Alex Burrall: The Child Actor Who Played Young Michael Jackson – Where Is He Now?

In 1992, millions of viewers tuned in to ABC’s The Jacksons: An American Dream and watched a young boy bring the childhood of Michael Jackson to life on screen. That boy was Alex Burrall. He was just nine years old at the time, but his performance captured something real — the raw energy, the dance moves, and the wide-eyed ambition of a kid destined to become the King of Pop. It was the kind of role most child actors dream about. And then, almost as quickly as he’d appeared, Alex Burrall vanished from Hollywood.

Born Alexandre Mikhael Burrall on March 24, 1983, in Los Angeles County, California, he’s now 42 years old and living far from the spotlight. His story isn’t one of scandal or controversy. It’s something rarer in the entertainment world — a clean exit. Here’s what we know about the child actor who played young Michael Jackson, and what he’s been up to since.

Early Life and Background

Where Was Alex Burrall Born and Raised?

Alex Burrall was born on March 24, 1983, in Los Angeles County, California. Growing up in L.A. put him at the center of the entertainment industry from the start. The city has long been a breeding ground for child actors, and Burrall was no exception. He entered the acting world at a young age, landing work during a time when made-for-TV movies and miniseries were a staple of network television.

Los Angeles in the late 1980s and early 1990s was a busy place for young performers. Casting calls were constant, and studios were always looking for fresh faces. Burrall’s early exposure to this environment set the stage for what would become his most memorable role.

Who Are Alex Burrall’s Parents?

Details about Alex Burrall’s parents and family background haven’t been made public. This isn’t unusual for child actors from the early 1990s — many families chose to keep their personal lives out of the press, especially when their children were minors working in the industry. What we do know is that his family was based in the Los Angeles area, which made access to auditions and acting opportunities relatively straightforward.

Alex Burrall as Young Michael Jackson

What Role Did Alex Burrall Play?

Alex Burrall’s claim to fame is his portrayal of a young Michael Jackson in the 1992 ABC miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. The two-part television event aired on November 15 and 18, 1992, and told the story of the Jackson family’s rise from humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana, to global superstardom.

The miniseries was a big deal. It covered the early years of The Jackson 5, the family’s internal struggles, and the complicated relationship between the Jackson children and their father, Joe Jackson. Burrall was tasked with playing Michael during his childhood years — the period when the young singer was already showing signs of extraordinary talent while navigating a demanding home life.

For a nine-year-old, it was a massive responsibility. Michael Jackson was still one of the biggest names in music in 1992. His album Dangerous had been released just a year earlier, and he remained a global icon. Playing the childhood version of someone that famous required more than just acting chops. Burrall had to capture the physicality — the dancing, the stage presence, the energy that made Michael Jackson a star before he hit his teens.

By most accounts, he pulled it off. The miniseries drew strong ratings for ABC, and Burrall’s performance was a key part of that success. He brought a believable mix of innocence and determination to the role, making viewers feel like they were watching the real origins of a legend.

The cast also included Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Joe Jackson and Angela Bassett as Katherine Jackson, both of whom delivered strong performances. But it was the child actors, Burrall included, who gave the early portions of the miniseries their emotional weight.

Career and Professional Life

What Happened to Alex Burrall After The Jacksons?

This is the question that comes up most often when people remember Alex Burrall. After The Jacksons: An American Dream, his acting career didn’t continue in any visible way. He didn’t land another high-profile role. He didn’t transition into teen acting or adult film work. He simply stepped away.

There’s no public record of a dramatic reason behind his departure from acting. No reported fallout with studios, no publicized personal issues. It appears that Burrall — or more likely, his family — made a conscious decision to leave the industry. This was the early-to-mid 1990s, and the pressure on child actors was already well-documented. Several former child stars from that era have spoken about the toll the industry took on their mental health and personal development.

For Burrall, the choice to walk away may have been the healthiest one he could make. The list of child actors who struggled after early fame is long and well-known. By contrast, Burrall’s quiet exit suggests a family that prioritized normalcy over continued exposure.

Since retiring from acting, Burrall has maintained an extremely low public profile. He doesn’t appear to have an active presence on major social media platforms, and he hasn’t given interviews about his time in the industry. This level of privacy is rare for anyone who appeared on a major network television event, but it’s clearly been a deliberate choice.

Personal Life

Where is Alex Burrall Now?

As of 2026, Alex Burrall’s current whereabouts and personal life remain private. There’s no verified information about whether he’s married, has children, or what profession he’s pursued since leaving acting. He doesn’t maintain a public social media presence under his known name, and he hasn’t appeared at reunions, conventions, or retrospective events related to the Jackson miniseries.

This kind of complete withdrawal from public life is uncommon but not unheard of. Some former child actors genuinely prefer anonymity and go to great lengths to maintain it. Burrall seems to fall squarely into that category. He was a child performer for a brief window in the early 1990s, and he chose not to let that define the rest of his life.

It’s also sometimes listed under the alternate spelling “Alex Burrel,” which has occasionally caused confusion in online databases. His full legal name remains Alexandre Mikhael Burrall.

Alex Burrall’s Net Worth in 2026

How Much is Alex Burrall Worth?

There’s no reliable estimate of Alex Burrall’s net worth. Various celebrity net worth sites either skip him entirely or offer figures that can’t be verified. Given that his acting career consisted primarily of one major role more than 30 years ago, any estimate would be speculative at best.

What we can say is that compensation for child actors in network television miniseries during the early 1990s varied widely. SAG-AFTRA (then SAG) had minimum rates for television performers, but the actual pay depended on negotiation, screen time, and the production’s budget. Without specific contract details, it’s impossible to say what Burrall earned for his role in The Jacksons: An American Dream.

Whatever his current financial situation, it’s clearly not something he’s chosen to make public. And given his overall approach to privacy, that’s consistent with everything else we know about him.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who played young Michael Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream?

Alex Burrall (born Alexandre Mikhael Burrall) played the young Michael Jackson in the 1992 ABC miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. He was approximately nine years old at the time of filming.

How old is Alex Burrall?

Alex Burrall is 42 years old as of 2026. He was born on March 24, 1983, in Los Angeles County, California, making his zodiac sign Aries.

What happened to Alex Burrall?

After his role in The Jacksons: An American Dream, Alex Burrall retired from acting and has lived a private life ever since. He didn’t pursue further roles in film or television, and he hasn’t spoken publicly about his time in the industry.

Where is Alex Burrall now?

Alex Burrall’s current location and activities are not publicly known. He maintains no visible social media presence and has stayed out of the public eye since the 1990s. He appears to have chosen a life of complete privacy after his brief acting career.