Jay Pharoah Explained

Jay Pharoah
Birth Name:Jared Antonio Farrow
Birth Date:14 October 1987
Birth Place:Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S.
Active:2010–present
Education:Tidewater Community College (AA, AS)
Virginia Commonwealth University

Jared Antonio Farrow (born October 14, 1987), better known by his stage name Jay Pharoah, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2016.[1] In 2015, he was ranked the 55th greatest Saturday Night Live cast member by Rolling Stone magazine.[2]

Early life

Pharoah was born and raised in Chesapeake, Virginia. He began performing impersonations at age six and cites Gilbert Gottfried's character Iago in Aladdin as his first voice, explaining, "My father put me in a talent competition a couple of months later, and out of the whole thing I got fifth place."[3]

In 2005, Pharoah graduated from Indian River High School in Chesapeake. One of his characters, Principal Daniel Frye, is heavily influenced by IRHS's former principal,[4] James Frye.[5] Pharoah graduated from Tidewater Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in 2008 and an Associate of Science in 2010.[6] He briefly attended Virginia Commonwealth University.[1]

Career

Pharoah has been performing stand-up comedy in community theaters and at comedy clubs in Virginia since he was 15.[7] He at one point toured with Corey Holcomb and Charlie Murphy.[1]

He became known for his many celebrity impressions,[8] including Barack Obama, Will Smith, DMX, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Clarence Thomas, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, Stephen A. Smith, Peter Dinklage, and Denzel Washington.[1]

Pharoah became an internet phenomenon when his impersonation of Barack Obama became widely seen on YouTube.[1] [3]

2010 - 2016: Saturday Night Live

In 2010, Pharoah was hired by Saturday Night Live as a featured performer for the show's 36th season. Pharoah debuted on Saturday Night Live on September 25, 2010 and was regarded by Rob Moynihan of TV Guide as the "breakout player" for that season, for his impressions of Barack Obama, Ben Carson, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Stephen A. Smith, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Chris Tucker, Michael Strahan, Lil Wayne, Kevin Hart, Kendrick Lamar, Shaq and Denzel Washington.[1] [3] He debuted his SNL impersonation of Barack Obama in the 38th season premiere on September 15, 2012, succeeding Fred Armisen in that role.[9] Rolling Stone magazine described him as the "Jimmy Fallon of 2 Chainz impressions."[2]

Pharoah appeared in the independent film Lola Versus, released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in June 2012. In 2014, he had a small role in the buddy cop film Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, and appeared in the independent film Balls Out, a sport comedy starring fellow SNL cast members Beck Bennett and Kate McKinnon.[10]

In 2016, he appeared in a commercial for Old Navy,[11] alongside fellow SNL cast members Nasim Pedrad and Cecily Strong. On August 8, 2016, it was announced Pharoah alongside fellow cast member Taran Killam would be exiting the show ahead of its 42nd season.[12] Pharoah hosted the American Music Awards of 2016 with model Gigi Hadid. Pharoah has been working on his first album with record producer Myles William.[13]

Personal life

2020 encounter with police

In June 2020, amidst the ongoing George Floyd protests, Pharoah released footage showing how, in April 2020, he was detained at gunpoint[14] by the Los Angeles Police Department, with an officer kneeling on Pharoah's neck in the same manner as that which caused the murder of George Floyd.[15] [16] Pharoah had met the generic description of a "black man in grey sweatpants and a grey shirt." After the officers Googled Pharoah's name, they apologized and let him go.[15]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Lola VersusRandy
2013UnderdogsAnnouncer 2
2014Ride AlongRunflat
2014Balls OutDan
2014Top FiveMike
2016Get a JobSkeezy D
2016SingMeena's Grandfather (voice)
2018UnsaneNate Hoffman
2019How to Fake a WarHarry Hope
2020Bad HairJulius
20202 Minutes of FameDeandre
2020All My LifeDave Berger
2021The Mitchells vs. the MachinesNoah (voice)
2021Resort to LoveJason King
2022The BlackeningShawn
2023Spinning GoldCecil Holmes
2023Nuno Blood (voice)
2023Urkel Saves Santa: The MovieJay-Z (voice)Direct-to-Video

