Table of Contents
Who Is Keke Palmer?
Keke Palmer embarked on her performing career at a young age, initially gaining national recognition with her role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business. She continued to build her reputation with notable performances in the acclaimed film Akeelah and the Bee and the Nickelodeon comedy series True Jackson, VP, where she starred for three seasons. Palmer seamlessly transitioned to more mature roles, appearing in television series such as Masters of Sex, Scream Queens, and Berlin Station. Her diverse career further includes a role as a stripper in Hustlers and a co-host position on the daytime talk show Strahan, Sara and Keke.
Early Life
Lauren Keyana Palmer, known professionally as Keke Palmer, was born on August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois. From the age of five, Palmer captivated audiences with her performances at her local church in Robbins, Illinois. Her passion for performing appears to be deeply rooted in her family background: her parents, Sharon and Larry Palmer, both had experience as professional actors before transitioning to more conventional careers. Larry Palmer later worked in the plastics manufacturing industry, while Sharon Palmer dedicated her career to working with middle school students with autism.
Palmer’s transition from local performances to the professional stage was swift. She gained significant experience and exposure through a stage show at a popular Chicago tourist destination. Her burgeoning career received a boost when she was cast in a small role in the film Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), where her aunt was portrayed by Queen Latifah. This role motivated her parents to move the family to California, providing Keke Palmer with the opportunity to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Reflecting on her journey, Palmer noted, “I knew opportunities would pop up if I just kept on trying.” Despite an early setback—a failed audition for a Broadway show at age 10—Palmer remained determined. She shared her aspirations with her sister, acknowledging her concerns about potentially disrupting her sister’s high school experience. However, her sister’s supportive response—”You’re really talented, and I think this could be good for you”—affirmed Palmer’s decision to follow her dreams.
Films and TV Shows
‘The Wool Cap’
It wasn’t long before significant acting opportunities came Palmer’s way. Her early career includes notable appearances on television shows such as ER, Cold Case, and Law & Order. In 2004, Palmer starred alongside William H. Macy in the made-for-TV movie The Wool Cap. This role earned her the distinction of being the youngest nominee for the Screen Actors Guild’s Award for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Madea’s Family Reunion, Akeelah and the Bee
Subsequent projects included Madea’s Family Reunion (2006) and Akeelah and the Bee (2006), the latter of which follows the journey of a young girl striving for the National Spelling Bee championship. Starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, the film received substantial critical acclaim. Additionally, the soundtrack featured Palmer’s debut recording, “All My Girlz,” which led to Atlantic Records offering Palmer further recording opportunities.
The Cleaner, The Longshots
Maintaining a rigorous full-time acting schedule, Palmer began contributing voice work to Nickelodeon’s Winx Club. In 2007, she co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Mendes in The Cleaner. The following year, Palmer starred alongside Ice Cube in The Longshots, portraying Jasmine Plummer, the pioneering girl who became the first female quarterback in the Pop Warner national football championships.
True Jackson, VP
In 2008, Keke Palmer was cast in the lead role of True Jackson, VP, a Nickelodeon television series centered on a 15-year-old girl who ascends to the position of vice president at a billion-dollar fashion company. Palmer also contributed creatively by co-writing and performing the show’s theme song. True Jackson, VP enjoyed a successful run for three seasons before concluding in August 2011.
Shrink, Joyful Noise, Ice Age: Continental Drift
Following a notable performance in the 2009 comedy-drama Shrink, Palmer collaborated with Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, and Kris Kristofferson in the 2012 musical Joyful Noise. Later that year, she lent her voice to the character Peaches in the animated feature Ice Age: Continental Drift.
Imperial Dreams, Just Keke, Masters of Sex
By 2014, Palmer transitioned to more mature roles, featuring in the drama Imperial Dreams and the horror thriller Animal. In addition to her previous TV appearances on Degrassi: The Next Generation and 90210, she briefly hosted her own talk show, Just Keke, during the summer of that year. At the same time, Palmer also had a recurring role in the second season of Masters of Sex.
Scream Queens, Grease Live!
In 2015, Palmer took on a prominent role in Ryan Murphy’s television series Scream Queens, which centers around a sorority being terrorized by a serial killer. She also starred in the drama film Brotherly Love. In early 2016, Palmer garnered acclaim for her portrayal of Marty Maraschino in Grease Live!. Later that year, she reprised her role as Peaches in Ice Age: Collision Course.
Berlin Station, Star, Hustlers
In 2017, Palmer secured recurring roles in the espionage thriller Berlin Station and the musical drama Star. She subsequently took on the lead role in Pimp (2018), and later portrayed a streetwise character in the critically acclaimed and commercially successful film Hustlers (2019), which featured Jennifer Lopez.
Scream, Strahan, Sara and Keke
In the summer of 2019, Palmer joined the main cast of the anthology slasher series Scream. Concurrently, she began appearing as a maternity-leave replacement for Sara Haines on the Good Morning America spinoff Strahan and Sara, alongside co-host Michael Strahan. In late August, Palmer’s role on the show was made permanent, leading to the program being rebranded as Strahan, Sara and Keke. The following spring, Palmer took on the role of host for a revival of the classic MTV dating show Singled Out on Quibi.
Music and Book
Keke Palmer made her musical debut with the release of her first album, So Cool, a compilation of R&B tracks, in 2007. She subsequently released two mixtapes, Awaken in 2011 and Keke Palmer in 2012. In 2016, Palmer introduced her second album, Waited to Exhale, which was composed during her time on True Jackson, VP. In 2017, she released another mixtape, Keyana Nikole, recorded in collaboration with Jane Handcock.
In addition to her music career, Palmer expanded her repertoire to include authorship with the publication of I Don’t Belong to You: Quiet the Noise and Find Your Voice in 2017.