McLaughlin began his career playing Young Simba in the Broadway musical The Lion King, followed by small roles in television.

He then went on to have guest-starring roles in television series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Unforgettable, Forever, What Would You Do?, and Shades of Blue.

[4] In 2020, McLaughlin made his feature film debut in Concrete Cowboy, along with costars Idris Elba and Jharrel Jerome.

[9] McLaughlin has spearheaded the social media campaigns #EmbraceYourFace and #BeYourBiggestFan, promoting healthy body image, positivity and self-esteem.

"[4] In 2020, McLaughlin also encouraged people to vote in the 2020 US presidential election, posting a video on his official Instagram account with links to the non-profit organization Vote.org.