Jonathan Majors was surprised on Tamron Hall by his college drama professor


Creed III had a big opener last weekend, pulling in more than $100 million globally. It opened bigger than either of the first two films, which bodes well for the stars, like Jonathan Majors, and Michael B. Jordan as a director. The same day the movie premiered, Jonathan appeared on the Tamron Hall Show and got a really nice surprise. His drama professor from University of North Carolina taped a nice message for him and then joined the show for a live video call.

Jonathan Majors was recently surprised with a virtual visit from one of his college instructors, and the tears came rolling in.

During an appearance on the “Tamron Hall Show” on Friday, the “Creed III” actor received a video call from his former drama instructor Ashley Gates Jansen, who taught him in his freshman year at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

“He came to the school with a passion, devotion and an intensity like I’ve never seen before,” Jansen said in a pre-recorded tape. She added, “Jonathan is a warrior, and he is a poet.”

Jansen then appeared in the segment for a live video call with the actor. She congratulated Majors for the premiere of “Creed III,” which hit theaters on Friday.

“I am so proud of you,” she said before adding, “It is such a dream for me, a dream come true, watching your dreams come true.”

“I love you,” Majors responded while tearing up. “I’m happy to see you.”

He then said, “Thank you for doing this. I appreciate it. You OK? Everybody all right?”

After graduating from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Majors later received his master’s degree from Yale School of Drama in 2016.

Majors stars in several films this year, including “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Creed III.”

In “Creed III,” Majors plays antagonist Damian, who’s pit against Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan. Jordan makes his directorial debut in the film.

[From HuffPost.com]

Aw, this is definitely the feel good story of the week. While I’m sure the international recognition Jonathan is receiving is nice, I imagine it’s more satisfying and heartwarming to get a message like this from someone who knew you when. Praise from randos after you hit it big is probably not as significant as hearing it from someone who actually had an impact on you. I also didn’t realize he’d gone to UNC School of the Arts. Yale is, of course, name-checked a lot more, but obviously UNC School of the Arts was a very formative experience for Jonathan and the conversation with his professor reflects that. This is so sweet! I haven’t seen Creed III yet, but I’m looking forward to it.

Also, Jonathan and MBJ were caught on camera checking out Pay or Wait reporter Sharronda Williams as she walked away after an interview. They would have been subtle if not for the cameras and it’s a pretty gif-able moment. They look so cute in their matching moto jackets and honestly, the clip made me wish I still worked in journalism. That could have been me!

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos credit: Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon, Tina Korhonen/Avalon, James Shaw Avalon and Getty

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16 Responses to “Jonathan Majors was surprised on Tamron Hall by his college drama professor”

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  1. UNCDancer says:

    I am calling it now: Jonathan Majors is going to go down as one of the country’s greatest actors. Everything he’s been in is so good even the ridiculous role in Ant-man. Also, I hate to be this person but I have degrees from both of them: The University of North Carolina and The University of North Carolina School of the Arts are two separate universities, not the same thing.

  2. Jillian says:

    Jonathan Majors has blown me away in everything I’ve seen, he is just so captivating and charismatic. Brilliant actor. I’m even planning to see that stupid Ant Man mess 🙂

    • K.Tate says:

      @jillian 😂😂 I’m calling all the ant man movies that from now on!! (I’m watching too 👀)

  3. Nanea says:

    While I first came across JM in Lovecraft Country (and I’m still salty it was canceled after one season), JM as Kang in Loki I Pt. 6 was a revelation.

    So looking forward to seeing a lot more of him.

    • Lala11_7 says:

      I haven’t felt about an actor the way I feel about Majors in….DECADES! The LAST actor that ignited my “Ohh…Lala” button was Tom Hardy…before that it was Daniel Craig…before THAT…Clive Owen’s (a bit of a theme😝)….I haven’t felt like THIS regarding an actor since Billy Dee Williams circa the 1970s…and the fact that he dosen’t trigger my Scorpio ♏️ intuition…IS HEAVEN❣️

  4. aftershocks says:

    I was first introduced to Jonathan Majors in the film, The Last Black Man in San Francisco. He’s an amazing actor. I love how his former acting teacher calls him ‘a poet.’ So true! I have to catch up with everything Majors has been doing recently. I’ve been mesmerized by his interviews that I’ve seen on YouTube.

    I hope one day soon that Majors would portray Canada Lee in a film about Canada Lee’s iconic early 1940s portrayal of Native Son on Broadway, which was directed by Orson Welles. 🤞

    • Lala11_7 says:

      You…me the SAME regarding Canada Lee or Paul Robeson…UNIVERSE HEAR OUR PLEA❣️

      • aftershocks says:

        Yep @Lala11_7! It’s nice to know I’m not alone in my wish! You’re so right about Majors being perfect to portray both Canada Lee and Paul Robeson!! I do hope it happens. Drawing on the iconic past of African American actors and the important influence of Black theater in the 20th-century is essential, yet little known, understood, or investigated. There’s also Ira Aldridge, the accomplished 19th-century African American Shakespearean actor and playwright, who worked in England and traveled throughout Europe doing shows.

  5. Jais says:

    Whew, I saw this clip over the wknd and it had me crying.

  6. StellainNH says:

    Jonathan blew me away in Lovecraft Country. I’m glad he’s doing well.

  7. CommentingBunny says:

    Honk for Jonathan? Can we do that? He is such a great actor. I wish Ant-man was just him and Michelle Pfeiffer; they were by far the best part. And he somehow combines smoking hot with adorable. Plus all that talent. He’s awesome.

  8. TIFFANY says:

    Apparently Magazine Dreams, his indie film that premiered at Sundance, will be his award run film. He could very well be a award winning actor within the next year or two. I cannot wait.

  9. Mel says:

    I think these two are going to go down as the best of their generation. I knew when I first saw MBJ on All My Children that he was going to be a big star, he snatched EVERY scene he was in. I don’t know Jonathan Majors work that well, but my husband and kid are fans. I’m looking forward to watching where these two go.

  10. j.ferber says:

    I am so excited to see Creed 3. I’ll try to see it this Friday and can’t wait!

  11. AngryJayne says:

    I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen him in (including Ant-Man) and I’m glad that his career is really gaining momentum.
    Also- that clip is hilarious lol