Merrell Jackson

Jackson graduated from Chicago's Calumet High School in 1971, where he was a soloist for the a cappella chorus, and had leading roles in two stage productions for which he won the "best actor" award.^[2] During his senior year he played King Melchior in a school production of the Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors that was shown on local television TV 26,^[3] and was an understudy in the Chicago production of the rock musical The Me Nobody Knows.^[4] He also sang in the All-City High School Chorus. In the summer of 1971 he was awarded a scholarship to go to the National Youth Chorus Workshop at Wolf Trap American University Academy for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.,^[5] and was one of 25 selected performing arts students who appeared with Lloyd Haynes on the WMAQ-TV musical special The New Performers: Chicagoland '71.^[6] His fellow performers voted him "Best Trouper" among the supporting cast members for which he won a $500 scholarship.^[7]

He joined the Goodman Theatre's touring company later in 1971, appearing in the children's musical comedy The Magic Isle.^[8] He auditioned for the Chicago production of Godspell in May 1972, but was cast in the movie instead, filming in New York from August to November, 1972.^[9] He joined the Chicago production in November, but was called back to New York for additional location shots^[10] and then continued in the cast until the show's run ended in August 1973.^[11]

Jackson then joined Nell Carter in the Chicago cast of the musical Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.^[12] He was with the national touring company in Baltimore a year later.^[13] While living in New York City, Jackson performed with dance companies, appeared in Broadway musicals, and did commercial spots for 7 Up soft drink.^[14] He was also a painter.^[15]

He has a child named David Clayton Jackson.

Merrell Jackson died of a sudden heart attack on February 23, 1991.