Jerrod Carmichael
{{Short description|American comedian (born 1987)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jerrod Carmichael
| image = Jerrod Carmichael at the Del Monte Speakeasy (cropped).jpg
| caption = Carmichael performing in May 2013
| birth_name = Rothaniel Jerrod Carmichael
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|4|6}}
| birth_place = Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|actor|filmmaker}}
| years_active = 2008–present
}}
Rothaniel Jerrod Carmichael ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|ə|ˈ|r|ɒ|d}} {{respell|jə|ROD}}; born April 6, 1987) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and filmmaker.{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Jonah|title=Jerrod Carmichael Goes There|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/magazine/jerrod-carmichael-goes-there.html|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=March 2, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Seabaugh|first1=Julie|title=12 Things to Know About Stand-Up Comedian Jerrod Carmichael|url=http://www.vulture.com/2014/10/jerrod-carmichael-comedian-hbo-special-primer.html|access-date= March 11, 2016|work=New York|date=October 6, 2014}}
- {{cite news|last1=Holson|first1=Laura M.|title=Jerrod Carmichael's Comedy, and Tourism, Call for Reflection|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/fashion/jerrod-carmichaels-comedy-and-tourism-call-for-reflection.html|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 17, 2015}}
Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he later moved to Los Angeles, where his career began in the early 2010s comedy club scene. Carmichael has since released four stand-up comedy specials on HBO: Love at the Store (2014), 8 (2017), Rothaniel (2022), and Don't Be Gay (2025), the third of which won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. He also co-created, co-wrote, produced, and starred in the semi autobiographical NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show (2015–2017).
Carmichael made his feature film directorial debut when he directed, produced, and starred in the dark comedy film On the Count of Three (2021). In 2022, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for guest hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live.
In 2023, Carmichael hosted the 80th Golden Globe Awards and appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Poor Things. In 2024, he was the subject of the HBO documentary series, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, which had its world premiere at South by Southwest.
Early life
Rothaniel Jerrod Carmichael was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on April 6, 1987.{{cite web| url=https://www.biography.com/people/jerrod-carmichael-1042016| title=Jerrod Carmichael: Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Producer (1987–)| website=Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks)| access-date=June 15, 2017| archive-date=July 19, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719224822/https://www.biography.com/people/jerrod-carmichael-1042016| url-status=dead}} He has one older brother named Joe. He grew up poor, which is a frequent topic in his stand-up comedy work. In fifth grade, he hosted a morning news show on his elementary school's local access channel.{{cite web|title=Jerrod Carmichael's Brother Is Too Cool For His Show|url=http://teamcoco.com/video/jerrod-carmichael-cool-brother|website=Conan|publisher=TBS|access-date=May 4, 2017|date=August 25, 2015}}
In 2005, he graduated from Robert B. Glenn High School in Kernersville, North Carolina.{{cite news|last1=Clodfelter|first1=Tim|title=Local comedian to star in NBC sitcom|url=http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/local-comedian-to-star-in-nbc-sitcom/article_e8d0bd66-d403-11e4-9ae6-efba2c173d2c.html|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=Winston-Salem Journal|location=North Carolina|date=March 26, 2015|archive-date=January 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104132345/http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/local-comedian-to-star-in-nbc-sitcom/article_e8d0bd66-d403-11e4-9ae6-efba2c173d2c.html|url-status=live}}Additional archive on July 19, 2017.
