TJ Hassan's life journey was marked by a series of moves overseas until he finally settled in the United States in 1993. Born into a family of seven children, TJ was the middle child of a microbiologist father and a stay-at-home mother. His childhood experiences laid the foundation for his future endeavors.
TJ's early career was marked by a stint in corporate management and a passion for music, which he pursued by playing with several local bands. However, his life took a dramatic turn in 2007 when he enrolled in an improvisational class to overcome his fear of public speaking, which had been triggered by a recent job promotion. This marked the beginning of his journey as an actor.
TJ's acting career gained momentum with his involvement in several staged productions, including the 3rd Space Theatre production of Chicago Cab in 1997 and his membership in the Atlanta improv comedy troupe "Whole World Theatre". His breakthrough role came in 2008 when Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks cast him as American blues musician Lonnie Johnson in the biopic Who Do You Love, opposite Alessandro Nivola and Chi McBride.
In 2009, TJ made the bold decision to leave corporate America and pursue acting full-time. This move proved to be a wise one, as he soon landed a recurring role on the Lifetime original series Army Wives and several bit parts in films such as Lottery Ticket and For Colored Girls. In 2010, he was cast as one of the lead characters in the Comedy Central produced series M'larky, opposite Dan Fogler, Gilbert Gottfried, and Jeffrey Ross.
TJ's impressive resume continued to grow, with roles in the ABC Family film My Future Boyfriend and the comedy film The Change-Up, opposite Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds. With his fear of public speaking now a distant memory, TJ Hassan had established himself as a talented and versatile actor, with a bright future ahead.
