Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1971-03-22
- Born Place: Southfield, Michigan, USA
Keegan-Michael Key
Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer, widely regarded as a master of sketch comedy and improvisation. Born in Southfield, Michigan, he was adopted and raised in Detroit by a biracial couple, a background that later informed much of his comedic material. After earning advanced degrees in theater from the University of Detroit Mercy and Pennsylvania State University, he honed his craft at The Second City before becoming a cast member on the sketch comedy series MADtv from 2004 to 2009.Key's career reached superstar status when he co-created and co-starred with Jordan Peele in the groundbreaking Comedy Central series Key & Peele (2012–2015). Known for its sharp social commentary, cultural satire, and iconic characters—such as President Obama’s "anger translator" Luther—the show earned a Peabody Award and multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.Following the success of Key & Peele, Key has maintained a prolific career in film and television. His notable film roles include Keanu (2016), Dolemite Is My Name (2019), and Wonka (2023), as well as a significant amount of voice work in major animated features like The Lion King (2019), Toy Story 4 (2019), The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), and the Hotel Transylvania franchise. On television, he has starred in the musical comedy series Schmigadoon! (2021–2023) and the comedy series Friends from College and had recurring roles in Parks and Recreation and Fargo. He also made his Broadway debut in the play Meteor Shower.