Career
Carmichael moved to Los Angeles at the age of 20 to pursue a stand-up comedy career, despite never having tried it before.{{cite web|title=Jerrod Carmichael's Metric Of Success: How Many Cookies Is He Eating?|url=http://teamcoco.com/video/jerrod-carmichael-eating-cookies|website=Conan|publisher=TBS|access-date=May 4, 2017|date=April 26, 2016}} His first time doing stand-up was at an open mic night at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood.{{cite web|title=Jerrod Carmichael Wants to Marry Meryl Streep|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o1VgR68iXQ|website=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|publisher=NBC Television|access-date=May 12, 2017|date=August 4, 2015}} Working his way up through the comedy clubs, he appeared in the "New Faces" showcase at the 2011 Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.{{cite news|last1=Lehman|first1=Daneil|title=10 Comics to Watch: Jerrod Carmichael Q&A|url=http://www.backstage.com/interview/10-comics-to-watch-jerrod-carmichael-qa/|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=Backstage|date=July 9, 2012}} He appeared on the show The Goodwin Games (2013) and had his breakout role as an actor in the film Neighbors (2014).{{cite news|last1=Zei|first1=Michelle|title=Rising Comic Jerrod Carmichael on Stand-Up, Millennials and Joking About Police Brutality|url=http://www.papermag.com/rising-comic-jerrod-carmichael-on-stand-up-millennials-and-joking-abou-1427623931.html|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=Paper|date=July 31, 2015| archive-date= March 11, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311134427/http://www.papermag.com/rising-comic-jerrod-carmichael-on-stand-up-millennials-and-joking-abou-1427623931.html|url-status=live}} His first HBO stand-up comedy special, Love at the Store (2014), was directed by Spike Lee and filmed at The Comedy Store.{{cite news|last1=Zinoman|first1=Jason|title=Stand-Up Through a Filmmaker's Lens: Spike Lee Enhances Jerrod Carmichael and Katt Williams|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/02/arts/spike-lee-enhances-jerrod-carmichael-and-katt-williams.html|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=The New York Times|date =October 1, 2014}}
Carmichael's second stand-up comedy special, 8 (2017), was directed by friend and fellow comedian Bo Burnham and filmed in the Grand Lodge Room of New York's Masonic Hall.{{cite news|last1=Husband|first1=Andrew|title=You Can Thank Jerrod Carmichael And Bo Burnham's Friendship For 2017's Best Comedy Special (So Far)|url=http://uproxx.com/tv/jerrod-carmichael-bo-burnham-interview/|access-date= March 14, 2017|website=Uproxx|date=March 10, 2017|archive-date= July 5, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705140404/http://uproxx.com/tv/jerrod-carmichael-bo-burnham-interview/|url-status=live}} Carmichael next co-created, co-wrote, produced, and starred in the semi-biographical NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show (2015–2017), which was well-received and was notable for broaching topics including the Black Lives Matter movement, LGBT issues, gun rights, politics, and the reality of being black in America.{{cite news|last1=Lowry|first1=Brian|title=TV Review: 'The Carmichael Show'|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/reviews/the-carmichael-show-review-jerrod-carmichael-comedy-nbc-1201572671/|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=Variety|date=August 25, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Sims|first1=David|title=The Carmichael Show Proves Sitcoms Can Still Be Provocative|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/03/the-carmichael-show-is-back-to-push-hot-buttons/473037/|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=The Atlantic|date=March 10, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Barshad|first1=Amos|title=Garf Comes Alive: The Imminent Stand-up Stardom of Jerrod Carmichael|url= http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/jerrod-carmichael-hbo-comedy-special-neighbors-spike-lee/|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=Grantland|date=October 3, 2014| archive-date=January 21, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170121102542/http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/jerrod-carmichael-hbo-comedy-special-neighbors-spike-lee/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last1=Yarm|first1=Mark|title=Jerrod Carmichael: Meet the Comic Saving the Old-School Sitcom|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/jerrod-carmichael-20151124|access-date= March 11, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 24, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Stanhope|first1=Kate|title=Jerrod Carmichael on His NBC Series, TV Comedies' "Empty Calories" and Networks' "Growing Pains"|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jerrod-carmichael-his-nbc-series-817273|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 25, 2015}} He also served as an executive producer for the Fox sitcom Rel (2018–2019) and directed Drew Michael's stand-up comedy special Drew Michael (2018), which was acclaimed for its "unusual style".{{cite web | url=https://decider.com/2018/08/25/drew-michael-on-hbo-plays-with-your-senses-of-humor-light-and-sound/ | title='Drew Michael' on HBO Plays with Your Senses of Humor, Light and Sound | date=August 25, 2018 }}