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010–2016Saturday Night LiveVariousMain cast (season 36-41)
2011The Cookout 2Eddie OTV movie
2014PortlandiaJay-Z (voice)Episode: "Ecoterrorists"
2016–2017Legends of Chamberlain HeightsMontrel, Randy (voice)Main cast
2017BoJack HorsemanMan on the Street, Dashawn Manheim (voice)2 episodes
2017White FamousFloyd MooneyMain cast
2017–2024Family GuySkee-Lo, Kanye West, Kanye Canes, Brick Baker, Reverend Lucius, Moses Beauford (voices)Recurring role; Also consulting producer (2022–present)
2018SuperMansionVarious3 episodes
2018Champaign ILLLouRecurring cast
2019–2023A Million Little ThingsOmar Howard3 episodes
2020The Masked SingerSelfGuest judge
2020LoafyZookeeper Dan (voice)Recurring cast
2020–2021Nickelodeon's Unfiltered[17] HostTV series
2021Robot ChickenBarack Obama (voice)Episode: "May Cause Your Dad to Come Back With That Gallon of Milk He Went Out for 10 Years Ago"
2022That's My JamSelfEpisode: "Jay Pharoah & Nikki Glaser vs. Terry Crews & Dan Finnerty"
2022The SimpsonsDrederick Tatum (voice)2 episodes
2022A Black Lady Sketch ShowLavonteEpisode: "Bounce Them Coochies, Y'all!"
2022Out of OfficeNealTV movie
2022–2023American Dad!Mr. Fritz / Angry Husband (voice)2 episodes
2022Bubble GuppiesBuster (voice)Episode: "The Solar Light Spectacular!"
2023–presentInvincible Bulletproof, Komodo Dragon, Various (voice)Season 2[18]
2024–present Junior (voice)main
2024–presentThe Quiz with Balls SelfHost

Video games

Notes and References

  1. News: Virginia native Jay Pharoah snags cast spot on "Saturday Night Live"; will he be their new Obama? Pharoah also raps. . September 8, 2010 . 2010-09-27 .
  2. 55. Jay Pharoah - 'Saturday Night Live': All 141 Cast Members Ranked. Rolling Stone. 2016-06-12. January 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124027/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/saturday-night-live-all-141-cast-members-ranked-20150211/55-jay-pharoah-20150211. dead.
  3. News: Moynihan . Rob . SNL's Fab Four . . March 7, 2011 . 44–45 .
  4. Web site: The Virginian-Pilot . After 27 years, Indian River Principal James Frye retires . HamptonRoads.com . 2014-06-12 . 2014-11-11 . October 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151017080944/http://hamptonroads.com/2014/06/after-27-years-indian-river-principal-james-frye-retires . dead .
  5. Web site: The Virginian-Pilot . Jay Pharoah pays tribute to his Chesapeake principal on 'SNL' . HamptonRoads.com . 2010-12-14 . 2012-01-15 . April 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160426220624/http://hamptonroads.com/2010/12/jay-pharoah-pays-tribute-his-chesapeake-principal-snl . dead .
  6. Web site: TCC Today. Jay Pharoah: From here to "Saturday Night Live". January 28, 2016. July 21, 2023. October 17, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151017080944/https://news.tcc.edu/jay-pharoah-general-studies-liberal-arts/. dead.
  7. Sources conflict on when he started standup. The Washington Post source indicates he started at 15.
  8. NBC'S 'Saturday Night Live' Premieres September 25 With SNL Alum Amy Poehler & Chart-Topping Musical Guest Katy Perry . NBC Universal . 2010-09-07 . 2012-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120311215526/http://www.nbcuniversal.presscentre.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=1683&NewsAreaId=2 . 2012-03-11 . dead .
  9. "Inbox". TV Guide. October 8, 2012.
  10. Web site: Kate McKinnon, Jay Pharoah Shooting Indie 'Intramural' In Austin This Summer. Luippold. Ross. The Huffington Post. 2013-07-24. 2014-03-10.
  11. Web site: Old Navy enlists SNL alums to improvise series of online spots. campaignlive.com. 2016-06-12.
  12. Web site: Jay Pharoah Is Saying Goodbye to 'Saturday Night Live' to Pursue Other Opportunities. shadowandact.com.
  13. Web site: Jay Pharoah ('Saturday Night Live') Preps New Mixtape. Pitchfork. August 30, 2016 .
  14. News: 'SNL' alum Jay Pharoah says LAPD officers held him at gunpoint, kneeled on his neck . June 13, 2020 . ABC7.com . June 25, 2020 .
  15. News: Cameron . Frew . June 13, 2020 . SNL Comedian Jay Pharoah Releases Footage Of Police Kneeling On His Neck. UNILAD.
  16. News: Sophie . Lewis . June 13, 2020 . Former "SNL" star Jay Pharoah releases surveillance footage of LAPD officer apparently kneeling on his neck. CBS News.
  17. Web site: Porter. Rick. June 26, 2020. Jay Pharoah to Host Nickelodeon Game Show Unfiltered (Exclusive). August 7, 2020. The Hollywood Reporter.
  18. Web site: Invincible Season 2: Release Date, Trailer, Cast & More. Rotten Tomatoes. September 11, 2023.