Lauren Keyana Palmer (born August 26, 1993), better known as Keke Palmer (/ˈkiːki/ KEE-kee[1]), is an American actress, singer, and television personality. Known for playing leading and character roles in comedy-drama productions, she has received a Primetime Emmy Award, five NAACP Image Awards, and nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Time magazine included her on their list of most influential people in the world in 2019.[2]
Keke Palmer | |
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Born | Lauren Keyana Palmer (1993-08-26) August 26, 1993 (age 29) Robbins, Illinois, U.S. |
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Years active | 2004–present |
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Musical artist |
Palmer made her acting debut in Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004).[3] She later appeared in the television film The Wool Cap (2004), and had her breakthrough starring in the drama film Akeelah and the Bee (2006). Her debut studio album, So Uncool, was released in 2007, and she progressed as a prominent child actress with roles in Madea's Family Reunion (2006), Jump In! (2007), The Longshots (2008) and Shrink (2009).
Palmer received recognition for her roles on Nickelodeon, such as portraying the title character in the sitcom True Jackson, VP (2008–2011), providing the voice of Aisha in the Nickelodeon revival of Winx Club (2011–2014), and headlining the television film Rags (2012). Palmer made her transition to mature roles with the VH1 biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story (2013), and later starred in the thriller film Animal (2014), the comedy horror series Scream Queens (2015–2016), the drama series Berlin Station (2017–2019), the slasher series Scream (2019), the crime drama film Hustlers (2019) and a starring role in Jordan Peele's Nope (2022).[4] In 2021, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for her roles in the Facebook Watch series Turnt Up with the Taylors.
Since So Uncool, Palmer has released three extended plays: Lauren (2016), Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1 (2019) and Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 2 (2020). She hosted the talk show Just Keke (2014) and co-hosted the talk show Strahan, Sara and Keke (2019–2020), the latter earning her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host.
Lauren Keyana Palmer was born on August 26, 1993,[5][6] in Harvey, Illinois and raised in nearby Robbins, Illinois.[7] She grew up in a Catholic household.[8][9] Her parents, Sharon and Lawrence "Larry" Palmer, who met in drama school, had both worked as professional actors before settling into full-time jobs. Her father works for a polyurethane company, and her mother is a high school teacher who works with autistic children. Her father also volunteers as a Catholic deacon.[10][11][12] The nickname "Keke" is not a shortening of "Keyana": according to Palmer, her name came about because her older sister had an imaginary friend named Keke before she was born.[13] Palmer first sang in a church but earned exposure performing at a stage show at a Chicago tourist destination. In 2002, Palmer auditioned for a stage production of The Lion King at age nine.[10]
In 2004, she gained her first film role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business, in which she played the niece of rapper and actress Queen Latifah. In 2005, Palmer signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. That same year, she was featured in the television film Knights of the South Bronx, as well as starring in the television series Second Time Around and ER. That same year, producer Ralph Farquhar helped Palmer book the starring role in a Disney Channel pilot titled Keke and Jamal. The pilot was not picked up, and never aired.[14]
In 2006, Palmer had her acting breakthrough starring in the film Akeelah and the Bee, playing the titular Akeelah, a bright 11-year-old who comes from a poor neighborhood and competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.[15] Moira Macdonald of The Seattle Times wrote that Palmer "makes an appealing heroine".[16] For the role, she won a Black Reel Award and an NAACP Image Award.[17][18] She also had a supporting role in the 2006 film Madea's Family Reunion.[19] The following year, Palmer appeared in the thriller Cleaner.[20] She portrayed a lead role in the television film Jump In![21] Palmer also starred in two television programs Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Just Jordan. Palmer released her debut album So Uncool on September 18, 2007.[22] The album charted at number 86 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[23]
In 2008, Palmer began her starring role as the title character in Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. Palmer also wrote and performed the theme song for the series. Palmer earned $20,000 per episode of True Jackson, VP, which made her the fourth-highest-paid child star on television.[24] In July 2009, designer Jane Siskin created a Walmart fashion line inspired by True Jackson, VP, with all the designs being approved by Palmer.[25] She also played the lead role in the 2008 film The Longshots.[26] True Jackson, VP ended in 2011.[27] Palmer debuted as the voice of Aisha in Nickelodeon's revival of Winx Club.[28] She received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her voiceover work.[29] In 2012, Palmer starred in the film Joyful Noise, released in January 2012. She produced and starred in Rags, a television musical film, as well as voiced Peaches in Ice Age: Continental Drift.[30] In July 2012, Palmer released the single "You Got Me" featuring Kevin McCall. The video for the single was released on July 11, 2012.[31] She released a self-titled mixtape Keke Palmer on October 1, 2012.[32]
