Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is known for his work as an impressionist and comedic performer. He began performing stand-up comedy in community theaters and at comedy clubs at age 15, developing a reputation for his mimicry skills. Pharoah gained national attention when his impersonation of Barack Obama became widely viewed on YouTube, which contributed to his rise in the comedy industry. He is recognized for his wide range of celebrity impressions, including Barack Obama, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac, Jay-Z, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle, Morgan Freeman, Kanye West, Stephen A. Smith, and Denzel Washington, spanning politics, sports, music, and entertainment.

Pharoah joined Saturday Night Live as a featured performer in the show's 36th season. He debuted his impersonation of Barack Obama in the 38th season premiere, succeeding Fred Armisen in that role. He was ranked among the greatest Saturday Night Live cast members by Rolling Stone magazine. On "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," Pharoah demonstrated his ability to perform up to 200 impersonations and completed 11 impressions in one minute, including Shaquille O'Neal, Jamie Foxx, Seth Rogen, and Barack Obama.

In addition to his work on Saturday Night Live, Pharoah has appeared in films such as "Get a Job," "Top Five," "Ride Along," "Intramural," and "Lola Versus." He starred in Netflix's "Resort to Love," the Lionsgate thriller "Private Property," Universal's "All My Life," Justin Simien's "Bad Hair" for Hulu, and Lionsgate's "2 Minutes of Fame." He appeared in "The Blackening," which was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival. On television, Pharoah starred as J.J. Evans in ABC's Emmy Award-winning "Live in Front of a Studio Audience" version of "All In The Family and Good Times." He has also provided voice work for characters such as Meena's Grandfather in "Sing" and Noah in "The Mitchells vs. the Machines."

Pharoah hosted Season 1 of the FOX game show "The Quiz With Balls," which became the network's most watched summer debut in two years. He released his comedy special, "JARED," exclusively on YouTube, where it reached over 1.5 million viewers. In the special, Pharoah covers topics including pop culture, his suburban upbringing, and personal experiences, offering his perspective on self-discovery and resilience.

Pharoah has used his platform to address social issues, including sharing footage of his detainment by the Los Angeles Police Department, which he released in response to the George Floyd protests. He is an advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about his experiences with anxiety and depression. Pharoah continues to engage audiences through his work in comedy, acting, and social commentary.