Little Ronnie from Role Models has whole new career 16 years on from iconic movie
Bobb'e J. Thompson, who starred as Little Ronnie in Role Models, has a very different career
Niamh Shackleton
If you wanted to feel old, then read on.
16 years on from the release of Role Models, and Bobb’e J. Thompson, who starred as fan favorite Little Ronnie in the film, is doing something very different now.
As well as Role Models, Thompson, now 28, also had a small cameo on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, as well as Disney Channel classic, That's So Raven.
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The actor, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, got his first taste of fame when he was just five years old, and appeared on Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge, where he performed 'Bow Wow (That's My Name)' and quickly won over audiences.
His impressive credits also include guest roles in My Wife and Kids, 30 Rock and Cory in the House. On the big screen he also starred in the 2007 Christmas movie Fred Claus and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, with voice roles in Brother Bear 2 and Shark Tale.
But, despite making a name for himself in Hollywood, Thompson's ditched acting in favor of music.
Thompson has a permanent role on MTV improv comedy show Wild ’N Out, where he often showcases his musical talent.
In recent weeks, he discussed why he decided to quit acting.
When asked if he felt the industry was trying to mould him as 'just one thing', Thompson said to Jon Aba on Comedy Hype: "Yeah, and I think the moment I tried to break out of that box, they tried to silence me (in a sense)."
He continued: "Don't get me wrong, I had my own poor decisions on the way and that probably hindered me as well. I don't want to put it on nobody."
It's when Thompson started to step away from the 'bad kid roles' he'd played in the past that he found that 'auditions started slowing down'.
"They only want to send you out for these certain auditions for certain roles," he explained. "They'd send me to an audition and I wouldn't even do it. [...] I made it very clear what type of roles and what type of things I wanted to be doing."
Elsewhere in the interview he addressed it being 'hard' for people to see him grow up with him having been so young when he became famous.
"You've kinda' got to disappear and come back and reinvent yourself," Thompson concluded.