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Keegan-Michael Key‘s best movies and TV shows show off a career that stretches from sketch comedy to acclaimed comedies to hit franchises. Born in Michigan on March 22, 1971, Key first found fame on the sketch comedy series Mad TV, where he showed off his talent for playing a variety of characters and committed comedy performances. The show was also where he formed one of his most important creative partnerships with fellow cast member and future Oscar winner Jordan Peele. The two went on the create Key & Peele together, opening even more doors for the duo.
Key has remained a hard-working actor since rising to fame, appearing in over 130 projects and building an impressive career. He has guest-starred on myriad sitcoms, lent his voice to many animated movies, and continued to show new sides of his talents in a variety of roles. While he certainly has many more projects to come, looking at all of the movies and TV shows Key has appeared in already, it is hard to choose a few of the best.
10
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
As Toad
One of the biggest aspects of Keegan-Michael Key’s career in movies and television has been his voice acting work. He has appeared in tons of animated movies, but none have been as big as The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Bringing the iconic video game characters to the big screen in a big-budget animated adventure, the movie follows Mario and Luigi as they are transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, where they get caught up in the battle to defeat the powerful Bowser. Key brings some adorable humor to the role of Toad.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie cast is a star-studded affair, with Chris Pratt, Seth Rogen, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black playing these beloved characters. While the story isn’t all that impressive, it is a fun ensemble that is given colorful characters to play in this all-ages adventure. Key gives a spirited performance as the small but brave warrior who becomes one of Mario’s most important allies.
9
Reboot (2022)
As Reed Sterling
One of Keegan-Michael Key’s best television projects is sadly also one of his shortest-lived. Reboot is a sitcom from the creators of Modern Family that offered a clever behind-the-scenes look at the revival television trend. The series centers around the attempts to bring back a classic sitcom that has been off the air for many years, reassembling the cast who have had plenty of on-set differences and personal controversies in the past. Key plays Reed Sterling, the lead of the show, who is reluctant to return to the role following his failed attempts to become a serious actor.
With all of the television revivals that have happened in the past several years, Reboot seemed like the perfect setup for a Hollywood satire. It also featured a terrific ensemble with Key joining Judy Greer, Paul Reiser, and Johnny Knoxville. While the show was canceled after one season, it is not a reflection of the quality of the series, as it was a sharp and funny sitcom that deserved more.
8
Keanu (2016)
As Clarence
After their sketch comedy series became a massive hit, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele took their collaborations to the big screen with this hilarious action-comedy. Keanu stars Peele as Rell, a mild-mannered guy who is recently dumped by his girlfriend, only to get a new lease on life when he finds an adorable kitten on his doorstep and names it Keanu. However, when Keanu is taken by a drug dealer, Rell and his cousin Clarence (Key) pose as gangsters in order to get the kitten back.
The movie is the perfect first big-screen project for Key and Peele following the sketch series, as it blends together their social commentary, genre-bending fun, and absurdist humor in some wonderful ways. Seeing them playing into this gangster world is a real treat, and they assemble a wonderful cast to join them, including Tiffany Haddish, Method Man, and Keanu Reeves himself in a voice cameo.
7
Wendell & Wild (2022)
As Wendell
- Release Date
-
October 21, 2022
- Runtime
-
106 Minutes
- Director
-
Henry Selick
-
Keegan-Michael Key
Kat Elliot
-
Keegan-Michael Key
Wendell
To date, the latest team-up between the iconic comedy duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele has been the stop-motion animated movie Wendell & Wild. The movie focuses on a young orphan girl struggling with her changed life, who is desperate to reunite with her deceased parents. However, she gets more than she bargained for when her wish reaches two scheming demons, voiced by Key and Peele, who decide to use her as a way of escaping to the human world.
From stop-motion master Henry Selick, Wendell & Wild fits into his previous classics, like Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas, as a terrific blend of family-friendly entertainment with just a bit of spookiness to make it an ideal Halloween movie for the whole family. Key and Peele bring a real spark to the movie as two of the most entertaining demonic troublemakers since Beetlejuice.
6
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
As Jerry Jones
Keegan Michael-Key had the chance to hold his own against a comedy legend in one of his best roles. Dolemite Is My Name is the hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt biopic of Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy), a comedian who found great fame with his stage character of Dolemite. The popularity of the character grew, leading Moore to assemble a ragtag group of artists and friends to make an independent movie showcase for Dolemite, which became a cult classic.
