his main focus after that first school audition.
His early experience shows how an ordinary school activity can lead to a professional career.
How His Acting Career Started
His professional work developed through smaller parts.
Before becoming a familiar Disney Channel face, Harris appeared in television productions where he worked alongside established actors.
These jobs gave him practical experience.
Ballers and Mad About You
In 2019, he appeared as Lamar in HBO’s Ballers, a comedy-drama series associated with Dwayne Johnson.
The same year, he played Dylan in an episode of Mad About You.
Both productions introduced him to experienced television casts.
In his TresA interview, he recalled trying to learn as much as possible while working on those sets.
It wasn’t simply about screen time.
He wanted to watch how experienced professionals worked and understand what he could take into future projects.
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
In 2021, Harris played Henry in The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.
The romantic science-fiction film stars Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen. Its story follows two teenagers who experience the same day repeatedly.
Harris remembered filming fondly.
He discussed spending time riding bicycles with the cast and enjoying the atmosphere during production.
This credit added feature-film experience to his growing television work.
His First Disney Channel Appearance
Disney became an important part of his career.
In 2021, Harris appeared in Bunk’d, playing a guest character named Guion during the show’s fifth season.
It was his first Disney role.
He later described the experience as an opportunity to try different acting choices and learn from the production team.
He also worked with Israel Johnson, the younger brother of actor Tim Johnson Jr.
That connection would become interesting later.
Both Harris and Tim Johnson Jr. went on to work together in another Disney production.
A Bigger Role in Saturdays
The year 2023 marked a major career change.
Harris joined the main cast of Disney Channel’s Saturdays, playing London Johnson.
The series follows Paris Johnson, a teenage roller skater who spends time with her friends at a Chicago skating rink while working toward their skating goals.
London is Paris’s older brother.
The show mixes family comedy with music, friendships, skating, and everyday teenage experiences.
Harris worked alongside Danielle Jalade, Golden Brooks, Omar Gooding, and Tim Johnson Jr.
This was his first regular television role.
Playing London Johnson
London has a fun personality.
He spends time with his best friend Derek, also called D-Rok, played by Tim Johnson Jr.
Harris got to work with music and roller skating while playing the character.
During interviews about the show, he spoke positively about the skating practice sessions and friendships among the cast.
He also valued the show’s portrayal of a Black American family.
A Friendship Beyond the Screen
There was already a connection between the actors.
Harris and Tim Johnson Jr. knew each other before filming Saturdays.
That made their characters’ friendship feel natural.
In a March 2023 interview reported by Laughing Place, the cast discussed how the actors’ existing friendship helped during their chemistry reading and later filming.
For Harris, the series offered something new: a regular place within a television ensemble.
Joining Tyler Perry’s Madea Franchise
Another big opportunity came in 2025.
Harris appeared as B.J. Simmons in Madea’s Destination Wedding, a Netflix comedy written and directed by Tyler Perry.
The movie follows Madea and her extended family as they travel for a wedding in the Bahamas.
Harris played a member of that family.
The cast included Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis Patton, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Taja V. Simpson, Diamond White, and Xavier Smalls.
Netflix released the film on July 11, 2025.
Working With Tyler Perry
This project carried personal meaning for Harris.
He had watched Tyler Perry’s films while growing up and was familiar with characters from productions such as Meet the Browns and Madea’s Family Reunion.
Getting cast felt exciting.
In his June 2026 interview, he described telling his mother and grandmother after learning he would work with Perry.
The experience connected his childhood interest in those movies with his own acting work.
And the collaboration continued.
Joe’s College Road Trip Became a Major Film Role
In February 2026, Harris returned as B.J. Simmons in Tyler Perry’s Joe’s College Road Trip.
This time, his character was central to the story.
Netflix released the comedy on February 13, 2026.
Tyler Perry plays Joe Simmons, B.J.’s grandfather, along with other family characters.
Harris stars opposite Perry and Amber Reign Smith.
What Is the Movie About?
The story follows B.J., a young man preparing for college.
His father wants him to better understand his family’s history and cultural background.
A road trip seems like an opportunity.
But there is a problem.
His grandfather Joe takes charge.
The two travel across the country, encountering difficult situations, disagreements, and unexpected lessons.
Their different views create much of the comedy.
Still, the movie also deals with family relationships, identity, and understanding other people’s experiences.
Why This Film Matters for His Career
The role gave Harris more screen time and responsibility.
Unlike his smaller early appearances, B.J. is one of the main characters carrying the story.
He also had to work closely with Tyler Perry, who played several different family members.
Harris discussed that experience in his 2026 TresA interview.
He explained that playing B.J. allowed him to portray someone with very different opinions and experiences from his own.
Some scenes required comedy.
Others needed more serious emotions.
