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'He is a special kid': St. Louis child actor starring in new film on Amazon Prime

"The Underdoggs" premieres Friday on Prime Video.

O'FALLON, Mo. — You can spot a St. Louis native in the latest Amazon Prime film, "The Underdoggs."

The film starring well-known actors like Snoop Dogg, Mike Epps, George Lopez and Tika Sumpter will be released on Jan. 26. 

This comedy is about a coach teaching a little league football team how to play the game. 

Jonigan Booth, 12, from O'Fallon, Missouri, will also be in the film. He plays No. 8 on the football team. 

This is Jonigan's second time landing a role in Hollywood. He was first cast as an actor for the hit NBC show "This is Us." He played "young Marcus."

Jonica Booth, his sister, helped him land "The Underdoggs" role. She is an actress and coached him throughout the film. 

Jonica said during filming in Atlanta, Georgia her brother started experiencing serious pain in his stomach. He was taken to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. 

The film was put on hold for about two months while Jonigan recovered, he said. 

Jonigan enjoyed filming the movie. 

"It didn't feel like work," he said. "We would have rap battles on set. Everybody tried to wanted to beat Snoop Dog."

Jonigan said he went home and practiced one night.

"I beat him one time," Jonigan said. 

He wants to continue acting and hopes to film a show with his sister, Jonica, someday. 

"He is a special kid," Jonica said. 

Credit: Shay Williams
Los Angeles Premiere- Jonica and Jonigan Booth
Credit: Shay Williams
His manager, Cheryl Martin, his publicist, Mike Liotta, Jonigan Booth, and his mother, Shay Williams.

The City Foundry will host a premier for Jonigan in St. Louis on Thursday night.

Jonigan's family will also host a watch party at Star'z Sports Bar on Friday night. 

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