Keke Palmer

Biography

Lauren Keyana “Keke” Palmer is an actress, singer, producer, and television personality known for playing leading and character roles in several critically acclaimed comedy and drama productions.

Palmer made her acting debut in Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004). 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). She continued acting in films and played a number of roles on Nickelodeon including the titular role of the sitcom True Jackson, VP (2008-2011). Keke 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 later starred in television series Scream Queens (2015–2016), Berlin Station (2017–2019), Scream (2019), and Turnt Up with the Taylors (2021). She also starred in films including Animal (2014), Pimp (2018), Hustlers (2019) and Jordan Peele’s Nope (2022).

Palmer has received several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, five NAACP Image Awards, and 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. In September 2022 she introduced KeyTV Network, a streaming network spotlighting young creatives.

Palmer’s debut studio album, So Uncool, was released in 2007. Palmer went on to release three EPs; Lauren (2016), Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1 (2019) and Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 2 (2020). In May 2023 Palmer released a new album and an accompanying 41-minute film, Big Boss, which tells the story of Palmer’s early years in a male-dominated music industry.

Keke has been open about being her own person and living in her truth. She spoke on these experiences while being honored at the Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala in April 2023, saying, “I’ve always been my own person, and sexuality and identity, for me, it’s always been confusion. I never felt straight enough; I never felt gay enough; I never felt woman enough; I never felt man enough. I always felt like I was a little bit of everything.”