Echo Kellum
{{short description|American actor and comedian (born 1982)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Echo Kellum
| image = Echo Kellum Portrait 2017.jpg
| caption = Kellum in 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|08|29}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Actor
- comedian
}}
| years_active = 2012–present
| children = 2https://twitter.com/EchoK/status/871142715932655617 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
}}
Echo Kellum (born August 29, 1982){{cite tweet|author=Arrow|user=CW_Arrow|title=Have a terrific birthday, @EchoK|number=1034833054647439360|date=August 29, 2018|access-date=August 29, 2018}}{{Cite web|title=Echo Kellum - Actor, Comedian|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/people/echo-kellum/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=TV Insider|language=en-US}} is an American actor and comedian. Kellum is best known for his roles as Curtis Holt on The CW drama series Arrow, Tommy on the Fox sitcom Ben and Kate,{{cite web |author=Robert Wilonsky |url=http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/echo-kellum-co-star-of-foxs-ben-and-kate-was-in-town-promoting-his-show-this-is-our-visit.html/ |title=Echo Kellum, co-star of FOX's 'Ben and Kate,' was in town promoting his show. This is our visit. |work=The Dallas Morning News Pop Culture Blog |publisher=The Dallas Morning News Inc. |date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=2016-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043301/http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/echo-kellum-co-star-of-foxs-ben-and-kate-was-in-town-promoting-his-show-this-is-our-visit.html/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }} Hunter on the NBC sitcom Sean Saves the World,{{cite web |author=Michael Starr |url=https://nypost.com/2013/10/02/will-grace-vet-best-reason-to-watch-sean-saves-the-world/ |title='Will & Grace' vet best reason to watch 'Sean Saves the World' |work=New York Post |date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=2016-04-05 |quote=...and Hayes is nicely supported by Echo Kellum and Megan Hilty as co-workers Hunter (he of the understated sarcasm) and Liz (also Sean’s best friend outside the office).}} and Noah Koles on the NBC sitcom Grand Crew.{{Cite web |title=Wine down with Echo Kellum, Nicole Byer in new trailer for NBC's 'Grand Crew' |url=https://ew.com/tv/nbc-grand-crew-trailer/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=EW.com |language=en}}
Early life
Born in Chicago, Illinois,{{cite news |author=Darel Jevens |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/chicagos-echo-kellum-cast-as-mr-terrific-on-arrow/ |title=Chicago's Echo Kellum cast as Mr. Terrific on 'Arrow' |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=2016-06-02}} he moved to Los Angeles in late 2009 to pursue a career in comedy.{{cite web |url=http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/talent/view/21329 |title=UCB Theatre • Echo Kellum |publisher=UCB Comedy |access-date=2012-12-07 |archive-date=2013-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123184419/http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/talent/view/21329 |url-status=dead }} He is a graduate of The Groundlings, I.O. West, and the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Career
Kellum gained his first major role in 2012 when he was cast in the FOX comedy Ben and Kate (then titled Ben Fox Is My Manny) playing the role of Tommy, the best friend of the titular character Ben (Nat Faxon).{{cite web |author=Nellie Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2012/02/michael-arden-joins-anger-management-echo-kellum-cast-in-ben-fox-is-my-manny-230758/ |title=Michael Arden Joins 'Anger Management', Echo Kellum Cast In 'Ben Fox Is My Manny' |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 14, 2012 |access-date=2016-04-05}} Following Ben and Kate, Kellum was cast as Hunter in NBC's Sean Saves the World starring Sean Hayes and Megan Hilty.
In 2015, Kellum was cast in the recurring role of Curtis Holt, based on the DC Comics character Mister Terrific, in the fourth season of The CW drama series Arrow.{{cite magazine |author=Natalie Abrams |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/16/arrow-echo-kellum-mr-terrific-season-4 |title=Arrow casts Mr. Terrific for season 4 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=2016-04-05}}{{Cite web|last=Jeffery|first=Morgan|date=2017-04-26|title=Echo Kellum says Arrow's big season 5 revamp was a risk|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a826911/echo-kellum-says-arrows-big-season-5-cast-revamp-was-a-risk-but-i-knew-fan-were-going-to-love-it/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}} Holt is a technological savant and inventor who initially works at Palmer Technologies under the supervision of Felicity Smoak, and later becomes a member of Team Arrow. Kellum also went on to portray the character in the Arrow spin-off series Legends of Tomorrow. In April 2016, it was announced that Kellum would be promoted to series regular for the fifth season of Arrow.{{cite web |author=Matt Webb Mitovich |url=http://tvline.com/2016/04/04/arrow-season-5-echo-kellum-series-regular-curtis/ |title=Arrow Season 5: Echo Kellum Promoted to Series Regular as Curtis |work=TVLine |date=April 4, 2016 |access-date=2016-04-05 |archive-date=2016-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405065334/http://tvline.com/2016/04/04/arrow-season-5-echo-kellum-series-regular-curtis/ |url-status=dead }} Kellum exited the series during its seventh season in 2019.{{cite magazine |author=Agard, Chancellor |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/02/11/arrow-echo-kellum-terrific-exit/ |title=Arrow star on their shocking exit from the show: 'It's not the end of [SPOILER]' |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 11, 2019 |access-date=2019-02-12}} He returned for two episodes in Arrow