In 2013, Palmer portrayed Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas in the TLC biopic, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,[33] which aired in October on VH1.[34] She next starred in the horror film Animal; it was released on June 17, 2014.[35] She then recurred during the second season of Showtime's drama series Masters of Sex, portraying Coral, a nanny.[36] That same year, Palmer hosted a daytime talk show on BET titled Just Keke.[37] In doing so, she became one of the youngest talk show hosts in television history; the show itself has been regarded as "groundbreaking" and "refreshing".[38] In September 2014, Palmer became the first African American to star as the title character in the musical Cinderella on Broadway.[39] She performed her final show during the closing night of the show's run on January 4, 2015.[40] Later that year, Palmer announced that she had signed with Island Records.[41]
Between September 2015 and December 2016, she starred as Zayday Williams in the horror comedy series Scream Queens, created by Ryan Murphy.[42] In January 2016, Palmer starred as Marty Maraschino in the television special Grease: Live.[43] Rolling Stone's Britany Spanos regarded Palmer's performance "a standout" and highlighted her "assertiveness, confidence and biting sense of humor".[44] In June, Palmer released Waited to Exhale, an album she wrote during her time on True Jackson, VP that went unreleased due to label issues and her "anxiety-driven hesitance".[45] On November 4, Palmer released her second extended play, titled Lauren, with a 17-minute short film of the same name being released exclusively on Billboard's website.[46] In 2017, Palmer released her memoir, I Don't Belong to You: Quiet the Noise and Find Your Voice.[47] That same year, she joined the drama series Berlin Station during its second season.[48]
In April 2019, Palmer began guest co-hosting ABC's daytime talk show Strahan and Sara, sporadically filling in for co-host Michael Strahan and more regularly beginning in June during co-host Sara Haines's maternity leave.[49] She joined the slasher television series Scream as a series regular in its third season, portraying a character named Kym Johnson,[50] which premiered on July 8, 2019.[51] On August 26, Palmer became a third permanent co-host of Strahan and Sara, which was then re-titled Strahan, Sara and Keke.[52] In September, Palmer starred as a "lovestruck stripper" in the crime drama film Hustlers, directed by Lorene Scafaria.[53] She sang the song "Giants" as part of a virtual group named True Damage, in which she voices a character named Senna, in the video game League of Legends for the 2019 World Championship.[54] The song features singers Becky G and Soyeon as well as rappers Duckwrth and Thutmose as the other group members.[55] In November, True Damage performed the song live during the opening ceremony of the finals.[56]
Strahan, Sara and Keke ended unexpectedly in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic ended live studio programming through the industry, and ABC decided to shift the timeslot towards news.[57] Palmer later received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host alongside Haines and Strahan.[58] That same year, Palmer began starring in a web television comedy series titled Turnt Up with the Taylors, in which she portrays all of the characters.[59] She released an extended play titled Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1 on August 28.[60] On August 30, Palmer hosted the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, during which she also performed her song "Snack".[61][62] She released a follow-up EP – Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 2 – in December 2020.[63] The following year, Palmer won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her performance in Turnt Up with the Taylors.[64] In the same year, Palmer briefly hosted a reboot of the classic 90's MTV dating show Singled Out with Joel Kim Booster as her co-host for the short-lived online streaming service network Quibi.
In 2021, Palmer hosted the reality competition series Foodtastic for Disney+.
In 2022, Palmer starred in Alice, directed by Krystin Ver Linden, which had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.[65] She also served as narrator on Not So Pretty, a documentary investigating the beauty industry directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering for HBO Max.[66] Palmer voiced the character of Izzy Hawthorne in the Pixar animated film Lightyear, a spinoff of the Toy Story film series[67] and starred as Emerald Haywood in Nope, directed by Jordan Peele.[68] Palmer currently hosts an NBC reboot of the classic game show Password, with Jimmy Fallon as executive producer/permanent celebrity guest.
Palmer works with the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of the American charity Cool To Be Smart program, speaking to children about the importance of learning. She is also a supporter of Urban Farming and the Girl Scouts.[69] She has worked with such charities as the YWCA and with Saving Our Daughters.[69] As of 2010, Palmer has been a representative for the Saving Our Daughters project, an anti-bullying campaign.[70]
Palmer was included in the Time's 100 Next list in November 2019,[71] which "spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more."[72] She is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.[73] In 2020, she marched in Hollywood, California, as part of the George Floyd protests.[74] That same year, she addressed the movement during her opening monologue at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.[75]
Palmer's first studio album, So Uncool, was heavily influenced by contemporary R&B, being described as "bright, bouncy, and melodic enough to appeal to teens and pre-teens. Fans of dancey teen pop will want to give this auspicious debut a listen".[76] Palmer was heavily influenced by American R&B singers Ciara, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Aaliyah, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, as well as girl group TLC.[77] Among her urban influences, Palmer also cites pop artists Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne as influences.[78]
Following the release of her single "I Don't Belong to You" on October 25, 2015, Palmer explained:
I don't belong to anyone else but myself. I have to make my own decisions. Happiness is defined by me. My sexuality is defined by me. And that can change, and this can change, and I can make it what I want to make it because I'm the one who makes that choice. So that's what 'I Don't Belong to You' is saying. This song feels right. It feels right, and it's telling who I am. And it captures my identity.[79]
She has also said she does not want her sexuality defined by labels and said that people should be fluid with labelling themselves, as their identities can change.[80]
Palmer has struggled with anxiety and depression.[81] In 2019, as part of the #YouKnowMe campaign, she shared via Twitter that she had an abortion.[82] On December 1, 2020, Palmer announced that she has been dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome her entire life.[83]
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Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2004 | Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Gina's niece | |
2006 | Akeelah and the Bee | Akeelah Anderson | |
Madea's Family Reunion | Nikki Grady | ||
2007 | Cleaner | Rose Cutler | |
2008 | The Longshots | Jasmine Plummer | |
Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare | Crystal Tortoise (voice) | ||
2009 | Shrink | Jemma | |
2012 | Abducted: The Carlina White Story | Carlina White | |
Ice Age: Continental Drift | Peaches (voice) | ||
Joyful Noise | Olivia Hill | ||
Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom | Aisha (voice) | ||
2013 | Winx Club 3D: Magical Adventure | ||
2014 | Animal | Alissa | |
Imperial Dreams | Samaara | ||
2015 | Brotherly Love | Jackie | |
2016 | Ice Age: Collision Course | Peaches (voice) | |
2018 | Pimp | Wednesday | |
2019 | Hustlers | Mercedes | |
2020 | 2 Minutes of Fame | Sky | |
2022 | Alice | Alice | |
Jennifer Lopez: Halftime | Herself | Documentary film; interview clip[84][85] | |
Lightyear | Izzy Hawthorne (voice) | ||
Nope | Emerald “Em” Haywood | ||
2023 | Being Mortal![]() |
Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2004 | Cold Case | Arletta (1939) | Episode: "The Letter" |
Strong Medicine | Sarina | Episode: "Healing Touch" | |
The Wool Cap | Lou | Television film | |
2005 | ER | Janell Parkerson | Episode: "The Show Must Go On" |
Knights of the South Bronx | Kenya Russell | Television film | |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Tasha Wright | Episode: "Storm" | |
Second Time Around | Sharlene | Episode: "Big Bank, Little Bank" | |
2007 | Jump In! | Mary Thomas | Television film |
Just Jordan | C. C. Livingston | Episode: "Fame Game" | |
Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Nikki Grady | Episode: "Bully and the Beast" | |
2008–11 | True Jackson, VP | True Jackson | Main role |
2010 | The Cleveland Show | Brandi (voice) | Episode: "Harder, Better, Faster, Browner" |
2011 | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Herself | Episodes: "Boom Boom Pow: Part 1" and "Boom Boom Pow: Part 2" |
2011–15 | Winx Club | Aisha (voice) | Main role (seasons 3–6) |
2012 | Abducted: The Carlina White Story | Carlina White | Television film |
Rags | Kadee Worth | Television film | |
2013 | 90210 | Elizabeth Royce Harwood | Recurring role (season 5) |
CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story | Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas | Television film | |
Full Circle | Chan'dra Stevens | Episodes: "Jace & Chan'dra" and "Chan'dra & Cliff" | |
Key & Peele | Malia Obama's anger translator | Episode: "Obama Shutdown" | |
2014 | Family Guy | Pam (voice) | Episode: "Baby Got Black" |
Grey's Anatomy | Sheryll Jeffries | Episode: "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" | |
Just Keke | Herself | Host | |
Masters of Sex | Coral Anders | Recurring role (season 2) | |
Single Ladies | Herself | Episode: "The Girl Most Likely To..." | |
The Trip to Bountiful | Thelma | Television film | |
2015–16 | Scream Queens | Zayday Williams | Main role |
2016 | Bubble Guppies | Stylee (voice) | Episode: "Guppy Style!" |
Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade | Peaches (voice) | Television special | |
Grease: Live | Marty Maraschino | Television special | |
Project Mc2 | Nov8 agent | Episodes: "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Mission Totally Possible" | |
