Fargo Star Talks Season 4, Video Games, & Why He Doesn't Like TikTok

About this video
At only the age of 11, young Chicago-based actor Rodney L Jones III made an impression with appearances on hometown shows "The Chi" and "Chicago Fire", which led him all the way to Fargo, North Dakota -- well, technically, St. Louis, Missouri, which was the setting of Season 4 of FX's hit series, "Fargo", where Rodney landed a prominent role as Satchel, the son of Chris Rock's mobster character, at the age of 12! Young Hollywood catches up with the actor via Zoom to find out more about his experiences on the small screen and how he balances his acting schedule with his (at the moment virtual) school schedule. He also takes us through his journey of getting into the acting game, plus we play a game of "This or That" with him where we find out why he doesn't like TikTok, his favorite video game, and more!
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Key Moments (5)
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Full Transcript
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Hi. Hello. How's it going?
I'm good. I yeah, I just finished school earlier.
I know, I heard about that. Well, welcome on to Young Hollywood. We're excited to talk to you today.
Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
You are fully in school doing it virtual, right?
Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
How is managing your acting life with school?
It's been it's been going all right so far. Um, I haven't been filming anything right now. So it's just steady with school. Um, and when we transitioned into school, uh, when the pandemic first started, it was it was it was harder because it was so sudden. And you know, we just had to adjust just like that. Um but yeah. And I when going to set, I just I just get the homework when I'm when I was gone.
What's your favorite subject in school? What do you like?
Math. Math is my favorite subject.
Well, how did you first aside from school, how did you first get into acting?
Well, when I was younger, I I'd mostly did like uh, theater and the the camps, you know, kind of just for fun. Um, but then later I kind of transitioned into doing theater at regional theaters, um, in Chicago. And like like lyric opera, and I did Norma with the lyric opera, where I played the son of Norma. And it was it was pretty fun. It it was a great, it was a big theater. Wow. And then, um, as I as I progressed and got older, I transitioned into the world, the wonderful world of acting on camera.
And speaking of being older, by the way, happy belated birthday.
Thank you. Thank you. I had a great birthday yesterday.
And for did you always enjoy acting like growing up? Were you like, I want to be like, I want to be on the TV. Like I I want to do that.
Yes. It was when as growing up, I I loved acting. I still do. And you know, I always I always dreamed of being on on the on the screen, you know, people being able to see me. I always dreamed of being on a big project like like Fargo.
And speaking of Fargo, in the show, you grow up really fast because you've done a different interview that we saw and you're like, yeah, my character grows up really fast. Do you feel like you're growing up really fast in real life too?
Yeah, um, people have been saying that, um, for a while now, actually. People have been saying that, oh, you're growing up so fast. And you know, Um, and yeah, seeing Sasha is growing up as well. I don't always notice that I'm growing. But, um, I do. I do. I don't make as um, as much of a big deal as like other people like my mom do. And, you know, sometimes my older sister will be joking around about that. Um, but yeah, I've I've noticed and
Do you like having kind of the split life like just like a normal kid like doing school online and then also like you're on you can see yourself on TV?
Yeah. Um, well yeah, I love that I'm on TV. Um, and people can see me. And I love that I have my own life too as well where I can just be me. Yeah. Um, and you know, that's it's just great to be me.
And then, okay, we're gonna play a game, this or that. Okay, so I'm gonna read off two things and you're gonna pick which one. Tik Tok or Instagram?
Um, I think I prefer Instagram. Yeah, Tik Tok wasn't always my favorite. Um, it it kind of depends on the content that's on there. I didn't I never really liked the the dances they have on Tik Tok. So I prefer Instagram. Yeah.
Okay, do you play video games?
Yeah, I I play a lot.
Fortnite or Call of Duty?
I prefer Fortnite. Never played Call of Duty. I don't play Fortnite anymore, but
What's your favorite video game?
My favorite video game is Star Wars Battlefront II. I'm a big Star Wars fan, so, you know. And my Xbox, I just got fixed, so I've been doing some major gaming. Yeah.
Do you want the PS5? Isn't there a new Xbox? Do you have the new Xbox? Do you want it?
I'm I I hope to get it soon. Once it comes out, I hope to get it. Um, I I don't have it.
Uh, I think you already answered this, but math or English?
Math. Yep.
Uh, texting or Facetime?
Ooh, texting. I have to say that. Yeah. It it's better.
New clothes or new shoes?
New shoes.
That's fine. I yeah. That's always a hard thing for me. Do you buy a lot online or you don't really into shopping?
I'm not into shopping. It's it's not my favorite thing. It it can get pretty boring. Like just going to the store and it's like nothing for me to really do there. I get that whenever I whenever I feel boredom when I'm out shopping. Yeah. It it's like a sick feeling in my stomach.
And Your sisters probably do not agree with that.
Yeah. Yeah, they definitely.
Fargo or Chicago Fire?
Well, I love both of them. Um, but um, and I love the people that I've got to meet on both of the shows. They're real great people. But um, I did get to spend more time on Fargo, since I was um, basically most of the episodes, so I yeah, I have to say Fargo.
Cute. Well, thank you so much for talking to us today, Young Hollywood.
Yeah, it was it was great. I I'm thankful to be here.
Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.
PEOPLE MENTIONED
- Rodney L. Jones III
The interviewed actor
- Norma
Character in an opera Rodney performed in
- Chris Rock
Plays Satchel's father in Fargo
FAQ
What role did Rodney L. Jones III play in Fargo?+
How did Rodney L. Jones III get into acting?+
What is Rodney L. Jones III's favorite video game?+
Does Rodney L. Jones III like TikTok?+
What is Rodney L. Jones III's favorite subject in school?+
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