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Kenan Thompson Biography

Birth Name:Kenan S. Thompson

Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Writer

Fast Facts

Shares the 39th spot on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Kid Stars with his "All That" co-star Kel Mitchell
Got his role on "D2: The Mighty Ducks" after reviewing the first movie in the series on TBS's "Movies for Kids," through which he met some of the stars of the movie
Began acting at the age of 5 in a school play titled "The Gingerbread Man․"
Quote: "(On working on "Fat Albert"): "It was just an awesome experience that so many people were together to create something so nice․․․It's just really, really nice to see a․․․troubled generation of young kids out there doing something positive․""
Has performed 76 different celebrity impersonations on "Saturday Night Live," in addition to his original recurring characters
Best known for his roles on the sketch comedy shows "All That" and "Kenan & Kel" in his childhood and on "Saturday Night Live" as an adult
Bill Cosby was the first comedian he watched as a kid, so he described it as a "dream come true" when he got to play his character and meet the man himself on the set of "Fat Albert․"
He is the first regular cast member on "Saturday Night Live" to have been born after the show originally premiered (in 1975)
Had to wear a 30-pound fat suit while filming "Fat Albert․"

Awards

1998Blimp Award-Favorite Television Actor: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: nominated
2000Image Award-Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special: nominated
2000Blimp Award-Favorite Television Actor: winner
2004Stinker Award-Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or Its End Credits: nominated
2006Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2006Prism Award-Performance in a TV Comedy Series: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: nominated
2018OFTA Television Award-Best Male Performance in a Variety Program: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: winner
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
2019OFTA Television Award-Best Male Performance in a Variety Program: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: winner
2020OFTA Television Award-Best Male Performance in a Variety Program: nominated
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: winner
2021Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Supporting Actor: nominated
2021Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021People's Choice Award-The Male TV Star of 2021: nominated
2021People's Choice Award-The Comedy TV Star of 2021: nominated
2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2022People's Choice Award-The Comedy TV Star of 2022: nominated
2023Family Film Award-Outstanding Actor in a TV Series: nominated
2023Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated