Keke Palmer
Acting Born Aug 26, 1993 Harvey, Illinois, USA 161 credits
Biography
Lauren Keyana “Keke” Palmer (pronounced KEE‑kee) was born on August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois, and was raised in Robbins, Illinois, the daughter of Sharon and Larry Palmer. An American actress, singer and television host, she began her film career as a child with roles in Barbershop 2: Back in Business and The Wool Cap, both released in 2004. Palmer achieved a breakthrough playing Akeelah Anderson in the 2006 drama Akeelah and the Bee, and subsequently appeared in Madea’s Family Reunion (2006), Jump In! (2007) and The Longshots (2008). Her work has earned two Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for a Daytime Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award, and she was named to Time’s 2019 list of the world’s most influential people.
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Career overview
Lauren Keyana “Keke” Palmer was born on August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois. She entered the industry as a child, appearing in the 2004 films Barbershop 2: Back in Business and The Wool Cap. Palmer’s breakthrough came two years later when she portrayed Akeelah Anderson in the drama Akeelah and the Bee (2006). Following that role she continued to build a film career with parts in Madea’s Family Reunion (2006), Jump In! (2007) and The Longshots (2008).
Throughout her acting career Palmer has earned significant recognition. She has received two Primetime Emmy Awards and has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2019 Time magazine listed her among its most influential people in the world. Her work has expanded into recent projects, including starring in Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters (2026). Palmer’s body of work, spanning more than one hundred credited roles, reflects a sustained presence in film and television from her early childhood performances to contemporary releases.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Spaceballs: The New One
I Love BoostersI Love Boosters · Executive ProducerThe Angry Birds Movie 3The 'BurbsThe 'Burbs · Executive Producer
The PickupVariety & CNN Actors on ActorsOne of Them DaysOne of Them Days · Executive ProducerGood Fortune
Hot Ones VersusThe Second Best Hospital in the GalaxyThis Is Me…NowThe Greatest Love Story Never Told
Under the BoardwalkBig BossBig Boss · ProducerBig Boss · DirectorBig Boss · Writer
The Jennifer Hudson ShowSherriLightyearNopeHuman Resources
That's My JamCome HomeFoodtasticFoodtastic · Executive Producer
Cardi TriesLegendary2 Minutes of FameSingled OutTurnt Up with the Taylors
The Kelly Clarkson ShowThe Kelly Clarkson ShowTamron HallA Little Late with Lilly SinghToday with Jenna & Sheinelle
American IdolAmerican IdolExplainedBusy TonightPimp
Big MouthBig Mouth
InsecureIce Age: Collision CourseStarBerlin StationMartha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party
Hot OnesCelebrity Family FeudScream: The TV SeriesScream QueensBrotherly Love
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLate Night with Seth MeyersLate Night with Seth MeyersChicken Shop Date
Masters of SexCrazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story
Good Mythical MorningIce Age: Continental DriftIce Age: Continental Drift · SongsKey & PeeleRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Bubble GuppiesWinx Club - The Shadow Phoenix
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenThe Cleveland ShowBrainSurgeShrinkSquare Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants
90210True Jackson, VPTrue Jackson, VP · Theme Song PerformanceThe LongshotsUnstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare
CleanerJump In!
Rachael RayMadea's Family ReunionAkeelah and the BeeKeke and Jamal
Grey's AnatomyThe Late Late Show with Craig FergusonKnights of the South Bronx
Barbershop 2: Back in BusinessSecond Time AroundThe Wool Cap
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Cold Case
DegrassiBET Awards
Strong Medicine
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitFamily GuyTeen Choice AwardsTeen Choice Awards
The ViewThe View
The Daily Show
ER
Full filmography
- Spaceballs: The New One (2027) as Destiny
- I Love Boosters (2026) as Corvette
- I Love Boosters (2026) Executive Producer
- The Angry Birds Movie 3 (2026) as (voice)
- The 'Burbs (2026) as Samira Fisher
- The 'Burbs (2026) Executive Producer
- The Pickup (2025) as Zoe
- Variety & CNN Actors on Actors (2025) as Self
- One of Them Days (2025) as Dreux
- One of Them Days (2025) Executive Producer
- Good Fortune (2025) as Elena
- Just Keke (2025) as Self
- Just Keke (2025) Director
- Just Keke (2025) Executive Producer
- The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl (2025) as Keyana
- The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl (2025) Executive Producer
- The Rise & Fall of DivaGurl (2025) Writer
- Hot Ones Versus (2024) as Self
- The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (2024) as Dr. Klak (voice)
- This Is Me…Now (2024) as Scorpio
- The Greatest Love Story Never Told (2024) as Self
- Under the Boardwalk (2023) as Ramona (voice)
- Big Boss (2023) as Keke Palmer