Raymond & Lane | Keyana | Episode: "Lords of the Land" | |
Real Husbands of Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "The Suitor" | |
2017–19 | Berlin Station | April Lewis | Main role (seasons 2–3) |
Star | Gigi Nixon | Recurring role (seasons 2–3) | |
2019 | Robot Chicken | Fraülen Hapstein (voice) | Episode: "Musya Shakhtyorov in: Honeyboogers" |
Scream: Resurrection | Kym | Main role (season 3) | |
2019–20 | Strahan, Sara and Keke | Herself | Co-host |
2020 | The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II | Television special | |
MTV Video Music Awards | Host | ||
Nickelodeon's Unfiltered | Episode: "Honey Bears Chew Gumballs!" | ||
Singled Out | Host | ||
2021 | Big Mouth | Rochelle Hillhurst (voice) | 3 Episodes |
2021 World Series | Herself | Singer, national anthem | |
Insecure | Kira | Episode: "Pressure, Okay?!" | |
Foodtastic | Herself | Host | |
2022 | Not So Pretty | Narrator (voice) | Documentary |
Legendary | Herself | Judge (season 3) | |
Password | Host | ||
Karma's World | Cece Dupree (voice) | Episodes: "Save the Center, Part 1", "Save the Center, Part 2" and "Save the Center, Part 3" | |
2022–present | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins (voice) | Supporting role |
Human Resources | Rochelle Hillhurst (voice) | Main role | |
TBA | The Hospital[86] | Dr. Klak (voice) | Upcoming series |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2017 | That's the Gag[87] | Herself | Main role |
2018 | Good Mythical Morning | Herself | Guest role (season 13, episode 38) |
2020 | Turnt Up with the Taylors | The Taylors | Main role |
VMA's 2020 Advertisement | True Jackson | ||
2022 | Cardi Tries | Herself | Episode: "Cardi Tries Fishing" |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2021 | Hit Job | Brynn Morris | Podcast series |
2022 | Call Her Daddy | Herself |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2021 | Come Home | Angie (voice)[88] | Xfinity/Sing 2 promo |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2014–2015 | Cinderella | Ella | The Broadway Theatre |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
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2005 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in TV Movie, Miniseries or Special – Leading Young Actress | The Wool Cap | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | The Wool Cap | Nominated | ||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | The Wool Cap | Nominated | ||
2006 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Performer | Akeelah and the Bee | Won | |
Black Movie Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | Akeelah and the Bee | Won | ||
2007 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress | Akeelah and the Bee | Won | |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Akeelah and the Bee | Won | ||
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Young Actress | Akeelah and the Bee | Nominated | ||
Black Reel Awards | Best Actress | Akeelah and the Bee | Won | ||
Best Breakthrough Performance | Akeelah and the Bee | Nominated | |||
2008 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress | Cleaner | Nominated | |
Black Reel Awards | Best Actress | The Longshots | Nominated | ||
2009 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | True Jackson, VP | Won | |
2010 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | True Jackson, VP | Won | |
Kids Choice Awards | Favorite TV Actress | True Jackson, VP | Nominated | ||
BET Awards | YoungStars Award | True Jackson, VP | Won | ||
2011 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress | True Jackson, VP | Nominated | |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | True Jackson, VP | Won | ||
BET Awards | YoungStars Award | True Jackson, VP | Nominated | ||
2012 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | True Jackson, VP | Won | |
BET Awards | YoungStars Award | Joyful Noise | Nominated | ||
2013 | Black Reel Awards | Best Actress in a Television Miniseries or Movie | Abducted: The Carlina White Story | Nominated | |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Abducted: The Carlina White Story | Nominated | ||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Winx Club: Enchantix | Nominated | ||
BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film (shared with Ice Age Cast) | Ice Age: Continental Drift | Nominated | ||
BET Awards | Youngstars Awards | Keke Palmer | Nominated | ||
Chief Keef-"Keke Palmer" | Dedication | Nominated | |||
2014 | Black Reel Awards | Best Actress in a Television Miniseries or Movie | CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story | Nominated | |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story | Nominated | ||
BET Awards | Youngstars Awards[91] | Keke Palmer | Won | ||
2015 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special[92] | The Trip To Bountiful | Nominated | |
Spirit of the League Awards Gala | Spirit Of The League Champion Award[93][94] | Philanthropy | Won | ||
2016 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture[95][96] | Brotherly Love | Nominated | |
2020 | Shorty Awards | Best Celebrity | Herself | Nominated | |
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host | GMA3: Strahan, Sara and Keke | Nominated | ||
2021 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series | Keke Palmer's Turnt Up with the Taylors | Won | |
2022 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Character Voice Performance (Television) | Big Mouth | Nominated | |
Saturn Awards | Best Actress[97] | Nope | Nominated | ||
Vienna Independent Film Festival | Best Musical Film[98] | Big Boss | Won | ||
Newport International Film Festival | Artist of Distinction Award | Keke Palmer | Awarded | [99] |
Her father works for a polyurethane company and her mother teaches children with Autism.
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