Kenan Thompson
, Thompson in November 2007
Born
(1978-05-10) May 10, 1978 (age 34), Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation
Actor, comedian
Years active
1994-present
Spouse(s)
Christina Evangeline (2011-present)
Website
www.kenanthompson.net
Kenan Thompson (born May 10, 1978) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work as an original cast member of Nickelodeon's sketch comedy series All That in his teenage years and his current work as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. Thompson is also known for his roles in the sitcom Kenan & Kel and the films Good Burger and Fat Albert. In his early career he often collaborated with fellow comedian and All That cast member Kel Mitchell. He ranked at #88 on VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars.
Early life and career:
Thompson was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Fletcher and Elizabeth Ann Thompson. He has one sibling, Kerwin Thompson. He began acting at age 15, appearing in the school play The Gingerbread Duck. One of his earliest roles was as an entertainment reporter for CNN's "Real News for Kids", and he would go on to star in All That, and Kenan & Kel. While Kenan attended Tri-Cities High School, a Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School in East Point, Georgia, he began filming his first movie, D2: The Mighty Ducks.
Film and television career:
Kenan has starred in several films including Good Burger, based on the All That sketch of the same name, and Fat Albert, in which he played the title character. He has also had supporting roles in the movies Heavyweights, D2: The Mighty Ducks, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, My Boss's Daughter, and Snakes on a Plane. Kenan had a recurring role on The Steve Harvey Show as Junior, with co-star Kel Mitchell. Recently, he returned to Nickelodeon for the show The Mighty B! as the voice of Rocky Rhodes. He also guest-starred on iCarly as himself.
In 2009, Thompson was a regular voice actor in the Fox cartoon series, Sit Down, Shut Up, portraying Sue Sezno, who, as evidenced by her last name, always says no. The series premiered on April 19, 2009, but was canceled after only four episodes due to low ratings and less than favorable reviews. Thompson provided the voice for the LeBron James puppet in Nike's MVP "Most Valuable Puppets" commercials, which were produced to be shown throughout the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Thompson also guest starred on the USA Network TV show Psych, Season 4's "High Top Fade Out" (episode 7). He played an estranged college singing buddy of the character Gus. In 2011 he briefly returned to Nickelodeon, as he guest starred in "iParty with Victorious", a crossover episode of TV sitcoms "iCarly" and "Victorious". Thompson is the current host of TeenNick's 1990's programming block, The '90s Are All That.
Saturday Night Live:
Kenan Thompson returned to sketch comedy when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2003, becoming the first SNL cast member to be born after SNL's premiere in 1975 and the first SNL cast member to have been a cast member on children's shows (All That and Kenan and Kel). His comedy partner and friend, Kel Mitchell also auditioned to be on SNL, but only Kenan Thompson made it. Thompson was a feature player until 2005 (spanning the 29th and 30th seasons), and was promoted to repertory player at the beginning of season 31 (the 2005-2006 season). As of September 2012, Kenan has spent ten years in the cast of Saturday Night Live, tying him with former cast member Tim Meadows for longest running African-American cast member.
Personal life:
Thompson married Christina Evangeline on November 11, 2011.
