Michael Ian Black
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- August 12, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Active Years
- 1991–2026 (36 Years)
- Total Credits
- 123 credits in database
Biography
Michael Ian Black is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director born on August 12, 1971, in Chicago, Illinois. He has starred in several television comedy series, including The State, Viva Variety, Stella, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Michael and Michael Have Issues, and Another Period. In 2009, he and Showalter created and starred in the Comedy Central series Michael and Michael Have Issues. In addition to his television work, he is a prominent poker player who has appeared on Celebrity Poker Showdown multiple times, and he released the children's book Chicken Cheeks in 2009. His known acting credits total 103 on the Movie Database.
Career overview
Michael Ian Black is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director who was born on August 12, 1971, in Chicago, Illinois. Known for his work in television comedy, he has starred in several comedy series throughout his career. Among the television shows he has starred in are The State, Viva Variety, Stella, Another Period, Michael and Michael Have Issues, and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. Additionally, he appeared in multiple episodes of Celebrity Poker Showdown as a poker player and released a children's book titled Chicken Cheeks in 2009.
Alongside his acting and writing career, Black has collaborated on television projects such as Michael and Michael Have Issues, which he created and appeared in alongside Showalter on Comedy Central in 2009. With a substantial body of work encompassing over one hundred known credits in film and television, Black remains an active figure in the entertainment industry as a performer and creator.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
123 titles- Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (2026) as Very Famous Star Maps Salesman
- Deepfaking Sam Altman (2026) as Self
- Superman (2025) as Cleavis Thornwaite
- Long Live the State (2025) as Self
- Alaskan Murder Mystery (2025) Writer
- Have I Got News for You (2024) as Self - Team Captain
- Sorry/Not Sorry (2024) as Self
- Spinning Gold (2023) as Bill Aucoin
- Linoleum (2023) as Tony
- Handyman from Hell (2023) as Philosophy Contractor
- Peacemaker (2022) as Cleavis Thornwaite
- Reno 911! Defunded (2022) as Miss Mertz
- Reno 911! Defunded (2022) as Time Traveler
- Reno 911! Defunded (2022) as Hatzolah Captain
- Reno 911! Defunded (2022) as Organ Dealer
- Would I Lie to You? (2022) as Self
- Criss Angel's Magic with the Stars (2022) as Self
- Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist (2022) as Hatzolah Commander
- Name That Tune (2021) as Self - Contestant
- Reno 911! (2020) as Hatzolah Commander
- First One In (2020) as Philip
- Calls (2020)
- Bless This Mess (2019) as Cheff
- Sextuplets (2019) as Doug
- Retro Tech (2019) as Self - Actor / Writer / Comedian
- I Want My MTV (2019) as Self
- Insatiable (2018) as Pastor Mike
- The Fix (2018) as Self - Guest
- Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters (2018)
- The Good Fight (2017) as Stephen Rankin-Hall
- Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017) as McKinley / George H.W. Bush
- Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017) Consulting Producer
- Search Party (2016) as Wally
- Match Game (2016) as Self - Panelist
- Join or Die with Craig Ferguson (2016) as Self
- Slash (2016) as Denis
- Debate Wars (2016) as Self - Host
- Folk Hero & Funny Guy (2016) as Randy Jeppesen
- Michael Ian Black: Noted Expert (2016) as Self
- Michael Ian Black: Noted Expert (2016) Writer
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Another Period (2015) as Peepers
- Another Period (2015) Writer
- Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015) as McKinley Dozen
- The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015) as Daniel
- Smosh: The Movie (2015) as Steve Youtube
- Misery Loves Comedy (2015) as Self
- Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot (2015) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Deadbeat (2014) as TJ
- They Came Together (2014) as Trevor
- Us & Them (2014) as Brian
- Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) as Self
- Duck Quacks Don't Echo (2014) as Self - Host
- Beef (2014) as Lynn Vanderloo
- Beef (2014) Writer
- Beef (2014) Producer
- @midnight with Chris Hardwick (2013) as Self
- Maron (2013) as Himself
- Hell Baby (2013) as Dr. Marshall
- Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable (2013) as Self
- Burning Love (2012) as Bill Tundle
- Gotham Comedy Live (2012) as Self - Host
- This Is 40 (2012) as Accountant
- Wanderlust (2012) as Himself
- The Burn with Jeff Ross (2012) as Self
- You're Whole (2012) as Randall Tyree Mandersohn
- You're Whole (2012) Creator
- Impractical Jokers (2011)
- Take Me Home Tonight (2011) as Pete Bering
- Michael Ian Black: Very Famous (2011) as Self
- Michael Ian Black: Very Famous (2011) Writer
- Backwash (2010) as Fleming
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Michael & Michael Have Issues (2009) as Self
- Michael & Michael Have Issues (2009) Producer
- Michael & Michael Have Issues (2009) Creator
- Stella: Live in Boston (2009) as Michael
- I Love the New Millennium (2008) as Self
- Birthday (2008) as Michael
- Reality Bites Back (2008) as Host
- The Xtacles (2008) as Chase Fontaine
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007) as Self
- Reaper (2007) as Steve
- Reno 911!: Miami (2007) as Ron of Ron's Tattoo
- Run Fatboy Run (2007) Screenplay
- The Ten (2007) as Prison Guard Jamberg Saivon
- Frisky Dingo (2006) as Chase Fontaine (voice)
- I Love the '70s: Volume 2 (2006) as Self
- Wedding Daze (2006) Director
- Wedding Daze (2006) Screenplay
- I Love Toys (2006)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Stella (2005)
- Stella (2005) Producer
- Stella (2005) Writer
- Stella (2005) Creator
- The Baxter (2005) as Ed
- Partner(s) (2005) as Christopher
- Alchemy (2005) as Jerry (voice)
- Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004) as Dr. Ian Black (voice)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Reno 911! (2003) as Kevin the Sex Offender
- Reno 911! (2003) as Chris
- Celebrity Poker Showdown (2003) as Self
- Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (2002) as Michael
- Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (2002) Writer
- Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (2002) Director
- Wet Hot American Summer (2001) as McKinley
- Ed (2000) as Phil Stubbs
- The Bogus Witch Project (2000) as Stephen Hawking (segment "In the Woods")
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self - Guest
- Random Play (1999)
- Big Helium Dog (1999) as Martin Huber
- Comedy Central Presents (1998) as Self
- Viva Variety (1997) as Johnny Blue Jeans
- Viva Variety (1997) Creator
- The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special (1995) as Various
- The State (1994) as Various Characters
- I'm Your Man (1992) Screenplay
- Cults: Saying No Under Pressure (1991) as Male Student (as Michael Schwartz)
- Bad Day For Bigfoot
- MTV: The State, Skits and Stickers
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Michael Ian Black best known for?
Michael Ian Black is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (2026), Superman (2025), Have I Got News for You (2024), Spinning Gold (2023).
When and where was Michael Ian Black born?
Michael Ian Black was born on August 12, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
How many credits does Michael Ian Black have?
Michael Ian Black has accumulated over 123 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1991 to 2026.
What is Michael Ian Black's background in cinema and television?
Michael Ian Black is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director born on August 12, 1971, in Chicago, Illinois. He has starred in several television comedy series, including The State, Viva Variety, Stella, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Michael and Michael Have Issues, and Another Period. In 2009, h...
Michael Ian Black by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Peacemaker (2022) as Cleavis Thornwaite — aged about 50
- Impractical Jokers (2011) — aged about 39
- Insatiable (2018) as Pastor Mike — aged about 46
- Ed (2000) as Phil Stubbs — aged about 28
- The Good Fight (2017) as Stephen Rankin-Hall — aged about 45
- Superman (2025) as Cleavis Thornwaite — aged about 53
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