- Big Boss (2023) Producer
- Big Boss (2023) Director
- Big Boss (2023) Writer
- Sportsfan (2023) as Dr. Fern
- Sportsfan (2023) Director
- Sportsfan (2023) Executive Producer
- Sportsfan (2023) Writer
- Sportsfan (2023) Creator
- Keep Me In Mind (2023) Executive Producer
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Lightyear (2022) as Izzy Hawthorne (voice)
- Nope (2022) as Emerald Haywood
- Human Resources (2022) as Rochelle Hillhurst (voice)
- Human Resources (2022) as Connie's Friends #2 (voice)
- The Afterparty (2022) as 'Danner'
- The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022) as Maya (voice)
- Password (2022) as Self - Host
- Alice (2022) as Alice
- Alice (2022) Executive Producer
- The Great Nickmas Tree Sliming (2022) as Self
- Halftime (2022) as Self
- Not So Pretty (2022) as Narrator (voice)
- That's My Jam (2021) as Self - Guest
- Come Home (2021) as Angie (voice)
- Foodtastic (2021) as Self - Host
- Foodtastic (2021) Executive Producer
- Cardi Tries (2020) as Self
- Legendary (2020) as Self - Judge
- 2 Minutes of Fame (2020) as Sky
- Singled Out (2020) as Self - Host
- Turnt Up with the Taylors (2020) as Barbie / Gammy Tay / Lil Thad / Miranda / Rick
- The Disney Family Singalong - Volume II (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- Today with Jenna & Sheinelle (2019) as Self
- Hustlers (2019) as Mercedes
- American Idol (2018) as Self - Guest Judge/Mentor
- American Idol (2018) as Self - Guest
- Explained (2018) as Narrator (voice)
- Busy Tonight (2018) as Self - Guest
- Pimp (2018) as Wednesday
- Pimp (2018) Executive Producer
- What the Fit (2018) as Self
- The A-Z of Aaliyah (2018) as Self
- Big Mouth (2017) as Rochelle the Hate Worm (voice)
- Big Mouth (2017)
- Insecure (2016) as Kira
- Ice Age: Collision Course (2016) as Peaches (voice)
- Star (2016) as Gigi
- Berlin Station (2016) as April Lewis
- Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party (2016) as Self
- Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade (2016) as Peaches (voice)
- VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail the Queens (2016)
- Grease Live (2016) as Marty
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self - Guest
- Celebrity Family Feud (2015) as Self
- Scream: The TV Series (2015) as Kym
- Scream Queens (2015) as Zayday Williams
- Brotherly Love (2015) as Jackie Taylor
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Chicken Shop Date (2014) as Self - Guest
- Chicken Shop Date (2014) as Self - Guest (archive footage)
- Animal (2014) as Alissa
- The Trip to Bountiful (2014) as Thelma
- Imperial Dreams (2014) as Samaara
- Masters of Sex (2013) as Coral
- Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story (2013) as Rozanda 'Chilli' Thomas
- Good Mythical Morning (2012) as Self
- Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) as Peaches (voice)
- Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) Songs
- Key & Peele (2012) as Malia's Anger Translator
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012) as Self - Guest Judge
- RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: UNTUCKED (2012) as Self - Guest Judge
- Rags (2012) as Kadee Worth
- Rags (2012) Producer
- Joyful Noise (2012) as Olivia Hill
- Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2012) as Carlina White
- Bubble Guppies (2011) as Stylee (voice)
- Winx Club - The Shadow Phoenix (2011) as Aisha (voice)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Cleveland Show (2009)
- BrainSurge (2009)
- Shrink (2009) as Jemma
- Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants (2009) as Self
- 90210 (2008) as Elizabeth Royce Harwood
- True Jackson, VP (2008) as True Jackson
- True Jackson, VP (2008) Theme Song Performance
- The Longshots (2008) as Jasmine
- Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare (2008) as Crystal Tortoise (voice)
- Cleaner (2007) as Rose Cutler
- Jump In! (2007) as Mary Thomas
- Rachael Ray (2006)
- Madea's Family Reunion (2006) as Nikki
- Akeelah and the Bee (2006) as Akeelah Anderson
- Keke and Jamal (2006)
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Sheryll Jeffries
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Knights of the South Bronx (2005) as Kenya Russell
- Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) as Gina's Niece
- Second Time Around (2004) as Sharlene
- The Wool Cap (2004) as Lou
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Cold Case (2003) as Arlene (1939)
- Degrassi (2001) as Keke Palmer
- BET Awards (2001) as Self - Performer
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Sarina
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Tasha Wright
- Family Guy (1999) as Pam (voice)
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self - Presenter
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- ER (1994) as Janell Parkerson
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Self - Host
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- Gods Unknown as Kate Vance
- One of Them Days 2 as Dreux
- Ride or Die as Tami Moore
- Ride or Die Executive Producer
- Lottery
- Lottery Executive Producer
- Being Mortal
- The Backup as Alyssa
- The Backup Producer
- Super Toys
- Moxie
- Moxie Producer