SNL characters:
Thompson's recurring characters on Saturday Night Live include:
Deandre Cole (a talk-show host whose entire show, BET's "What Up With That?," is little more than an extended musical number),
Barbara Birmingham (a chain-smoking nanny with outre advice on disciplining children),
DJ Dynasty Handbag from MTV4's Deep House Dish,
Jake Denmont (Mrs. Denmont's son on Appalachian Emergency Room),
Jean K. Jean (a French Def Comedy Jam performer),
Lorenzo Macintosh (an imprisoned convict hired by local authorities to scare juvenile delinquents straight by using movie references. Is often partnered with other criminals--played by the host, including a memorable role in which Lindsay Lohan played herself as a convict),
Oscar Rogers (a financial analyst whose only advice for solving the current economic crisis is to "fix it!"),
Virginiaca Hastings, a sassy woman who flirts with store clerks and has a string of stepchildren (played by Ellen Page, Justin Timberlake, Scarlett Johansson, and Blake Lively),
Dave "Beef Jelly" Winfield, one of the comedians in the "Original Kings of Catchphrase Comedy" video series,
Steve Kane: Booker T. Washington High School's coach who always barks at the kids to shut up and defends Principal Frye (Jay Pharoah) and the teachers during school functions.,
Celebrity impersonations:
Al Roker,
Al Sharpton,
Alfonso Ribeiro (as Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air),
apl.de.ap,
Aretha Franklin,
B.B. King,
Barry Bonds,
Bernie Mac,
Bill Cosby (whom Thompson also impersonated on All That),
Bobbi Kristina Brown,
Boyd Tinsley,
Cee Lo Green,
Chaka Khan,
Charles Barkley,
Charles Rangel,
Chris Clark,
Colin Powell,
Dr. Cornel West,
Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish,
Desmond Tutu,
Don King,
Emmanuel Lewis,
Esther Rolle (as Florida Evans on Good Times),
Flavor Flav,
Fred Berry,
Gary Coleman,
George Clinton,
George Foreman,
Greg Gumbel,
Herman Cain,
Ice Cube,
James Brown,
James Harrison,
Jennifer Hudson,
Jeremiah Wright,
Jimmy McMillan,
Lil' Kim,
LL Cool J,
Leslie David Baker (as Stanley Hudson),
Louis Armstrong,
Maya Angelou,
Marlon Brando,
Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Michael Clark Duncan,
Michael Steele,
Mo'Nique,
Nipsey Russell,
O.J. Simpson,
Patti LaBelle,
Plaxico Burress,
Quincy Jones,
Randy Jackson,
Raven-Symoné,
Ray Lewis,
Reba McEntire,
Roland Burris,
Sammy Sosa,
Serena Williams,
Sinbad,
Sir Mix-A-Lot,
Star Jones,
Steve Harvey,
Stuart Scott,
Tiger Woods,
Tim Scott,
Tyler Perry,
Ving Rhames,
Wanda Sykes,
Whitman Mayo (as Grady Wilson),
Whoopi Goldberg,
will.i.am,
William "The Refrigerator" Perry,
Donovan McNabb's mother, Wilma,
Kanye West (vocal impression only; Jay Pharoah later performed a physical and vocal impersonation of Kanye West),
SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels,
Theodore Roosevelt,
Filmography:
Film:
Year
Title
Role
1994
D2: The Mighty Ducks
Russ Tyler
1995
Heavyweights
Roy
1996
D3: The Mighty Ducks
Russ Tyler
1997
Good Burger
Dexter Reed
2000
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
Lewis
2002
Big Fat Liar
Party Guest
2002
The Master of Disguise
Guy on Computer
2003
Love Don't Cost a Thing
Walter Colley
2003
My Boss's Daughter
Hans
2004
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
Kenard
2004
Fat Albert
Fatty Albert
2006
Snakes on a Plane
Troy
2008
Space Chimps
Ringmaster
2008
Wieners
Wyatt
2009
Stan Helsing
Teddy
2011
The Smurfs
Greedy Smurf
2012
The Magic of Belle Isle
Henry
Television:
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1994-1999
All That
Various Roles
Main role, 102 episodes
1996-1998
The Steve Harvey Show
Junior
4 episodes
1996-2000
Kenan & Kel
Kenan Rockmore
Main role, 68 episodes
1997
Sister, Sister
Trevor
Episode: "Inherit the Twin"
1998
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Himself
Guest Appearance, Episode: "Sabrina's Choice"
1999
The Amanda Show
Himself
Guest Appearance, Episode 1.1
Cousin Skeeter
Kenan Rockmore
Episode: "The Hoo, I'm Wild Wild West"
1999-2000
Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Host
2000
Two Heads Are Better Than None
Kenan Rockmore
Kenan & Kel TV movie
The Parkers
Damon
Episode: "Trading Places"
2001
Felicity
DeForrest Ingram
4 Episodes
2002
Off Centre
MC French
2 Episodes
2003-Present
Saturday Night Live
Various Roles
2006
Wild 'N Out
Himself
Black Team Leader
2007
Crank Yankers
Mark Thomas
Episode 4.1
2009
Psych
Joon
Episode: "High Top Fade Out"
Sit Down, Shut Up
Sue Sezno
13 Episodes
2011
iCarly
Himself
Episode: iParty With Victorious
The '90s Are All That
Host
Source: Wikipedia
Text from this biography licensed under creative commons license
Source: Wikipedia
Text from this biography licensed under creative commons license