C.J. Valleroy's fascination with acting began at the tender age of six, sparked by a memorable kitchen combat scene between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in the 2005 film Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Little did he know that eight years later, he would be cast in the role of the spirited and rebellious young Louie Zamperini in the Angelina Jolie-directed feature Unbroken, which premiered globally on Christmas Day in 2014.
Born in Oklahoma City, C.J. and his family relocated to Altamonte Springs, Florida when he was just six months old. At the age of 10, he embarked on a modeling and dancing career, and by 14, he had made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue his passion for the entertainment industry.
Within his first year in Los Angeles, C.J. made his television debut in 2013 as Max in Nickelodeon's Deadtime Stories. The following year, he made his film debut in Unbroken, the remarkable true story of Louis Zamperini, a troubled youth who channeled his defiance into running and became an international track star at the Berlin Olympics. As World War II broke out, Zamperini enlisted as an airman, where he survived a plane crash and several Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. Most recently, C.J. was cast as Charlie Drake in Amblin Entertainment/TNT's 2015 pilot Lumen, the story of a boy who accidentally transports his entire family into the world of a writer's creation.
At the heart of C.J.'s daily life is his dedication to charity work. Inspired by his aunt's long battle with cancer, he began knitting caps for her, one for each month. When she passed away, she asked him to continue knitting, and he has since created hundreds of knitted caps for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and Ronald McDonald Houses across the country.
Between filming, C.J. continues to nurture his passion for dancing, which he has been involved with since he began walking. His most recent engagement was as a 2014 SparKid dancer for halftime performances at LA Sparks games.