Jordan Klepper
{{short description|American comedian}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Jordan Klepper
| image =JordanKlepper-byPhilipRomano.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Klepper in 2025
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|3|9}}
| birth_place = Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.
| medium = {{hlist|Television|theatre|film|books}}
| alma_mater = Kalamazoo College (BA)
| genre = {{hlist|Satire|improvisational comedy|blue comedy|sarcasm|sketch comedy|surreal humor}}
| subject = {{hlist|American politics|American culture|political punditry|popular culture|civil rights|current events|mass media}}
| active = 2011–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Laura Grey|2013}}
| children = 1{{cite AV media |date=April 19, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X83995pWFw |title=Jordan Klepper Has a Hard Time Being Nice to Trump Supporters |publisher=Late Night with Seth Meyers |via=YouTube |access-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326013612/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X83995pWFw |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |url-status=live}}
|website={{URL|https://www.officialjordanklepper.com/}}
}}
Jordan Klepper (born March 9, 1979) is an American comedian. He began his career as a member of The Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade. From 2014 to 2017, he was a correspondent on The Daily Show. He started his own satirical program, The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, which was canceled in 2018. He then starred in the 2019 docuseries Klepper, before returning to The Daily Show later that year as a contributor. He often appears on a segment entitled "Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse."
Early life
Jordan Klepper was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on March 9, 1979, the son of Betse, a secretary at Loy Norrix High School, and Mark Klepper. He is primarily of Dutch ancestry. Betse and Mark were introduced to each other by Betse's cousin, the actor and comedian Tim Allen, who was Mark's roommate at Western Michigan University.{{cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/04/new_daily_show_correspondent_o.html |title=New 'Daily Show' correspondent on Kalamazoo, Jon Stewart and why he owes his life to Tim Allen |publisher=mlive.com |date=April 1, 2014 |access-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-date=February 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205003409/http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/04/new_daily_show_correspondent_o.html |url-status=live }} Klepper attended Kalamazoo Central High School and Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center, where he was a tennis player and a member of the Mock Trial Team that won Nationals.
After graduating from high school, with a Frederick W. Heyl and Elsie L. Heyl Science Scholarship Fund{{cite web |title=HISTORY – Heyl Scholarships |url=https://heyl.kzoo.edu/about/history/ |website=Kalamazoo College |date=October 20, 2021 |access-date=20 April 2022 |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127104024/https://heyl.kzoo.edu/about/history/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Heyl Scholarships |url=https://heyl.kzoo.edu/ |website=Kalamazoo College |access-date=20 April 2022 |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418010159/https://heyl.kzoo.edu/ |url-status=live }} full-tuition scholarship from Kalamazoo College, in 1997,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231075904/https://kalamazoopublicschools.com/Portals/0/Users/032/32/32/Excelsior_Nov14_v4.pdf |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |url=http://kalamazoopublicschools.com/Portals/0/Users/032/32/32/Excelsior_Nov14_v4.pdf |title=Jordan Klepper, K-Central and KAMSC Class of 1997, Comedian, Writer and Correspondent |publisher=Kalamazoo Public Schools Excelsior |date=November 2014 |page=10 |access-date=December 2, 2014 }} Klepper double-majored in math and theater at Kalamazoo College and received his degree in 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/03/the_daily_show_debut_watch_jon.html |title='The Daily Show' debut: Watch Jon Stewart tell Kalamazoo native Jordan Klepper to 'go back to Crimea' |first=John |last=Liberty |publisher=MLive.com |date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-date=March 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308005853/http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/03/the_daily_show_debut_watch_jon.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.kzoo.edu/beLightArchive/classnotes/?issueid=22 |title=CLASS NOTES |publisher=Kalamazoo College |date=January 2009 |access-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527025634/http://www.kzoo.edu/beLightArchive/classnotes/?issueid=22 |url-status=dead }} He studied abroad in London during his time there. While at Kalamazoo College, his sister befriended aspiring actor Steven Yeun and took him to see Klepper's improv show, which inspired Yeun to attend his first acting class.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/steven-yeun-walking-dead#page2 |title=ON THE ROAD WITH STEVEN YEUN |magazine=Interview Magazine |access-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401054346/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/steven-yeun-walking-dead#page2 |url-status=live }}
