Keegan-Michael Key: Difference between revisions
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Key and his comedy partner [[Jordan Peele]] will be working with [[Judd Apatow]] on a feature length film for [[Universal Pictures]].<ref>{{cite web|author= Mike Fleming Jr.|url=http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/key-peele-partners-team-with-judd-apatow-for-universal-pitch-deal/|title=‘Key & Peele’ Partners Team With Judd Apatow For Universal Pitch Deal|publisher=''Deadline''|date=November 13, 2013|accessdate=November 13, 2013}}</ref> |
Key and his comedy partner [[Jordan Peele]] will be working with [[Judd Apatow]] on a feature length film for [[Universal Pictures]].<ref>{{cite web|author= Mike Fleming Jr.|url=http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/key-peele-partners-team-with-judd-apatow-for-universal-pitch-deal/|title=‘Key & Peele’ Partners Team With Judd Apatow For Universal Pitch Deal|publisher=''Deadline''|date=November 13, 2013|accessdate=November 13, 2013}}</ref> |
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==Controversy== |
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In 2012 Key appeared on the Conan O'Brien show. During the interview Key, who is biracial, declared that "there is nothing more dangerous on planet earth then a black wife. Tsuanamis are number two and then black wives are number one." <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtfCUAppExw</ref>. |
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While Key has spoken out about the lack of diversity on SNL <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvtIDIUlVgU</ref> his comment alienated and baffled viewers with some vowing to discontinue support for his show Key & Peele. <ref>http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php?t=446037</ref> |
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== Filmography== |
== Filmography== |
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Revision as of 17:09, 27 May 2014
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Keegan-Michael Key | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Key at the Peabody Awards, May 2014 | |
| Born | March 22, 1971 |
| Occupation | Actor/Comedian |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse | Cynthia Blaise |
Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American actor and comedian best known for starring in the Comedy Central sketch series Key & Peele and for his six seasons as a cast member on MADtv. He also currently co-stars in the USA Network comedy series Playing House.
Early life
Key was born in Southfield, Michigan and raised in Detroit. His father is African-American and his mother is European-American. He was adopted as a child.[1] In 1989 he graduated from Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak, Michigan. Key attended the University of Detroit as an undergraduate and earned his Master of Fine Arts at the Pennsylvania State University School of Theatre. While at The University of Detroit Mercy, he was a brother of Phi Kappa Theta.
Career
MADtv
Key joined the cast of MADtv midway into the ninth season. He and Jordan Peele were cast against each other so that FOX could pick one black cast member, but both ended up being picked after demonstrating great comedic chemistry.
Key's characters include the semi-psychotic Coach Hines, who threatens students and others at school assemblies. On the penultimate episode of MADtv, Hines revealed that he is the long-lost heir to the Heinz Ketchup company and only became a Catholic school coach to help delinquent teenagers like Yamanashi (Bobby Lee). During seasons 9 and 10, Key appeared as "Dr. Funkenstein" in blaxploitation parodies, with Jordan Peele playing the monster.
Key also portrayed various guests on Real **********ing Talk like the strong African Rollo Johnson and blind victim Stevie Wonder Washington. He often goes "backstage" as Eugene Struthers, an always-ecstatic water- or flower-delivery man who accosts celebrities. There is also "Jovan Muskatelle", a shirtless man with a jheri curl and a shower cap. He interrupts live news broadcasts by a reporter (always played by Ike Barinholtz), annoying him with rapid fire accounts of events that have happened frequently exclaiming "It was crazy as hell!"
Celebrities that Key impersonated on the show include Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Matthew Lillard, Bill Cosby, Al Roker, Terrell Owens, Tyler Perry, Robin Antin, Keith Richards, Eddie Murphy (as his character James "Thunder" Early from the movie Dreamgirls), Sherman Hemsley (as his character George Jefferson on The Jeffersons), Charles Barkley, Sendhil Ramamurthy (as Mohinder Suresh), Tyson Beckford, Seal (originally played by Jordan Peele until Peele left the show at the end of season 13), Sidney Poitier, Lionel Richie, Barack Obama (ironically, Jordan Peele would play Obama on Key & Peele while Key would play Obama's anger translator, Luther) and Kobe Bryant.
He also played female celebrities, including Eva Longoria (as Gabrielle Solis on a "Desperate Housewives" parody), Rihanna (on Key and Peele), and Phylicia Rashād (on MADtv).
Other work
Key was one of the founders of Hamtramck, Michigan's Planet Ant Theatre, and was a member of the Second City Detroit's mainstage cast before joining the Second City e.t.c. theater in Chicago. Key co-founded the Detroit Creativity Project along with Beth Hagenlocker, Marc Evan Jackson, Margaret Edwartowski, and Larry Joe Campbell.[2] The Detroit Creativity Project teaches students in Detroit improvisation as a way to improve their communication skills. Key performed with The 313, an improv group formed with other members of Second City Hollywood that appears around the country.[3][4] The 313 is made up primarily of former Detroit residents and named for Detroit's area code.[5] Key also hosted Animal Planet's The Planet's Funniest Animals.
He made a cameo in "Weird Al" Yankovic's video "White & Nerdy" with fellow MADtv co-star Jordan Peele.[6] In 2009, Key hosted GSN's "Big Saturday Night", and has co-starred in Gary Unmarried on CBS. Key was a panelist on the NPR comedy quiz show Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me... on March 27 and July 24, 2010. Key has been in several episodes of Reno 911! as the "Theoretical Criminal".