In 2017,{{cite web | url=http://fanfest.com/2016/07/06/echo-kellum-talks-about-the-future-of-arrows-mister-terrific | title=Echo Kellum Talks About the Future of "Arrow's" Mister Terrific | date=6 July 2016 | access-date=3 August 2016 | archive-date=26 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126132957/http://fanfest.com/2016/07/06/echo-kellum-talks-about-the-future-of-arrows-mister-terrific/ | url-status=dead }} Kellum appeared in Netflix's Girlfriend's Day{{cite web |author=Rebecca Ford |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-nabs-chris-sparlings-mercy-842494 |title=Netflix Nabs Chris Sparling's 'Mercy,' 'Girlfriend's Day' With Bob Odenkirk (Exclusive) |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 23, 2015}} as Madsen, beat poet and a co-worker of Bob Odenkirk's character.{{Cite web |url=http://www.talentmonthly.com/arrows-echo-kellum-talks-playing-curtis-mr-terrific-and-more/ |title=Arrow's Echo Kellum Talks Playing Curtis, Mr Terrific and More | Talent Monthly Magazine |access-date=2016-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806185844/http://www.talentmonthly.com/arrows-echo-kellum-talks-playing-curtis-mr-terrific-and-more/ |archive-date=2016-08-06 |url-status=dead }}
Kellum voices the character "King Joaquín" on the Disney Channel animated series Elena of Avalor. He also voices multiple characters for the Adult Swim animated series Rick and Morty.
In 2021, Kellum landed a role on the NBC series Grand Crew.
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2016
| Hepcat | |
| 2017
| Madsen | |
| 2020
| Undead Life | Butch | Short |
| rowspan=3| 2023
| Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. | Mr. Benedict | |
| Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
| Doug (voice) | |
| Ex-Husbands
| Chris | |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan=3| 2012–13
| Concerned Citizen / Tiberius Jones | 3 episodes |
| Ben and Kate
| Tommy | Main cast, 16 episodes |
| Hot in Cleveland
| Aaron / Johnny | Episodes: "Hot & Heavy", "Love Is All Around" |
| rowspan=3| 2013
| Rav Mukherjee | Unsold television pilot |
| NTSF:SD:SUV::
| Clarence / Lex | Episodes: "Inertia", "Unfrozen Agent Man" |
| Key & Peele
| Funk Band Member | Episode: "Tackle & Grapple" |
| 2013–14
| Hunter | Main cast, 15 episodes (2 unaired) |
| 2013–21
| Brad / various voices | 7 episodes |
| rowspan=2| 2014
| Unknown character (voice) | Episode: "Introducing the Naughty Stewardesses" |
| Two to Go
| Nick | Unsold television pilot |
| rowspan=5| 2015
| Doug | Unsold television pilot |
| A to Z
| Joseph | Episodes: "J Is for Jan Vaughan", "K Is for Keep Out" |
| Drunk History
| Lew Alcindor | Episode: "Cleveland" |
| The League
| Mr. McGibblets | Episode: "The Yank Banker" |
| You’re the Worst
| Tall Nathan | 4 episodes |
| 2015–16
| Guitar / Lil' Doctor Dirty (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2015–20
| Arrow | Curtis Holt / Mister Terrific | Recurring role (season 4) Series regular (season 5–7) Special guest star (season 8) 72 episodes |
| rowspan=3| 2016
| Darbins | Episode: "Feel the Bern" |
| Time Traveling Bong
| Slave | Episode: "Chapter 2: The Middle" |
| Con Man
| Taylor | Episode: "What Goes Up..." |
| 2016–20
| King Joaquin (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 2017
| Curtis Holt / Mister Terrific | 2 episodes (season 3) |
| 2018
| Curtis Holt / Mister Terrific (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2019
| James Dixon Rogers | Episode: "Gentrification: The Musical" |
| rowspan=2| 2020
| Coop | 5 episodes |
| Star Trek: Lower Decks
| Titan Lieutenant #1 (voice) | Episode: "No Small Parts" |
| 2020–23
| EDM Trunk / Jesse Guard #1 (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2021
| Maui, Skeleton Warrior #1 (voice) | Episode: "May Cause the Need for Speed" |
| 2021–23
| Noah Koles | Main role |
| 2022
| Mike | 5 episodes |
| 2024
| rowspan=2 |Himself | Episode #42 |
| rowspan=2| 2025
|Episode: "The Black Version of 'Romeo & Juliet'" |
| Very Important People
| Jordache |Episode: "Jordache" |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Video game roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2017
| Little Public Defender 1, Cop 1 | Voice role |
| 2019
| Bathtub Jim, New Anchor in Studio | Voice role |
| 2020
| Pimple, Porkshank, Passerby |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|4523855|Echo Kellum}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kellum, Echo}}
Category:Male actors from Chicago
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male television actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Comedians from Chicago
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:21st-century African-American male actors
Category:African-American male comedians
Category:African-American comedians
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