Personal details
- Birth Date: 1971-03-22
- Height: 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- Birth Location: Southfield, Michigan, USA
- Children: (divorced) No Children
- Parents: Carrie Herr
- Professions: Actor, Writer, Producer
Keegan-Michael Key’s story kicks off in Southfield, Michigan, but Detroit is really where he grew up and got his start. He was adopted as a kid—his dad’s Black, his mom’s white—which, let’s be honest, probably gave him a pretty unique view of the world from the jump. High school was Shrine Catholic over in Royal Oak, and he wrapped up there in ‘89. College came next, and he didn’t go far—University of Detroit Mercy for undergrad, where he got involved with Phi Kappa Theta. That’s a fraternity, in case you’re wondering, so yeah, he wasn’t just living in the library. But theater had its hooks in him, big time. He ended up chasing that all the way to Penn State, earning his MFA—so, he’s got the receipts to prove he’s not just winging it when he gets on stage or in front of a camera. Growing up mixed-race in Detroit, bouncing between different cultural worlds, definitely shaped his comedy and acting. You see it in his work—those sharp observations, the way he can jump between characters and vibes so fast it’ll make your head spin. He didn’t exactly take the straightest road to fame, but all those stops along the way, all that hustle, that’s what makes him who he is. Key’s background isn’t just trivia—it’s the whole foundation for the kind of performer he turned out to be.
Here’s a wild bit of movie trivia you probably haven’t heard: Dwayne McDuffie, the legendary comic book writer who left his mark on everything from “Static Shock” to “Justice League,” actually had a biological paternal half-brother working in the industry too—but neither of them had any idea about it while Dwayne was alive. Seriously, it’s like something straight out of a soap opera. So, while McDuffie was out there breaking new ground for Black superheroes and pushing boundaries in comics and animation, his half-brother was making his own moves, totally unaware they were connected by blood. Nobody pieced it together until after Dwayne’s passing, which honestly just adds another layer of mystery to his already fascinating story. It’s one of those real-life twists that makes you wonder how many secret connections are out there in Hollywood, just waiting to be discovered. Kind of mind-blowing, right?
referencennOur show doesn’t lean on massive, over-the-top characters. Sure, there are characters—sometimes they come back, sometimes they just vanish, kinda depends on the crowd. People compare us to MADtv from ‘95, but honestly, that was a whole formula thing. We’re not about formulas. We try to pull in all sorts of show elements, but being “cool” isn’t what we’re chasing. Some shows kick off and you can practically smell them sweating to be these edgy hipsters. Why pretend? We’re not out here acting tough or trying to fool anyone. We know we’re dorks. We own it. The only thing we’re really after is genuine laughs. That’s the whole point. If you catch us acting like we’re too cool, something’s gone wrong. We just want to make people laugh, that’s it. No fancy tricks, no fake swagger—just good old-fashioned comedy, nerd style.
March 22, 1971
6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Southfield, Michigan, USA
Yes, No Children
Carrie Herr and Surekha
54 years old