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Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson

More about Kenan Thompson at:

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Kenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian.

He has been a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live since 2003, and is the longest-tenured cast member in the show's history (as of 2018).

In his teenage years, he was an original cast member of Nickelodeon's sketch comedy series All That.

Thompson has also played Kenan Rockmore in the sitcom Kenan & Kel, Russ Tyler in The Mighty Ducks franchise, Dexter Reed in the 1997 film Good Burger, and the title character in the 2004 film Fat Albert.

Kenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian.

He has been a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live since 2003, and is the longest-tenured cast member in the show's history (as of 2018).

In his teenage years, he was an original cast member of Nickelodeon's sketch comedy series All That.

Thompson has also played Kenan Rockmore in the sitcom Kenan & Kel, Russ Tyler in The Mighty Ducks franchise, Dexter Reed in the 1997 film Good Burger, and the title character in the 2004 film Fat Albert.

Thompson has been nominated for five Emmy Awards: four for his work on Saturday Night Live — including two for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and two for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — and one in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the NBC series Kenan.

He has won once, in 2018, in the category of Outstanding Original Music & Lyrics, for the SNL song "Come Back, Barack."

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Awards & Nominations

6 Nominations | 1 Emmy
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series - 2021
  • Nominee
  • Kenan Thompson, as Kenan Williams
  • Kenan
  • NBC
  • Universal Television in association with Shark vs Bear and Broadway Video
    •
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series - 2021
  • Nominee
  • Kenan Thompson, as Various Characters
  • Saturday Night Live
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
    •
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series - 2020
  • Nominee
  • Kenan Thompson, as Various Characters
  • Saturday Night Live
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
    •
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series - 2018
  • Nominee
  • Kenan Thompson, as Various Characters
  • Saturday Night Live
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
    •
Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics - 2018
  • Winner
  • Kenan Thompson, Lyrics by
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Chance The Rapper / Song Title: Come Back Barack"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
    •
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics - 2017
  • Nominee
  • Kenan Thompson, Lyrics by
  • Saturday Night Live
  • "Host: Casey Affleck / Song Title: Last Christmas"
  • NBC
  • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
    •

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

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Kenan Thompson
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Angeria Paris Van Michaels and Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson, Lizzo
Kenan Thompson
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Reginald Hudlin, Ian Stewart and Kenan Thompson
Reginald Hudlin, Kenan Thompson, Ian Stewart and Frank Scherma, Television Academy Chairman and CEO
Press Preview
Kenan Thompson and Interns
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KenanThompsonChrisRedd
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Debbie Allen and Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson and John Oliver at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Kenan Thompson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Kenan Thompson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Kenan Thompson speaks during the 72nd Emmy Awards.
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
Kenan Thompson, Phil Hymes, and Seth Meyers
Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson
Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, RuPaul Charles
Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson
Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson
Eli Brueggemann, Chris Redd, Will Stephen, Kenan Thompson
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson and Chris Redd
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson
Kristen Schaal and Kenan Thompson on stage at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Kristen Schaal and Kenan Thompson present an award at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Bruce Ready accepts an award at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Kenan Thompson and Christina Evangeline on the red carpet at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Fill 1
Fill 1
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Kenan Thompson

Mary Ellen Matthews
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson

Mary Ellen Matthews
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Betty White plays the touch grandma of Thompson's character in the 2010 "Scared Straight" sketch.

NBC
Kenan Thompson
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Chris Redd and Thompson, performing here with Chance the Rapper (center), won an Emmy in 2018 for Original Music and Lyrics for their song "Come Back, Barack."

NBC
Angeria Paris Van Michaels and Kenan Thompson
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Angeria Paris Van Michaels of RuPaul's Drag Race and Emmys host Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live at the Governors Gala

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson onstage

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson onstage

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson, Lizzo
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Kenan Thompson and Lizzo onstage

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson onstage 

Invision/ AP
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Kenan Thompson and performers onstage 

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live and Kenan on the red carpet

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson, host of the 74th Emmy Awards, at the press preview event

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP
Reginald Hudlin, Ian Stewart and Kenan Thompson
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74th Emmy Awards executive producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart and host Kenan Thompson at the press preview event

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP
Reginald Hudlin, Kenan Thompson, Ian Stewart and Frank Scherma, Television Academy Chairman and CEO
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74th Emmy Awards executive producer Reginald Hudlin, host Kenan Thompson, executive producer Ian Stewart and Television Academy chairman and CEO Frank Scherma

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP
Press Preview
Camera

Reginald Hudlin, Emmy Awards telecast producer, from left, Kenan Thompson, Emmy Awards telecast host, Ian Stewart, Emmy Awards telecast producer, and Frank Scherma, Television Academy Chairman and CEO, at 74th Emmy Awards Press Preview

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images
Kenan Thompson and Interns
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Kenan Thompson, Emmy Awards telecast host, from right, Dara Adedara and Manuel Diaz, Television Academy interns who will be trophy presenters at the 74th Emmy Awards

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images
Kenan Thompson
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Kenan Thompson, Emmy Awards telecast host, at the 74th Emmy Awards Press Preview

Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images
KenanThompson
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Kenan Thompson in Kenan

Casey Durkin/NBC
KenanThompsonChrisRedd
Camera

Kenan Thompson as Kenan and Chris Redd as Gary in Kenan

Casey Durkin/NBC
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Camera

Kenan Thompson as Kenan, Dani Lane as Aubrey and Dannah Lane as Birdie in Kenan

Casey Durkin/NBC
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Kenan Thompson in Kenan

Casey Durkin/NBC
KenanThompson
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Kenan Thompson in Kenan

Casey Durkin/NBC
KenanThompsonDannahLaneDaniLaneDonJohnson
Camera

Dannah Lane as Birdie, Kenan Thompson as Kenan, Dani Lane as Aubrey and Don Johnson as Rick in Kenan

Casey Durkin/NBC
Debbie Allen and Kenan Thompson
Camera

Debbie Allen and Kenan Thompson take a selfie at the Television Academy Foundation's Giving Suite during the 73rd Emmy Awards

Kenan Thompson and John Oliver at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Kenan Thompson and John Oliver at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Camera

Kenan Thompson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards, September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Camera

Kenan Thompson arrives at the 73rd Emmy Awards

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson speaks during the 72nd Emmy Awards.
Camera

Kenan Thompson speaks during the 72nd Emmy Awards. 

Invision/AP
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.
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Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 71st Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson, Phil Hymes, and Seth Meyers
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Kenan Thompson, Phil Hymes, and Seth Meyers in an SNL sketch

Kenan Thompson
Camera

Kenan Thompson presents an award at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson
Camera

Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, RuPaul Charles
Camera

Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson and RuPaul Charles on stage at the 70th Emmy Awards. 

Invision/ AP
Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson
Camera

Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson on stage at the 70th Emmy Awards. 

Invision/ AP
Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson
Camera

Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson present an award at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Eli Brueggemann, Chris Redd, Will Stephen, Kenan Thompson
Camera

Eli Brueggemann, Chris Redd, Will Stephen, and Kenan Thompson accept award at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys. 

Invision/ AP
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson
Camera

Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson and Chris Redd
Camera

Kenan Thompson and Chris Redd on the red carpet at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson
Camera

Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
Kristen Schaal and Kenan Thompson on stage at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Kristen Schaal and Kenan Thompson on stage at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Christina Evangeline and Kenan Thompson on the red carpet at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Kristen Schaal and Kenan Thompson present an award at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Kristen Schaal and Kenan Thompson present an award at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Bruce Ready accepts an award at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Bruce Ready accepts an award at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
Kenan Thompson and Christina Evangeline on the red carpet at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Kenan Thompson and Christina Evangeline on the red carpet at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys. 

Invision/AP

In The News

Kenan Thompson
June 12, 2023

Kenan Thompson Looks Both Ways

Lizzo
September 12, 2022

White Lotus Blooms Big at the 74th Emmy Awards

Kenan Thompson
September 09, 2022

74th Emmys Preview: Fun and Festive, with a Focus on — What Else? — Television

Kenan Thompson
August 09, 2022

Kenan Thompson to host 74th Emmy Awards

KenanThompson
December 28, 2021

Kenan Thompson's Balancing Act

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