On Friday morning, superstar actor and comedian Kenan Thompson announced on social media that he would be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a part of the Class of 2022.
He expressed his gratitude in the post, saying, “Woke up this morning to incredible news!! I’m getting a on The Hollywood Walk of Fame!!!! Shout to the entire class of 2022!!!!” He went on to say how humbled he is to receive this distinct honor and congratulated his fellow nominees, which included Holly Robinson Peete, Michael Strahan, and Regina King. The post also includes a picture of Thompson with a beaming and radiant smile.
The star is a long time coming for Thompson, who has been in the entertainment industry since 1994, starting out as a member of the original cast of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series, ‘All That.’ He then went on to star opposite Kel Mitchell in the sitcom ‘Kenan & Kel,’ which aired for four years on Nickelodeon. Him and Mitchell also starred in the comedic film ‘Good Burger,’ which was based on an ‘All That’ sketch. Thompson was a part of the second and third movies of ‘The Mighty Ducks’ franchise and had the starring role in the 2004 film, ‘Fat Albert.’
In 2003, Thompson joined the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ where he has been ever since. He just finished up his 18thseason on the show, and currently holds the title of the longest-tenured cast member in the 46-year history of the institution. He has been nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, winning one in 2018 for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics with fellow cast member Chris Redd for the song and sketch entitled, “Come Back, Barack.” Thompson has twice previously been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his remarkable work on the series.
In 2020, Thompson embarked on a brand-new project, a sitcom on NBC called ‘Kenan,’ which he stars in and serves as an executive producer. The show was created by Jackie Clarke and David Caspe and premiered on February 16, 2021 to strong ratings and critical acclaim, as did the rest of the 10-episode first season. Diane Gordon of TV Guide describes Thompson’s strong presence on the show, saying, “Watching Kenan, we wondered why it took this long for the network to make a show happen for him. Thompson’s warmth and humanity shine in this show, as well as his expert ability to land jokes.” In April, the show was renewed for a second season. In the series, Kenan plays a fictionalized version of himself as a morning television talk show host. He is also a widowed father of two daughters who is reluctant to vocally grieve the loss of his wife. The series stars fellow ‘SNL’ cast member Chris Redd, as well as actors Kimrie Lewis and Don Johnson, of ‘Miami Vice’ fame.
Thompson has had quite the illustrious career and is known as one of the most well-respected actors and comedians in the entertainment industry. His place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is more than deserved and his star will certainty shine bright on Hollywood Boulevard.
