Marlon Kazadi
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Marlon Kazadi | |
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| Born | Marlon S. Kazadi November 16, 2004 |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2018–present |
Marlon S. Kazadi (born November 16, 2004) is a Canadian actor and music artist. He is known for the role of Mike Broadstreet in the film Zombie Town (2023), a zombie thriller based on a book of the same name by author R. L. Stine. Before that, Kazadi's first lead role was in the independent film Chained for which he won "Best Young Actor" from the New York International Film Awards, and nominations for Best Actor for a Canadian Film at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards, as well as Best Lead Performance, Male at the UBCP/ACTRA Awards.
Early life
[edit]Marlon S. Kazadi moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, from the Democratic Republic of Congo at the age of 7, along with his mother, Fatou Kazadi, who is also his personal career manager and executive coach. She later remarried to producer Kayvon Sarfehjooy. Kazadi attended French-speaking schools – École Anne Hébert and École des Pionniers, before continuing his education in English.
Career
[edit]Kazadi made his acting debut at 9 years old, on the ABC series The Whispers. He decided to respond to an open call after his mother suggested that he may take a liking to acting, as she noticed his talent from him replaying movie characters that he watched as a child.
He then took a three-year hiatus from acting to pursue a career as a professional soccer player, which was his first dream. One day during his soccer training, Kazadi had an epiphany and realized that acting was his true calling. In 2018 he made his return to acting; where he landed the supporting role of Omar in the film Child's Play, a remake of the original classic horror film featuring the infamous Chucky doll. That same year, Kazadi was cast in two popular series: first as Young James (Jimmy) Olsen in Supergirl, and then in a recurring role as Malcolm in Riverdale.
By the age of 15, Marlon landed his first lead role as Taylor in the feature film Chained (2020), a crime thriller by Titus Heckel, in which Kazadi won, and was nominated for multiple awards based on his performance.
His work in Chained caught the eyes of various producers, which eventually landed him the lead role of Mike Broadstreet in Zombie Town, based on author R.L. Stine's book of the same name. The film premiered in theatres in 2023.
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Zombie Town | Mike Broadstreet | Lead Actor |
| 2021 | Ghostbusters: Afterlife | Thickneck | Cameo appearance |
| 2021 | Chained | Taylor | Lead Actor |
| 2020 | Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing | David | Main Cast |
| 2019 | Child's Play | Omar | Main Cast |
| 2019 | Supergirl | Young James | Episode 419: "American Dreamer" |
| 2019-2021 | Riverdale | Malcolm | Episodes: Chapter Sixty: Dog Day Afternoon
Chapter Sixty-Four: The Ice Storm Chapter Seventy-Two: To Die For Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Preppy Murders Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation |
| 2019 | Christmas In Evergreen: Tidings of Joy | David | Main Cast |
| 2018 | Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to Santa | David | Main Cast |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Nomad Boy | Episode 2: "Hide & Seek" |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | New York International Film Awards | Best Young Lead Actor | Chained | Won |
| 2021 | UBCP/ACTRA Awards, Vancouver | Best Lead Performance, Male | Chained | Nominated |
| 2021 | VFCC Awards | Best Actor in a Canadian Film | Chained | Nominated |
References
[edit]1. "An Interview with NextGen Actor Marlon Kazadi on His New Feature Film 'Chained'". We Are Entertainment News. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
2. O'Brien, Conor (June 14, 2021). "Chained: Marlon Kazadi on Leading New Feature Film - Exclusive Interview". Courageous Nerd. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
3. Le téléjournal Colombie-Britannique (June 17, 2021). "De l'école des Pionniers au grand écran" [From Pioneer School to the Big Screen] (in Canadian French). Radio-Canada. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
4. Anderson, Erik (February 21, 2021). "'Mank' leads Vancouver Film Critics nominations". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on February 17, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
5. Vlessing, Etan (August 29, 2022). "Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase to Star in 'Zombie Town' Mystery Teen Romancer (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
6. "Finalists & Winners § Best Young Actor" (PDF). New York International Film Awards. August 29, 2022. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 3, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
7. "UBCP/ACTRA Awards 2021 § Lead Performance, Male". UBCP Actra. April 2021. Archived from the original on April 13, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
8. "First Look At 'Zombie Town'". Entertainment Canada. May 2023. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
9. Allen, Matthew (January 25, 2022). "First Look At 'Zombie Town'". The Grio. Archived from the original on December 15, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
10. Grobar, Matt (December 3, 2021). "Noble Story Co. Developing 'The Heart Mender'; Gravitas Acquires 'Beyond Impossible'; Freestyle Nabs Rights To 'Chained' And 'Delicate State'; More – Film Briefs". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
11. Le téléjournal Colombie-Britannique (August 31, 2023). "Un francophone au coeur de Zombie Town" [A francophone in the heart of Zombie Town]. Radio-Canada. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
12. "Teen actor describes making film with Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase". CBC. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
13. Romanchick, Shane (September 2, 2023). "R.L. Stine's 'Zombie Town' Clip Introduces Dan Aykroyd's Legendary Filmmaker". Collider. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
14. Dick, Jeremy (September 2, 2023). "Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase Reunite in R.L. Stine's Zombie Town, Now Playing in Theaters". CBR. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
External links
[edit]- 21st-century Canadian male actors
- Canadian male child actors
- Canadian male film actors
- Canadian male television actors
- Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to Canada
- Black Canadian male actors
- Male actors from Vancouver
- Living people
- 2004 births
- Naturalized citizens of Canada
- Canadian people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent