Kenan Thompson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kenan Thompson
Thompson in 2019
Born	(1978-05-10) May 10, 1978 (age 47) Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian
Years active	1994–present
Spouse(s)	Christina Evangeline ​ ​ (m. 2011; div. 2022)​
Children	2
Signature

Kenan Thompson (born May 10, 1978) is an American actor and comedian. He is most famous for being a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) since 2003. This makes him the longest-serving cast member in the show's history.

Thompson's career started in the early 1990s. He was one of the original stars of the Nickelodeon comedy show All That. On that show, he often worked with fellow actor Kel Mitchell. Their teamwork was so popular that they got their own sitcom, Kenan & Kel, which ran from 1996 to 2000.

He has also starred in many movies. Some of his famous roles include parts in The Mighty Ducks movies, Good Burger, and playing the main character in the 2004 movie Fat Albert. For his work on SNL, Thompson has won a Primetime Emmy Award.

Early Life and First Roles

Kenan Thompson was born in Columbus, Ohio, on May 10, 1978. His parents are Fletcher and Elizabeth Ann Thompson. When he was nine months old, his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

His mother saw his talent early and signed him up for acting classes when he was five. His very first role was playing Toto in a church play of The Wiz, but he didn't have any lines. He kept acting in school plays and later joined a youth theater group in Atlanta.

Career

Nickelodeon Star

One of Thompson's first big jobs was as a reporter for CNN's "Real News for Kids." Soon after, he joined the cast of Nickelodeon's All That. He was a main cast member for the first five seasons. On the show, he played many memorable characters like Principal Pimpell, Pierre Escargot, and the superhero Superdude.

From 1996 to 2000, he starred with Kel Mitchell in the sitcom Kenan & Kel. He played Kenan Rockmore, a high school student who was always coming up with wild plans. During this time, he also appeared in his first movie, D2: The Mighty Ducks.

Thompson starred in the movie Good Burger in 1997, which was based on a popular sketch from All That. He also played the main character in the 2004 movie Fat Albert.

Saturday Night Live

Thompson in 2012

In 2003, Thompson joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. SNL is a famous live TV show where actors perform funny skits. He was the first cast member to be born after the show started in 1975. At first, he was a featured player, but in 2005 he was promoted to a main cast member.

Thompson has been on SNL for over 20 seasons. This is longer than any other actor in the show's history. He also holds the record for doing the most celebrity impressions on the show, with over 139 different impressions. Some of his famous impressions include TV host Steve Harvey, basketball star Charles Barkley, and actor Whoopi Goldberg.

In 2013, Thompson spoke up about the need for more diversity on the show. He asked SNL to hire Black women as cast members, which the show later did. Many people, including the show's creator Lorne Michaels, have said Thompson is a very important and reliable member of the cast.

In 2022, Thompson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to celebrate his 20th anniversary on SNL.

Famous SNL Characters

Besides his celebrity impressions, Thompson is known for creating many original characters on SNL. Some of his most popular recurring characters include:

• Darnell Hayes, the host of the game show Black Jeopardy!
• Diondre Cole, the host of a talk show called What Up with That? who always gets distracted by his own theme song.
• Reese De'What, the host of a movie show called Cinema Classics.
• Willie, the very optimistic neighbor of cast member Michael Che.
• Jean K. Jean, a comedian from France.
• Lorenzo McIntosh, a prisoner in the "Scared Straight" sketches.

Other TV and Movie Roles

Thompson at a Washington Capitals event with the Stanley Cup in 2018

While working on SNL, Thompson has also appeared in other movies and TV shows. He had roles in movies like Snakes on a Plane and Barbershop 2: Back in Business. He has also done a lot of voice acting. He was the voice of Greedy Smurf in The Smurfs movies, Bricklebaum in The Grinch, and Tiny Diamond in the Trolls movies.

In 2015, he and Kel Mitchell appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. They performed a new Good Burger sketch, playing their classic characters Ed and Lester Oakes.

From 2021 to 2022, Thompson starred in his own NBC sitcom called Kenan. In the show, he played a widowed father trying to raise his two daughters. He has also been a judge on the comedy competition show Bring the Funny and has hosted the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Personal Life

Thompson married model Christina Evangeline in 2011. They have two daughters, Georgia Marie (born in 2014) and Gianna Michelle (born in 2018). In 2022, it was announced that the couple had separated but would continue to raise their daughters together.

Thompson has worked with many brands and organizations. In 2020, he became a spokesperson for Universal theme parks. He has also hosted many award shows, including the People's Choice Awards.

In 2021, he started a production company called Artists for Artists (AFA). The company helps new talent develop their projects. In December 2023, he released a book about his life called When I Was Your Age.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Kenan Thompson para niños