Keke Palmer
Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer (/ˈkiːki/ KEE-kee;[1] born August 26, 1993) is an American actress, singer, and television host. She is known for playing both leading and character roles in comedy and drama productions. Palmer has received several accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and five NAACP Image Awards; along with 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
- Actress
- singer
- television host
2002–present
Darius Jackson (2021–2023)
1
Robbins, Illinois, U.S.
- Vocals
Palmer made her film debut as a child actress 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 with roles in Madea's Family Reunion (2006), Jump In! (2007), The Longshots (2008), and Shrink (2009). She played a number of roles on Nickelodeon, such as 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). From 2014 to 2015, she starred as Ella in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway. She has since starred in television series, such as the Fox satirical horror series Scream Queens (2015–2016), the Epix drama series Berlin Station (2017–2019), the slasher series Scream (2019), and the Facebook Watch series Turnt Up with the Taylors (2021), the last of which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award. She also starred in films, including Animal (2014), Pimp (2018), Hustlers (2019), and Jordan Peele's Nope (2022).[4]
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 of which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. Palmer also hosts the revival of the game show Password (2022–present), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award.
Early life[edit]
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 is also 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 and performed 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]
Artistry[edit]
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".[74] Palmer was influenced by American R&B singers Ciara, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Aaliyah, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, and Whitney Houston as well as girl group TLC.[75] Among her urban influences, Palmer also cites pop artists Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne.[76]
Personal life[edit]
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.[77] She has worked with the YWCA and Saving Our Daughters.[77] As of 2010, Palmer has been a representative for the Saving Our Daughters project, an anti-bullying campaign.[78] She is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.[79] She was included in the Time's 100 Next list in November 2019,[80] which "spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more."[81] In 2020, she marched in Hollywood, California, as part of the George Floyd protests.[82] That same year, she addressed the movement during her opening monologue at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.[83]
Palmer has said she does not want her sexuality defined by labels; she believes that people should be fluid with labelling themselves, as their identities can change.[84] In February 2017, during an interview on The Wendy Williams Show, when asked by Williams whether she was sexually fluid, Palmer replied, "Yeah, I like whoever loves me. Love is defined by the individual, and what I feel today is not what I necessarily may feel five years from now. I don't want to limit myself to one feeling or one idea of anything."[85] In 2019, as part of the #YouKnowMe campaign, she shared via Twitter that she had an abortion at the age of 24.[86] Palmer has been dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome her entire life.[87] She has also struggled with anxiety and depression.[88]
In June 2021, Palmer began dating fitness instructor[89] Darius Jackson.[90] While hosting Saturday Night Live on December 3, 2022, Palmer announced she was expecting her first child with Jackson.[91][92] Their son was born in February 2023.[93] Palmer and Jackson separated in October 2023, following a series of alleged incidents surrounding domestic violence throughout their relationship.[94]