Carmichael made an appearance on rapper Tyler, the Creator's album Igor (2019), narrating the album using short phrases to find logic in the title character Igor's state of mind.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/hidden-symbols-tyler-creators-igor-2492005|title=The hidden symbols in Tyler, The Creator's 'Igor'|work=NME|last=Hunt|first=El|date=May 24, 2019|access-date=May 25, 2019|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918014331/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/hidden-symbols-tyler-creators-igor-2492005|url-status=live}} That same year, he was hired by Quentin Tarantino to co-write a film adaptation based on the Django/Zorro crossover comic book series.{{cite web|url=http://collider.com/quentin-tarantino-jerrod-carmichael-django-zorro-movie/|title=Exclusive: Quentin Tarantino Working with Jerrod Carmichael on 'Django/Zorro' Movie|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|website=Collider|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=June 4, 2019}} He created, directed, produced, and starred in the HBO autobiographical documentaries Home Videos (2019) and Sermon on the Mount (2019).
His feature film directorial debut, On the Count of Three, competed in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival; Carmichael directed, produced, and starred in the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/jerrod-michael-christopher-abbott-tiffany-haddish-count-three-tom-werner-1202788941/|title=Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott Lead Ensemble Cast In 'On The Count Of Three' For Valparaiso & Tom Werner's Werner Entertainment|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=November 18, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2019}}
His third HBO special, Rothaniel (2022), was also directed by Burnham and earned Carmichael the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.{{Citation|title=Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel|date=April 1, 2022|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18949702/|access-date=January 11, 2023}}{{User-generated source|date=May 2022}} Two days after the release of Rothaniel, Carmichael hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He also won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Television Writing in a Comedy/Variety Specials for his work writing Rothaniel.
In 2023, Carmichael hosted the 80th Golden Globe Awards.{{cite magazine |last1=Murphy |first1=Chris |title=Jerrod Carmichael Opens the Golden Globes 2023 With Devastation and a Dose of Truth |date=January 11, 2023 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/01/jerrod-carmichael-opens-the-golden-globes-2023-with-devastation-and-a-dose-of-truth-awards-insider |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=January 11, 2023}} That year, he also appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Poor Things alongside Emma Stone.{{Cite web |last=Theil |first=Michele |date=January 22, 2024 |title=Emma Stone's Poor Things co-stars gay comedian Jerrod Carmichael |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/22/gay-comedian-jerrod-carmichael-co-stars-in-emma-stone-comedy-poor-things/ |access-date=January 4, 2025 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}}
In 2024, he starred in Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, an HBO documentary series revolving around his life.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/jerrod-carmichael-documentary-series-hbo-trailer-1235246625/|title=Jerrod Carmichael Comedy Documentary Series Ordered At HBO|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Katie|last=Campione|date=February 1, 2023|access-date=February 26, 2024}} The series screened at South by Southwest on March 10, 2024,{{cite web |title=Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show |url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2024/events/FS16906 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226204210/https://schedule.sxsw.com/2024/events/FS16906 |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=South by Southwest}} before being released on HBO 19 days later.{{cite web |title=What's New On Max This March |url=https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/whats-new-max-march |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226204209/https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/whats-new-max-march |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=Warner Bros. Discovery|date=February 26, 2024 }}
On May 24, 2025, his fourth special Don't Be Gay premiered on HBO's streaming service Max.