Career
File:Klepper interview NYC vaccine mandate protest.jpg in August 2021]]
After graduation, Klepper moved to Chicago, where he performed at The Second City. While there, he also worked for the Big Ten Network as a comedian on the show Big Ten Friday Night Tailgate.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/03/jordan-klepper-daily-show-videos|title='The Daily Show': Get to know new correspondent Jordan Klepper|last=Perlman|first=Jason|date=March 3, 2014|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=August 9, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133015/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/03/jordan-klepper-daily-show-videos|url-status=live}} He moved to New York City in 2011, where he began performing as a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade.{{cite magazine |last=Snetiker |first=Marc |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/03/04/jordan-klepper-daily-show-correspondent/ |title='Daily Show' correspondent Jordan Klepper talks about new gig | Inside TV |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305110808/http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/03/04/jordan-klepper-daily-show-correspondent/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Snetiker |first=Marc |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/03/03/jordan-klepper-daily-show-videos/ |title='The Daily Show': Get to know new correspondent Jordan Klepper | PopWatch |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 3, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306081245/http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/03/03/jordan-klepper-daily-show-videos/ |url-status=live }}
Klepper debuted on The Daily Show on March 3, 2014, four days after his initial audition.{{cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20140304/ENT03/303040106/The-Daily-Show-Jordan-Klepper |title=Michigan native Jordan Klepper debuts as 'Daily Show' correspondent |work=Detroit Free Press |date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304231440/http://www.freep.com/article/20140304/ENT03/303040106/The-Daily-Show-Jordan-Klepper |url-status=live }} He received consistently positive reviews for his segments on the show,{{cite magazine |last=Sims |first=David |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/06/is-jordan-klepper-the-future-of-comedy-central/529932/ |title=Is Jordan Klepper the Future of Comedy Central? |magazine=The Atlantic |date=June 12, 2017 |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829040443/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/06/is-jordan-klepper-the-future-of-comedy-central/529932/ |url-status=live }} and filled in as the host in October 2016 when Trevor Noah was sick.
In April 2017, Comedy Central announced that Klepper would host a new show in the fall, which would follow The Daily Show.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/arts/television/jordan-klepper-the-daily-show-comedy-central-program-of-his-own.html|title=Jordan Klepper of 'The Daily Show' Is Getting His Own Show|work=The New York Times|first=Dave|last=Itzkoff|date=April 4, 2017|access-date=April 4, 2017|archive-date=March 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322111042/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/arts/television/jordan-klepper-the-daily-show-comedy-central-program-of-his-own.html|url-status=live}} A special titled Jordan Klepper Solves Guns premiered on Comedy Central on June 11, 2017. The new show was titled The Opposition with Jordan Klepper and premiered on September 25.{{cite news|last1=de Moraes|first1=Lisa|date=July 25, 2017|title='The Daily Show' Spinoff Starring Jordan Klepper Gets Title & Premiere Date On Comedy Central – TCA|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/jordan-klepper-the-opposition-september-25-debut-tca-1202135401/|access-date=July 26, 2017|archive-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420011814/https://deadline.com/2017/07/jordan-klepper-the-opposition-september-25-debut-tca-1202135401/|url-status=live}} The show was canceled in June 2018, with Klepper starting a new docuseries, Klepper, which aired in 2019.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=June 15, 2018|title='The Opposition' To End As Comedy Central Orders New Jordan Klepper Weekly Series|url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/the-opposition-canceled-end-comedy-central-orders-new-jordan-klepper-weekly-series-1202411168/|access-date=September 13, 2018|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913140238/https://deadline.com/2018/06/the-opposition-canceled-end-comedy-central-orders-new-jordan-klepper-weekly-series-1202411168/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=Megh Wright|date=March 26, 2019|title=Jordan Klepper's New Comedy Central Show Debuts in May|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/jordan-klepper-comedy-central-show-2019-premiere-date.html|website=Vulture|access-date=March 26, 2019|archive-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420011814/https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/jordan-klepper-comedy-central-show-2019-premiere-date.html|url-status=live}} He returned to The Daily Show in December 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://press.cc.com/press-release/2019/12/16/press-jordan-klepper-returns-to-the-daily-show|title=JORDAN KLEPPER DRAFTED BACK ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT BY...