History of Kenan Thompson in Timeline
"Kenan Thompson, an American comedian and actor, holds the record for being the longest-running cast member on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' (since 2003). He also has the distinction of being the first regular cast member born after the show's debut in 1975. Beyond 'SNL,' Thompson led the NBC sitcom 'Kenan,' which aired from 2021 to 2022."
May 10, 1978: Birth of Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson was born on May 10, 1978.
1994: Kenan Thompson's Debut on "All That"
Kenan Thompson began his acting career in the early 1990s, becoming an original cast member of Nickelodeon's "All That" in 1994.
1996: "Kenan & Kel" Premieres
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell took center stage in their own sitcom, "Kenan & Kel," which premiered in 1996.
1996: Kenan Thompson Stars in "Kenan & Kel" While on "All That"
While still a part of "All That," Kenan Thompson took on the role of Kenan Rockmore in Nickelodeon's "Kenan & Kel," which ran from 1996 to 2000.
1997: Release of "Good Burger"
Kenan Thompson starred in "Good Burger" in 1997, a film based on the "All That" sketch.
2000: Kenan Thompson's Tenure on "Kenan & Kel" Ends
Kenan Thompson's run as Kenan Rockmore on "Kenan & Kel" concluded in 2000.
2001: End of "Kenan & Kel"
After a successful run, "Kenan & Kel" concluded in 2001.
2003: Kenan Thompson Joins Saturday Night Live
In 2003, Kenan Thompson joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, marking the beginning of his journey as the show's longest-tenured cast member.
2004: Kenan Thompson Stars in "Barbershop 2: Back in Business"
Kenan Thompson appeared in the film "Barbershop 2: Back in Business" in 2004.
2004: "Fat Albert" starring Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson took on the title role in the 2004 film "Fat Albert."
2005: Kenan Thompson Becomes a Repertory Player on SNL
Kenan Thompson transitioned from a featured player to a repertory player on "Saturday Night Live" in 2005.
2005: Conclusion of "All That"
Kenan Thompson's time as an original cast member on Nickelodeon's "All That" came to an end in 2005.
2006: Kenan Thompson's Continued Journey on SNL
Kenan Thompson continued as a repertory player on "Saturday Night Live" into the 2005-2006 season.
2006: Kenan Thompson in "Snakes on a Plane"
Kenan Thompson took on a supporting role in the film "Snakes on a Plane" in 2006.
April 19, 2009: Premiere of "Sit Down, Shut Up"
Kenan Thompson lent his voice to the Fox animated series "Sit Down, Shut Up," which premiered on April 19, 2009.
November 11, 2011: Marriage to Christina Evangeline
Kenan Thompson married model Christina Evangeline on November 11, 2011.
2011: Kenan Thompson Returns to Nickelodeon for "iParty with Victorious"
In 2011, Kenan Thompson made a return to his Nickelodeon roots, guest-starring in the crossover episode "iParty with Victorious."
2013: Kenan Thompson Becomes SNL's Most Senior Cast Member
Following Seth Meyers' departure in the second half of the 2013-14 season, Kenan Thompson became the most senior cast member on "Saturday Night Live."
2013: Kenan Thompson Advocates for Black Women on SNL
In 2013, Kenan Thompson took a stand for inclusivity, refusing to portray black women characters and advocating for SNL to hire black women instead.
2013: Release of "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth"
Mike Tyson's HBO special, "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth," premiered in 2013. Years later, Kenan Thompson's production company would work on a sequel.
June 2014: Birth of First Daughter
Kenan Thompson and Christina Evangeline welcomed their first daughter in June 2014.
2014: Kenan Thompson's Impact on SNL Scripts
In 2014, SNL head writer Brian H. Tucker acknowledged Kenan Thompson's comedic prowess, noting that simply adding "KENAN REACTS" to a script would enhance its humor.
September 23, 2015: Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell Reunite on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"
Kenan Thompson and his former "All That" co-star, Kel Mitchell, delighted fans with a reunion on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on September 23, 2015, where they reprised their beloved "Good Burger" roles.
2015: Kenan Thompson Appears in TeenNick's "The '90s Are All That"
Kenan Thompson made appearances in TeenNick's retro programming block, "The '90s Are All That," in 2015.
2015: Kenan Thompson Becomes Fandango's Brand Character
Kenan Thompson took on the role of Fandango's brand character, Miles Mouvay, in 2015, appearing in various videos and commercials for the film ticketing website.