Key joins the wonderful cast of the movie as Jerry Jones, the movie’s screenwriter, who struggles working alongside Moore’s inexperienced and loose style. The movie is a terrific underdog story with these outcast characters making for a wonderful team who makes history together. Murphy gives one of his best performances as a man who loves making people laugh and takes that passion to unexpected heights.
5
Toy Story 4 (2019)
As Ducky
8/10
- Release Date
-
June 21, 2019
- Runtime
-
100 minutes
- Director
-
Josh Cooley
-
-
Tim Allen
Buzz Lightyear (voice)
Keegan-Michael Key and his comedy partner Jordan Peele joined forces again, joining one of the most beloved animated franchises of all time. Toy Story 4 continues the adventures of Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang, picking up their story as they share their new life with a new child, Bonnie. However, as Woody begins to question his purpose with a child who doesn’t seem to have much need for him, he unexpectedly encounters his old love interest, Bo Peep.
Key and Peele make for a hilarious addition to the story as Duck and Bunny, two carnival prize stuffed animals with a surprising amount of attitude. Once again, the comedic chemistry between Key and Peele is a welcome addition to the story, earning some of the movie’s biggest laughs. While not the strongest of the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 4 still manages to find the humor and heart with a particularly heartwarming story for Woody.
4
Fargo (2014)
As FBI Special Agent Bill Budge
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele had become known for co-starring in a lot of different projects together, but Fargo was one of the most surprising places the duo popped up. The series is a spinoff of the Oscar-winning Coen brothers movie of the same name and similarly deals with dark and violent crime stories set in seemingly quaint American communities. The first season of Fargo kicked things off with the tale of a put-upon insurance salesman who gets mixed up with a deadly criminal.
Key and Peele have supporting roles in the extensive cast of Fargo as FBI agents Budge and Pepper, who are on the trail of the sadistic crime figure Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton). While it is initially jarring to see the two comedic icons appear in the violent series, they quickly fit into the dark humor of the show. They are also joined by an incredible cast that includes Martin Freeman, Oliver Platt, and Allison Tolman.
3
Transformers One (2024)
As B-127
8/10
- Release Date
-
September 20, 2024
- Runtime
-
104 Minutes
- Director
-
Josh Cooley
-
Orion Pax / Optimus Prime
-
Brian Tyree Henry
D-16 / Megatron
Keegan Michael-Key brings his vocal talents to yet another beloved franchise. Transformers One brings the movie series back to its animated roots with this prequel story. Set on the Transformers’ home planet of Cybertron, Transformers One tells the origin story of how two robots, who were overlooked by their peers but shared a brotherly bond, became powerful Transformers and enemies known as Optimus Prime and Megatron. Key brings the iconic Transformers character Bumblebee to life as the comedic relief for the story.
While the live-action Transformers movies deliver bombastic fun, the animated approach really allows the actual Transformers characters to take center stage with a lot of personality and complexities. The voice cast is outstanding with Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Scarlett Johansson as the leads. It is also a surprisingly effective story of two friends who become enemies over time, adding depth to the conflict between Optimus and Megatron.
2
Don’t Think Twice (2016)
As Jack
Keegan-Michael Key’s background in the world of improvisational comedy went from the stage to the movie world in the charming indie comedy Don’t Think Twice. The movie focuses on a close-knit improv comedy troupe struggling with getting older in the profession and not having a lot to show for it. However, the dynamics of the group and the relationships within the group change when one of the members, Jack (Key), gets hired for a Saturday Night Live-esque comedy show.
The small comedy has a lot of heart and fun in its exploration of this unique performing world and the people who are trying to turn it into a path to fame. The cast is exceptional, with Key giving a great performance as the breakout star of the group, who is also consumed with the feeling that he’s not funny enough. His relationship with his partner, played by Gillian Jacobs, is also a highlight of the movie with its grounded complexities.
1
Key And Peele (2012-2015)
As Various
- Release Date
-
2012 – 2015-00-00
-
Cedric Yarbrough
Uncredited
-
Jason Schwartzman
Himself
-
-
Jordan Black
Basketball Player
While Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele met on the sketch comedy show Mad TV, they had even more success branching out into their own sketch show, Key and Peele. The duo proved their perfect chemistry and complementary styles of comedy in this hilarious show that simply allowed them to embrace each and every strange, clever, and wild sketch idea that came to mind. The show was bold enough to tackle subjects like racism while also making a sketch about Gremlins 2.
Looking back on the series, there are countless classic Key and Peele sketches that have been replayed by fans over the past decade, from the East/West College Bowl to the insult comic to the wild and tense aerobics video sketch. Key also created some of the best characters on the series, especially Mr. Garvey, the hot-tempered, no-nonsense, and clueless substitute teacher.
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