|website=Comedy Central Press|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217051219/https://press.cc.com/press-release/2019/12/16/press-jordan-klepper-returns-to-the-daily-show|url-status=dead}} He also launched a podcast with former Ohio governor John Kasich called Kasich & Klepper.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-john-kasich-and-jordan-kleppers-unlikely-marriage|title=Inside John Kasich and Jordan Klepper's Unlikely Marriage|first=Marlow|last=Stern|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=February 23, 2022|via=www.thedailybeast.com|access-date=October 31, 2022|archive-date=October 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031175842/https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-john-kasich-and-jordan-kleppers-unlikely-marriage|url-status=live}}
In October 2021, Klepper appeared in his first role as a voice actor in the Disney Channel animated series The Ghost and Molly McGee, playing Molly's father, Pete McGee.{{Cite web |title=Jordan Klepper {{!}} Writer, Producer, Actor |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4676990/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
Influences
Klepper has said that his comedy influences include Trevor Noah,{{cite web|url=http://ewn.co.za/2017/09/26/trevor-noah-puts-on-executive-producer-hat-for-new-comedy-central-show|title=Trevor Noah Puts on Executive Producer Hat for New Show|website=Eyewitness News|date=December 26, 2017|access-date=December 13, 2017|first=Nadia|last=Neophytou|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324150849/http://ewn.co.za/2017/09/26/trevor-noah-puts-on-executive-producer-hat-for-new-comedy-central-show|archive-date=March 24, 2016|url-status=live}} Stephen Colbert,{{cite web|url=http://uproxx.com/tv/jordan-klepper-okay-with-stephen-colbert-comparisons/|title=Jordan Klepper Is Okay With The Stephen Colbert Comparisons|publisher=Uproxx|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=December 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212220847/http://uproxx.com/tv/jordan-klepper-okay-with-stephen-colbert-comparisons/|url-status=live}} and Jon Stewart.{{cite web|url=https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5a202d6de4b037b8ea206cd4|title=Jordan Klepper Channels Jon Stewart In His Own Search For Sanity|work=HuffPost|last=Van Luling|first=Todd|date=December 6, 2017|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304101128/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jordan-klepper-the-opposition-jon-stewart_n_5a202d6de4b037b8ea206cd4|url-status=live}}
Personal life
File:Klepper and Grey (cropped).jpg
Klepper married Laura Grey in 2013. The two met as members of The Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade and later wrote, directed, produced, and starred in short films.{{cite magazine |first=Andrea |last=Seikaly |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/daily-show-jordan-klepper-john-oliver-1201124887/ |title='Daily Show' Taps UCB's Jordan Klepper to Replace John Oliver |magazine=Variety |date=March 3, 2014 |access-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307124759/http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/daily-show-jordan-klepper-john-oliver-1201124887/ |url-status=live }}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2011
| Bone Dry | Jordan | Short film |
| 2011
| TMI | Kelen | Short film |
| 2012
| Poop Brunch | Jordan | Short film |
| 2012
| Engaged | Jordan | Short film |
| 2012
| Ex-Girlfriends | Student | Short film |
| 2012
| Bathroom Party | Jordan | Short film |
| 2013
| Who's On First? | Jeremy | Short film |
| 2014
| Peepers | Todd | Short film |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2012
| Manager | Episode: "Jerk or Dork" |
| 2014–2017 2019–present | Himself | 170 episodes |
| 2015
| Wally Thompson | Episode: "Spies Like Us" |
| 2017
| Himself | TV special |
| 2017–2018
| The Opposition with Jordan Klepper | Himself | 128 episodes |
| 2018
| Bob | Episode: "Sacagawea & Blackbeard" |
| 2019
| Klepper | Himself | 8 episodes |
| 2021–2024
| Pete McGee (voice) | Main role |
| 2023
|Guest Host |
Awards
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|4676990}}
{{Subject bar |portal1=Biography |portal2=Comedy |portal3=Politics |portal4=Television |portal5=Michigan |portal6=United States |commons=yes |commons-search=Category:Jordan Klepper |q=yes |d=yes |d-search=Q16730921}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Klepper, Jordan}}
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers
Category:American comedy writers
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American media critics
Category:American political commentators
Category:American sketch comedians
Category:American television talk show hosts
Category:American television writers
Category:Comedians from Michigan
Category:Criticism of journalism
Category:Kalamazoo College alumni
Category:Late night television talk show hosts
Category:Male actors from Michigan
Category:American male television writers
Category:American male feminists
Category:People from Kalamazoo, Michigan
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners
Category:Upright Citizens Brigade Theater performers
Category:Writers from Kalamazoo, Michigan
Category:21st-century American male writers