Jak Knight

Birth Name: Jakim Seeallah Maulana

Date of Birth: November 6, 1993

Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Date of Death: July 14, 2022

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American

Jak Knight was an American actor, comedian, and writer. He was known for his roles on the series Big Mouth and Bust Down.

Jak was the son of Katrina Oatis and Kevin Roger Smith, who legally changed his name to Omari Maulana.

Jak’s paternal grandfather was Jessy Rodger Smith (the son of James Clara Gray and Thelma E. Smith). Jessy was born in West Virginia. James was the son of Samuel Henry Gray and Matilda Thompson. Thelma was the daughter of Ballard Preston Smith and Matilda Jane Stevens.

Jak’s paternal grandmother was Aline M. Morris (the daughter of Theodus/Theodore Morris and Lucy Irvin). Aline was born in Arkansas.

Jak’s maternal grandfather was Robert Earl Oatis (the son of Claude Oatis and Sallie B. Cooper). Robert was born in Louisiana, to parents from Mississippi. Claude was the son of George Washington Oatis and Magie Oatis. Sallie was the daughter of Ben Cooper and Bertha Miller.

Jak’s maternal grandmother was Earnestine/Ernestine White (the daughter of Walter S. White and Etta Mae Connolly). Earnestine’s parents were born in Mississippi. Walter was the son of Walter White and Flaiszellor White. Etta was the daughter of James Carver Connolly and Gilespie Renfroe.

Jak was a second cousin, three times removed, of actor James Earl Jones. Jak’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents, Brice Connolly and Parthenia, were also James’ maternal great-grandparents.

Sources: Genealogy of Jak’s paternal grandparents, Jessy Rodger Smith and Aline M. Morris – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogies of Jak’s maternal grandparents, Robert Earl Oatis and Earnestine/Ernestine White – https://www.familysearch.org