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Kenan Thompson


Kenan Thompson Biography

Kenan Thompson (born May 10, 1978) is an American actor, voice 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, '.

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, 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 2013, Kenan has spent 11 years in the cast of Saturday Night Live, breaking the record for longest running African-American cast member once held by Tim Meadows. With Fred Armisen off the show and Seth Meyers, who will leave after December, Thompson will be the senior cast member for over (about to be) 11 seasons, and the second oldest after Bobby Moynihan (who was born in 1977).

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



Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1994 ' Russ Tyler
1995 Heavyweights Roy
1996 ' 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 Fat 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
2005 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
2013 The Awesomes Austin "Impresario" Sullivan Voice

Discography

Year Title Notes
2004 Good Times Comedy album



This webpage uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kenan_Thompson" and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. Reality TV World is not responsible for any errors or omissions the Wikipedia article may contain.
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