Key and his former MADtv castmate Jordan Peele star in their own Comedy Central sketch series Key & Peele, which began airing on January 31, 2012, and has run for three seasons.[7] Key and his comedy partner Jordan Peele starred in an episode of Epic Rap Battles of History, with Key playing Mahatma Gandhi and Peele playing Martin Luther King Jr.[8] In November 2013, Key stated that he will be returning to Epic Rap Battles of History for the second time in the "Muhammad Ali versus Michael Jordan" battle.[9]
Key and Peele were featured on the cover and in a series of full-page comic photos illustrating The New York Times Magazine article "Is Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead?" on March 31, 2013. A live-action video version was also featured on the Times' website.[10] Key co-stars in the upcoming horror-comedy Hell Baby. Key is one of the rotating "fourth chair" performers in the 2013 revival of Whose Line is it Anyway?
In addition to Key & Peele, he also is currently co-starring in the USA Network comedy series Playing House, which began airing its first season in April 2014.
Key and his comedy partner Jordan Peele will be working with Judd Apatow on a feature length film for Universal Pictures.[11]
Controversy
In 2012 Key appeared on the Conan O'Brien show. During the interview Key, who is biracial, declared that "there is nothing more dangerous on planet earth then a black wife. Tsuanamis are number two and then black wives are number one." [12].
While Key has spoken out about the lack of diversity on SNL [13] his comment alienated and baffled viewers with some vowing to discontinue support for his show Key & Peele. [14]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Get the Hell Out of Hamtown | J | |
| 2000 | Garage: A Rock Saga | TV Studio Manager | |
| 2001 | ER | Witkowski | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Uncle Nino | Airport Stranger | |
| 2004 | I'm With Her | Orderly | 1 episode |
| 2004–2009 | MADtv | Cast Member | |
| 2005-2008 | The Planet's Funniest Animals | Host | |
| 2006 | Al TV | Segment 'White & Nerdy' | |
| Grounds Zero | Arch | ||
| Alleyball | Curt Braunschweib | ||
| 2007 | Sucker For Shelley | Michael | |
| Frangela | Deshawn | ||
| 2008 | Chocolate News | Woodsy | Guest |
| Role Models | Duane | ||
| Reno 911! | Theoretical Criminal | ||
| Talkshow with Spike Feresten | Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2010 | Due Date | New Father | |
| The Wild Bunch | Grape Vine | In Production | |
| 2011 | Just Go with It | Ernesto | |
| The League | Carmenjello | 1 episode | |
| 2012 | Wanderlust | Marcy's Flunkie | |
| Equals Three | Guest Host | ||
| Wilfred | Lawyer | 1 episode | |
| 2012-present | Key & Peele | Various Characters | Co-creator |
| 2013 | |||
| How I Met Your Mother | Calvin | 1 episode | |
| Afternoon Delight | Bo | ||
| Hell Baby | F'Resnel | ||
| 2013-present | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Himself | Recurring guest performer |
| 2014 | The Lego Movie | Frank the Foreman | Voice |
| The Middle | Reverend Deveaux | 1 episode | |
| Playing House | Mark | Series regular | |
| Let's Be Cops | Pupa | ||
| Bob's Burgers | Beefer Sutherland | Voice | |
| Parks and Recreation | Joe | Episode: One in 8,000 | |
| Fargo | Bill Budge | Recurring Cast Member | |
| Forthcoming [15] | Kitchen Sink |
See also
References
- ^ Siek, Stephanie (February 24, 2012). "'Key & Peele': The color of funny". CNN. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Kuras, Amy (4 April 2012). "Actors Reach Out to Local Teens". Y Community Impact. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ^ Calamia, Donald (20 July 2006). "Detroiter Keegan-Michael is 'key' to The 313". Pride Source. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ^ "Schedule announced: Detroit Improv Festival". Encore Michigan. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ^ "The 313". SF Sketchfest. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ^ School of Theatre (2005). "Penn State Alum, Keegan-Michael Key, Lands Starring Role as Host of Planet's Funniest Animals". Penn State. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
- ^ Shira Lazar (November 28, 2012). "Keegan-Michael Key Talks Key & Peele Season 3 and Bringing Sketch Comedy to YouTube". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Sam Gutelle (February 25, 2013). "Key And Peele Bring Gandhi, MLK To Epic Rap Battles Of History". Tubefilter. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Keegan M Key on ERB for second time" (Twitter post). Twitter. Keegan M Key. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
We have a new one coming out after Thanksgiving. Muhammad Ali versus Michael Jordan
- ^ Streiber, Art (27 March 2013). "The Saintly Way to Succeed". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ Mike Fleming Jr. (November 13, 2013). "'Key & Peele' Partners Team With Judd Apatow For Universal Pitch Deal". Deadline. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtfCUAppExw
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvtIDIUlVgU
- ^ http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php?t=446037
- ^ "Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk And Ian Roberts Join Genre Mash-Up 'Kitchen Sink'". Deadline.com. PMC. August 19, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help)
External links
- 1971 births
- American adoptees
- African-American comedians
- African-American male actors
- IO Theater
- Living people
- Pennsylvania State University alumni
- Male actors from Detroit, Michigan
- People from Southfield, Michigan
- Second City alumni
- University of Detroit Mercy alumni
- American people of European descent
- American male television actors
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors