Keegan-Michael Key

Actor • Comedian • Writer • Host

Birth Date: March 22, 1971

Age: 54 years old

Birth Place: Southfield, Michigan

Spouses: Elle Key

Awards

Though many comedy fans were first introduced to Keegan-Michael Key as a cast member on "MADtv" (Fox, 1995-2016), he truly became a household name thanks to his sketch comedy series "Key and Peele" (Comedy Central, 2012-15). Born in Southfield, Michigan in 1971 to an African American father and white mother, Key was adopted by parents who, by chance, reflected the same racial makeup. Key would later cite the regular "code switching" he engaged in between the two cultures within his family as contributing to his interest in playing different characters. Key eventually earned a bachelor's degree in theater from the University of Detroit Mercy as well as a master's from Pennsylvania State University. He was a mainstage cast member at Detroit's Second City improv theater before relocating to Chicago to join that city's even more prestigious Second City location.

After a few years, he made the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career on screen, where he slowly began to accrue credits with appearances on "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009) and in the film "Uncle Nino" (2002).

In 2004, Key was cast on the sketch comedy series "MADtv" along with another up-and-coming comedy performer named Jordan Peele. Key played a number of beloved recurring characters on the show such as Eugene Struthers and Coach Hines, and when he left the show in 2009, he and castmate Peele opted to pitch their own series to Comedy Central. "Key and Peele" proved both a critical and commercial hit, with Key's regular characters like Luther the Anger Translator becoming pop culture sensations. Key also appeared in recurring roles on "Fargo" (FX, 2014-) and "Parks and Recreation" (NBC, 2009-2015) at this time, in addition to co-starring with Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair on the largely improvised series "Playing House" (USA, 2014-17) and making a small but hilariously memorable appearance in the comedy "Let's Be Cops" (2014). When "Key and Peele" wrapped in 2015, he appeared in the feature film "Tomorrowland" (2015) and began providing the voice of American Ranger on the animated series "SuperMansion" (Crackle, 2015- ).

The next year, Key re-teamed with Peele for the absurdist comedy film "Keanu" (2016) and honored his roots as an improvisor with the sleeper hit "Don't Think Twice" (2016). Then in 2017, Key began starring on the comedy-drama series "Friends from College" (Netflix, 2017-19). Though the show lasted only two seasons, it was a major critical hit, increasing Key's reputation as not just a gifted comedian but a talented actor. He quickly moved forward, co-starring with Eddie Murphy in "Dolemite is My Name" (2019) as well as with John Cena in the family comedy "Playing with Fire" (2019), as well as reteaming with Peele as a double act in "Toy Story 4."

Keegan-Michael Key

Actor • Comedian • Writer • Host

Birth Date: March 22, 1971

Age: 54 years old

Birth Place: Southfield, Michigan

Spouses: Elle Key

Awards

Credits

ElsbethStream

IFStream

Transformers OneStream

Dear SantaStream

Transformers One

Super Mario Bros.: O Filme - Extras

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

The Super Mario Bros. MovieStream

WonkaStream

MigrationStream

RebootStream

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

The PentaverateStream

NFL Honors

Hotel Transylvania: TransformaniaStream

PinocchioStream

The BubbleStream

Wendell and WildStream

CBS Mornings

Schmigadoon!Stream

Pixar Popcorn

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Game On!

Game On!

Feeding America Comedy Festival

Brain Games: Bonus Round

All the Bright Places

The PromStream

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas JourneyStream

Green Eggs and Ham

Green Eggs and Ham: The Second Serving

WWE's The BumpStream

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — Adventure AwaitsStream

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

The Dark Crystal: Age of ResistanceStream

The Shop: Uninterrupted

Toy Story 4Stream

The Lion KingStream

Playing With Fire

Dolemite Is My NameStream

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: The Mark Twain Prize

Today 3rd Hour

GMA Day

Big Boy's Neighborhood

ImpulseStream

Kevin Hart: What the Fit

2 Dope QueensStream

The PredatorStream

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer VacationStream

Access Live

No ActivityStream

Friends From CollegeStream

Live with Kelly and Ryan

The History of ComedyStream

DetroitersStream

The StarStream

Win It All

Rock the Troops

Key & Peele Sportsball Spectacular

Harry

The Peabody Awards

Red Nose Day

Celebrity PageStream

Angie TribecaStream

MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion

The Angry Birds Movie

KeanuStream

KeanuStream

Storks

Don't Think Twice