Sophia Lillis Twin Brother Actor Jake Lillis Got His Prosthetic Legs In 2012
Sophia Lillis twin brother Jake Lillis is an actor and amputee athlete. Jake and Sophia appeared in a 2017 short movie called Tiny Mammals.
Lillis became an overnight star after her playing the role of Beverly Marsh in the 2017 horror movie It and its 2019 sequel It Chapter Two.
The genre-defying film instantly launched the career of many of its cast members, including Bill Skarsgard, Finn Wolfhard, Jeeden Martell, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyett Oleff, and Jeremy Ray Taylor.
Making it big in acting at a young age usually has a negative effect on an individual's career as many famous child actors fail to maintain successful careers when they grow up. However, Sophia appears to be an exception to this rule as she has been getting impactful roles even after years of making her breakthrough.
Lillis has been a part of critically and financially successful movies and TV shows, including Sharp Objects, Uncle Frank, and I Am Not Okay with This.
Most recently in 2023, Sophia performed in the children's game-inspired movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. While Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez play leading roles, actors like Rege-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Daisy Head, and Hugh Grant appear as supporting characters.
Jake Lillis Is Known For Tiny Mammals
Sophia Lillis brother Jake Lillis is an American actor and social media influencer. At the same time, Jake is also a college student.
Jake is best known for appearing alongside his sister in the 2017 short film, Tiny Mammals. The video featured Jake and Sophia in the leading roles of Jacob and Sophia, respectively.
Set in rural Texas, the film revolves around 12-year-old twins who set out to collect special bibles. However, after a storm hits the town, their trailer park gets evacuated and the siblings are left behind to survive on their own.
Written and directed by Dagny Looper, the film's cast members include Beth Grant, Elizabeth Henry, Fae Leonard-Mann, Anastasia Veronica Lee, Lucy Walters, and Willoughby Pyle, among others.
Besides the short movie, Jake has appeared as a guest on The Real Housewives of New York City in 2012.
Similarly, Jake was also a subject of the 2011 documentary My Really Cool Legs.
The documentary shows the stories of many inspirational pediatric amputee athletes, including Jake. The movie is focused on the athletes' journey of challenging their limits and rising above their disabilities.
Directed by Suzanne Guacci, the documentary covers athletes involved in sports like skiing, ice skating, running, and more. The cast members include Haley Tyrrell, Cate Hughes, Sofia Castillo, Amy Palmiero-Winters, and Rachel Grusse.
In recent years, Lillis has emerged as an influential figure on social media. His Instagram account, which goes by @jakelillis, has over 56k followers. He also has over 3.5k followers on Twitter.
He Has Prosthetic Legs
Jake Lillis legs were amputated when he was still a young child. Jake eventually got a pair of prosthetic limbs at the age of ten.
Jake had been a running enthusiast ever since he was able to walk. He also regularly participated in sporting activities like skiing and performed in triathlon events.
Lillis was forced to discontinue his sporting ventures after losing his legs. However, witnessing his determination and positive attitude, the One Step Ahead Foundation sponsored him with prosthetic legs in 2012.
The actor received a pair of above-knee prosthetics along with KXO6 hydraulic knees. Over the years, Jake has served as an advocate for the foundation that helped him to run again. He has inspired millions of differently-abled kids with his "never give up" attitude.
What Happened To Jake Lillis?
Jake Lillis condition is called Chagas disease; it is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma.
Lillis was a prepubescent child when he was diagnosed with the health condition. The disease caused him to lose his legs and suffer severe deformation of his hands.
The parasite that causes the Chagas disease is only found in North America, Central America, and South America. It is primarily transmitted by blood-sucking bugs.
These bugs mostly remain domain during the day and become active at night. They approach a sleeping individual and bite on their faces to suck blood. After they finish, the bugs defecate on the person's skin.
If the triatomine bug's poop touches open flesh or enters the person's body through the nose, the individual has a high chance of getting diagnosed with the disease. Meanwhile, it can also be transmitted through other ways like blood transfusions, laboratory exposure, eating food contaminated with bug feces, or organ transplantation.
According to CDC, over 8 million people suffer from the disease in Central America and South America, including Mexico.
The disease can be easily treated with medicines like nifurtimox and benznidazole in case of early diagnosis. However, in many cases, the patients don't show signs of the symptoms for years.
If left untreated, the condition can lead to heart failure, enlarged heart, cardiac arrest, enlarged esophagus, and even death in some cases.
Sophia Lillis Was Born To David Lillis And Juliana Mellevold
Sophia Lillis parents are David Lillis and Juliana Mellevold. The Lillis family also includes her stepfather Chris Mellevold and stepbrother Philip Mellevold.
Sophia was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 13, 2002. As of 2023, David and Juliana are divorced and living separate lives.
The former couple reportedly divorced when the actress and her twin sibling were still kids.
David Lillis
David is a digital advertising consultant and technologist. He currently works at a company called Craft Worldwide, also known as Craft WW.
Lillis joined the company as a senior developer back in June 2018. He was later promoted to the tech lead of display ads in March 2021.
Before Craft WW, David was employed at an advertising company called R/GA for over eight years. At R/GA, he held the positions of senior creative technologist and tech lead.
Likewise, Lillis also previously worked for several other businesses, including MRM/McCann, RMG Connect, Cheil Communications, and McGarryBowen.
According to his LinkedIn, Sophia's father attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Computer Graphics and Interactive Media.
Juliana Mellevold
Juliana is a lawyer by profession. Born Juliana Marit Moday on June 27, 1966; she is currently 56 years old.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Mellevold attended Smith College from 1985 to 1988. She later joined Tulane University Law School in 1990 for her JD.
During her career as a lawyer, Juliana has worked for firms like Fox Horan & Cameron LLP, Xtract Research LLC, and more. She has been a member of the New York City Bar Association for 29 years since 1994.
Juliana Is Married To Christopher Mellevold
Sophia Lillis mother Juliana is married to a man named Christopher Mellevold. The couple has been married for over 14 years since 2008.
Christopher is a successful photographer in New York. Further, he is also the one who first encouraged Sophie to pursue an acting career. Based on his suggestion, the It actress joined Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute located in Manhattan.
Besides his work in photography, Mellevold is also a lawyer and a partner at Pryor Cashman LLP. He initially graduated with a BA degree from Syracuse University in 1983. He later received his law degree from the Pace University School of Law.
Christopher has a son from his former relationship called Philip John Mellevold. Philip works as a chef and also helps raise awareness about cancer.
