Keke Palmer's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Scream Queens (2015) Zayday Will… True Jackson, VP True Jackson

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

Keke Palmer is an actress and singer who won a small role in the feature film Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), at the tender age of nine. The role of Gina's Niece, though small, was significant in the movie because Gina was played by none other that the sensational Queen Latifah. Keke more than held her own against the likes of comic 'Cedric the Entertainer', arguably stealing scenes. That role led to a series of guest-starring roles on television shows such as "Strong Medicine" (2000), "Cold Case" (2003), "ER" (1994), and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999).

Keke later went on to star in an Emmy-nominated made-for-TV movie titled The Wool Cap (2004) (TV), where she worked alongside one of her favorite actors, William H. Macy. Her amazing performance was so remarkable that it earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actress in a Movie Made for Television, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Nomination in the Best Leading Actress category. Who were her fellow nominees? Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Glenn Close, and Patricia Heaton! Close went on to win, which is still pretty impressive for a kid who had only been acting for one year. Keke is the youngest actor to ever be nominated by the guild in a Lead Actor Category. Recently, Keke had the pleasure of co-starring in the made-for-television movie Knights of the South Bronx (2005) (TV), with former "Cheers" (1982) star Ted Danson.

In less than two years, Keke appeared in several national commercials, made-for-TV movies; television guest-starring appearances; shot a pilot for her own show on Disney Channel titled Keke & Jamal (2005) (TV); and two Lions Gate family movies, Madea's Family Reunion (2006), starring Tyler Perry, Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Cicely Tyson, Maya Angelou, which was released February 24, 2006; and Akeelah and the Bee (2006), starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, which opened April 28, 2006. Keke is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and signed a major recording contract with Atlantic Records. Although she had offers from three other major labels, Keke felt strongly that Atlantic was the right place for her; after all, it is the label that launched the careers of legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin & Ray Charles (I). Still a teenager, Keke has a long way to go, but no one can argue the fact that she is off to a fantastic start!


TRIVIA:

• Trained for 7 weeks with a professional quarterback preparing for her role in The Longshots.
• Is close friends with Carlysia Levert, daughter of the late Gerald Levert.
• Her favorite food is pizza.
• Her favorite actor is 'William H. Macy' (qv).
• Audtioned for Akeelah and the Bee 5 times. Director was convinced by the emotion in her crying the 5th time around.
• She resides in Illinois.
• Her favorite class is English and her least favorite is Math.