Influences
His early comedic influences were George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, and Sinbad.{{cite news |date=May 1, 2017 |title=Comedian Jerrod Carmichael Joins the Dan Patrick Show Live in Los Angeles (Full Interview) 5/1/17 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTky3HHxAN0 |access-date=May 4, 2017 |work=Dan Patrick Show Live}}
Personal life
Carmichael lives in New York City.{{Cite web|last=Yasharoff|first=Hannah|title=Jerrod Carmichael jokes hosting 'SNL' is 'the gayest thing you can possibly do'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/04/03/snl-jerrod-carmichael-host-coming-out-gay-oscars-jokes/7257143001/|access-date=January 11, 2023|website=USA Today|language=en-US}} He has discussed his relationships with both men and women in his work,{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/05/12/jerrod-carmichael-comes-out-gay-home-videos-hbo/|title=Did Jerrod Carmichael Just Come Out in His HBO Special Home Videos?|website=TVLine|author=Iannucci, Rebecca|date=May 12, 2019|access-date=February 1, 2020}}{{YouTube|id=ZgU1Eri4ejE|title=Jerrod Carmichael On Being Confident In Sexuality, Parental Infidelity, Owning His Story + More}} before coming out as gay in his comedy special Rothaniel (2022).{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jerrod-carmichael-comes-out-hbo-special-1235221082/|title=Jerrod Carmichael Officially Comes Out as Gay in His HBO Special 'Rothaniel' |website=Variety|author=Kate Aurthur|date=April 1, 2022}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2014
| Garfield "Garf" Slade | |
| 2015
| Freddy | |
| 2016
| Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising | Garfield "Garf" Slade | |
| rowspan="3"|2017
| Actor Friend | |
| Transformers: The Last Knight
| Jimmy | |
| Ferdinand
| Paco | Voice |
| 2018
| Mid90s | Security Guard | Uncredited |
| 2021
| Val | Also director and producer |
| 2023
| Harry Astley | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="5" | Credited as ! rowspan="2" | Role ! rowspan="2" | Notes |
|---|
| Actor
! Director ! Writer ! Creator ! Producer |
| 2013
| {{Yes}} | | | | | Elijah | 3 episodes |
| 2013
| {{Yes}} | | | | | Pranked Guy | Episode: "Zoe Saldana Wears a Tan Blouse & Glasses" |
| 2013
| Axe Cop | {{Yes}} | | | | | Guy | Voice, episode: "Babysitting Uni-Baby" |
| 2014
| Love at the Store | {{Yes}} | | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | | Himself | Stand-up comedy special |
| 2014–2015
| {{Yes}} | | | | | Jerrod | Voice, 14 episodes |
| 2015–2017
| {{Yes}} | | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | Jerrod Carmichael | 32 episodes |
| 2016
| {{Yes}} | | | | |Himself |Episode: "Family Dinner" |
| 2017
| 8 | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | | Himself | Stand-up comedy special |
| 2018
| Drew Michael: Drew Michael | | {{Yes}} | | {{Yes}} | | | Stand-up comedy special |
| 2018–2019
| Rel | | | | | {{Yes}} | | Executive producer |
| 2019
| The Shop | {{Yes}} | | | | | Himself | Episode: #2.1 |
| 2019
| Ramy | | | | | {{Yes}} | | |
| 2019
| Home Videos | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | Himself | Documentary |
| 2019
| Sermon on the Mount | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | Himself | Documentary |
| 2022
| Rothaniel | {{Yes}} | | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | | Himself | Stand-up comedy special |
| 2022
| {{Yes}} | | | | | Himself (host) | Episode 16 of Season 47: "Jerrod Carmichael/Gunna" |
| 2023
| {{Yes}} | | | | | Himself (host) | Television special |
| 2024
| Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show | | | | | {{yes}} | Himself | Documentary series |
| 2025
| | | | | | Himself | Guest judge (Season 17, episode 12) |
| 2025
| Don't Be Gay | {{Yes}} | Ari Katcher | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | | Himself | Stand-up Comedy Special |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Song ! Artist ! Director ! Role |
|---|
| 2017
| "Moonlight" | Jay-Z |
Awards and nominations
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|4273797}}
- {{facebook|JerrodCarmichael}}
{{Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carmichael, Jerrod}}
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