He particularly remembered a desert chase sequence and an emotional conversation filmed inside a car.
The movie became one of his most prominent acting credits.
Jermaine Harris Movies and TV Shows
His confirmed screen credits include:
| Year | Movie or Television Show | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Ballers | Lamar |
| 2019 | Mad About You | Dylan |
| 2021 | The Map of Tiny Perfect Things | Henry |
| 2021 | Bunk’d | Guion |
| 2023 | Saturdays | London Johnson |
| 2025 | Madea’s Destination Wedding | B.J. Simmons |
| 2026 | Joe’s College Road Trip | B.J. Simmons |
These roles show his progression through television and feature films.
His career includes guest appearances, recurring work, regular television casting, and a leading film role.
His Announced Film Inauguration Day
His work extends beyond the Madea films.
In June 2026, Harris discussed an announced role in the coming-of-age film Inauguration Day.
He is attached to play Frederick.
The story takes place in 2009, around Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration.
According to his interview, Frederick experiences an unusual situation at school while watching the historic event with a small group of other Black students.
Harris expressed interest in the story and the chance to work with the cast.
He also mentioned a horror or suspense project in development.
Those were announced projects, rather than confirmed completed releases, as of October 2026.
Personal Interests Outside Acting
Acting takes up plenty of his time.
But he has other interests.
During his 2026 interview, Harris discussed enjoying walks, bicycle rides, and visiting movie theatres.
He also likes horror films.
Stephen King’s stories are among his entertainment interests, and he has spoken about enjoying comedy as well.
Writing is another activity he had recently started trying.
These interests connect naturally with his professional life, especially his enjoyment of storytelling and different film genres.
Career Achievements and Turning Points
Several moments stand out in his professional record.
His early television experience: Working on Ballers and Mad About You gave him experience with established casts.
His first Disney role: Playing Guion in Bunk’d introduced him to Disney Channel productions.
His first series regular part: Saturdays gave him the opportunity to play London Johnson throughout the show’s 2023 run.
His first Madea film: Madea’s Destination Wedding brought him into Tyler Perry’s comedy franchise.
His leading Netflix role: Joe’s College Road Trip placed him alongside Perry in a story centred on their characters.
Each credit represents a different stage in his acting work.
What Is Jermaine Harris Doing in 2026?
As of October 2026, his latest confirmed released major film is Joe’s College Road Trip.
He continues to be publicly identified with his acting work in Disney and Netflix productions.
His June 2026 interview also confirmed involvement in the announced Inauguration Day project.
He discussed another suspense-related project but did not provide a confirmed release date.
His recent career has brought him more prominent screen roles, particularly through his collaboration with Tyler Perry.
Interesting Facts About Jermaine Harris
- His teacher introduced him to acting. A fifth-grade teacher encouraged him to audition for a school play.
- He began with other activities. Dancing and baseball were early interests.
- He already knew a Saturdays co-star. He and Tim Johnson Jr. were friends before working together on the Disney series.
- He grew up watching Tyler Perry films. He later appeared alongside Perry in two Netflix movies.
- He enjoys horror stories. He discussed his interest in Stephen King’s work during a 2026 interview.
- He played B.J. twice. The character appeared in both Madea’s Destination Wedding and Joe’s College Road Trip.
Final Thought
Jermaine Harris has built his acting career one role at a time.
His early television appearances led to Disney Channel work. Saturdays gave him his first regular role, while the Madea films brought him into Netflix productions with a much bigger audience.
By 2026, he was co-leading a Tyler Perry comedy.
His next announced projects suggest an interest in different types of stories. For now, his career is best understood through the characters he has already brought to screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Jermaine Harris?
Jermaine Harris is an American actor known for Saturdays, Madea’s Destination Wedding, and Joe’s College Road Trip.
2. What character did he play in Saturdays?
He played London Johnson, the older brother of Paris Johnson, in the 2023 Disney Channel series.
3. Is Jermaine Harris in Joe’s College Road Trip?
Yes. He stars as B.J. Simmons alongside Tyler Perry in the 2026 Netflix comedy.
4. What role did he play in Madea’s Destination Wedding?
He played B.J. Simmons in the 2025 film and returned as the same character in Joe’s College Road Trip.
5. Where was Jermaine Harris born?
His professional IMDb profile lists Pittsburg, California, as his birthplace.
6. How did he start acting?
A fifth-grade teacher encouraged him to audition for a school play. He later pursued professional acting.
7. Has Jermaine Harris worked with Tyler Perry?
Yes. They worked together on Madea’s Destination Wedding (2025) and Joe’s College Road Trip (2026).
8. What is his next movie?
Harris discussed an announced role as Frederick in Inauguration Day during a June 2026 interview. A confirmed release date was not established in the sources reviewed.
