Keegan-Michael Key

Keegan-Michael Key Headshot

Actor • Comedian • Writer • Host

Birth Date: March 22, 1971

Age: 53 years old

Birth Place: Southfield, Michigan. USA

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."

Credits

IF

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Slime
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2024

Transformers One

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Bumblebee
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2024

Super Mario Bros.: O Filme - Extras

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2023

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

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2023
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2023
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2023
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2022
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2021
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GMA3: What You Need to Know

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Game On!

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Game On!

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Feeding America Comedy Festival

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Embry
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2020
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Green Eggs and Ham: The Second Serving

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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — Adventure AwaitsStream

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2019

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

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2019

The Dark Crystal: Age of ResistanceStream

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2019
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The Shop: Uninterrupted

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2019
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Playing With Fire

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Dolemite Is My NameStream

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2019
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2018

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2018
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Kevin Hart: What the Fit

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2018
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Ethan
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2017
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Live with Kelly and Ryan

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Dave
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2017
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Win It All

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Rock the Troops

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Key & Peele Sportsball Spectacular

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2016

Red Nose Day

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2016

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Helmut FröntBüt
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2016
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MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion

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2016

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Don't Think Twice

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2016

Why Him?

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Now That's Funny! On Set With TV's Hottest Comedies: A Paley Center for Media Special

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2014

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2014
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2014
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Whose Line Is It Anyway?Stream

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Hell Baby

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Live! With Kelly and Michael

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Key & PeeleStream

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2012
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2012
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2012
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2009
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2009
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Big Saturday Night

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Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

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Parks and RecreationStream

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2009
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Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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2008
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2005
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Real Time With Bill MaherStream

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Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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Last Call With Carson Daly

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The Planet's Funniest Animals

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EP Daily

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The View

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Access Hollywood

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1995
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Late Show With David Letterman

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Jazzy James
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News aboutKeegan-Michael Key

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