2017: Kenan Thompson Receives Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
Kenan Thompson was nominated for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song "Last Christmas" at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2017.
August 2018: Birth of Second Daughter
Kenan Thompson and Christina Evangeline's second daughter was born in August 2018.
November 2018: Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell Compete on "Double Dare"
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell brought back their comedic chemistry as they competed against each other in an episode of the revived Nickelodeon game show "Double Dare" in November 2018.
2018: Kenan Thompson Wins Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
Kenan Thompson received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "Come Back Barack" in 2018.
May 2019: NBC Picks Up "The Kenan Show"
In May 2019, NBC greenlit Kenan Thompson's single-camera comedy, "The Kenan Show."
2019: Kenan Thompson's Commitment to SNL
By 2019, Kenan Thompson had solidified his dedication to "Saturday Night Live," considering it his "forever plan."
2019: Lorne Michaels Recognizes Kenan Thompson's Importance
Lorne Michaels, in 2019, emphasized Kenan Thompson's significance to "Saturday Night Live," calling him "the person I most rely on in the cast."
2020: Spokesman and Canceled Hosting Duties
In 2020, Kenan Thompson became the spokesman for Universal Destinations & Experiences' "Let Yourself Woah" campaign. He was also scheduled to host the 2020 White House Correspondents' Dinner, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Kenan Thompson Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor
Kenan Thompson received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2020.
December 2021: Co-founding Artists for Artists and Announcing First Project
Kenan Thompson co-founded the production company and talent incubator Artists for Artists (AFA) in December 2021. Their first announced project was "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth Part 2," a collaboration with Mike Tyson and his wife, Lakiha "Kiki" Spicer, serving as a sequel to Tyson's 2013 HBO special.
2021: Hosting the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, People's Choice Awards, and The Jonas Brothers Family Roast
In 2021, Kenan Thompson was busy with hosting gigs. He hosted the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, the People's Choice Awards, and The Jonas Brothers Family Roast on Netflix.
2021: Kenan Thompson Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Lead Actor
Kenan Thompson received nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2021.
2021: "Kenan" Premieres on NBC
Kenan Thompson's sitcom, "Kenan," premiered on NBC in 2021, showcasing his talent as a lead actor in a heartwarming story about a newly widowed father striving to be a "super dad."
2021: Premiere of "Kenan"
Kenan Thompson's sitcom, "Kenan," premiered on NBC in 2021.
March 5, 2022: Kenan Thompson's Milestone on SNL
Kenan Thompson achieved a remarkable milestone during the March 5, 2022, episode of "Saturday Night Live," hosted by Oscar Isaac. He had now performed in over 1,500 sketches.
March 2022: Funding Twenty Two Entertainment
In March 2022, Artists for Artists (AFA), co-founded by Kenan Thompson, fully funded the launch of Twenty Two Entertainment. This company is led by actors Michael Rainey Jr. and Gianni Paolo, known for their roles in the Starz series "Power Book II: Ghost."
April 7, 2022: Announcement of Separation
On April 7, 2022, it was announced that Kenan Thompson and Christina Evangeline had been separated for over a year and were co-parenting their daughters.
May 2022: "Kenan" Canceled After Two Seasons
NBC made the decision to cancel the sitcom "Kenan" in May 2022, after its second season.
June 15, 2022: Filing for Divorce
Kenan Thompson officially filed for divorce from Christina Evangeline on June 15, 2022.
June 2022: Appearance in "The Kids in the Hall" and Hosting the NHL Awards
In June 2022, Kenan Thompson appeared in the third episode of the revived series "The Kids in the Hall" as Ron, a Friend of the Kids in the Hall. He also hosted the NHL Awards that same month.
August 11, 2022: Kenan Thompson Receives Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In recognition of his 20th anniversary on "Saturday Night Live," Kenan Thompson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 11, 2022, placed next to Lorne Michaels' star.
September 12, 2022: Hosting the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards
Kenan Thompson hosted the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 12, 2022.
2022: End of "Kenan"
NBC canceled the sitcom "Kenan" in 2022 after its second season.
December 2023: Release of Kenan Thompson's Memoir, "When I Was Your Age"
Kenan Thompson shared his life story with the world in December 2023 through his memoir, "When I Was Your Age."
