Jordan Peele is a versatile and influential figure in the entertainment industry who has excelled as an actor, comedian, and filmmaker.
He is best known for his groundbreaking work in the comedy and horror genres, which often explore themes of race, identity, and social issues.
He has won an Academy Award for his film Get Out and has created several popular TV shows and movies, such as Key and Peele, Us, and The Twilight Zone.
Profile
| Full Name: | Jordan Haworth Peele |
| Stage Name: | Jordan Peele |
| Born: | 21 February 1979 (age 45 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | New York City, USA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Parents: | Lucinda Williams (mother), Hayward Peele, Jr. (father) |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Spouse: | Chelsea Peretti (m. 2016) |
| Relationship status: | Married |
| Children: | Beaumont Gino Peele |
| Profession: | Actor, comedian, filmmaker |
| Net Worth: | US$75 million |
Early Life & Education
Jordan Peele, now 45 years old, was born in New York City on February 21, 1979, to a white mother and a black father.
His mother, Lucinda Williams, was from Maryland and worked as a single parent after his father, Hayward Peele, Jr., left the family when Jordan was seven years old.
Jordan never saw his father again and has said that he felt a sense of abandonment and identity crisis growing up.
His mother raised him in Manhattan, where he attended the Computer School and later the Calhoun School.
He developed a love for comedy and horror at an early age, watching shows like The Twilight Zone and movies like The Shining.
He also enjoyed making movies with a camcorder and performing puppet shows for his friends.
He attended Sarah Lawrence College, majored in puppetry and met his comedy partner Rebecca Drysdale. He left college before graduating to pursue comedy full-time and joined the improv theatre Boom Chicago in Amsterdam.
There, he honed his writing and performer skills and met Keegan-Michael Key, who would become his long-time collaborator.
Personal Life
After dating for three years, Jordan Peele married comedian Chelsea Peretti in 2016. They met through Twitter, where they exchanged messages and jokes.
They eloped in a private ceremony and announced their marriage on social media.
They have a son named Beaumont Gino Peele, born in 2017.
The couple lives in Los Angeles, California, with their two dogs.
They are both vegan and support animal rights causes.
Career
Jordan Peele started his career as a cast member on the sketch comedy TV show MADtv, where he met Keegan-Michael Key.
They became a popular duo on the show, known for their impressions, characters, and musical parodies.
They later created and starred in their Comedy Central series, Key and Peele, which ran from 2012 to 2015.
The show won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for its witty and satirical sketches, often tackling topics such as race, culture, and politics.
They also wrote and starred in the film Keanu, a comedy about two friends who pretend to be gangsters to rescue a stolen kitten.
Jordan Peele made his directorial debut with the horror film Get Out, a critical and commercial success that earned him an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
The film, which starred Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, was a social thriller that explored the horrors of racism and oppression in America.
He also directed, wrote, and produced the films Us and Nope, which were also acclaimed. Us, which starred Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, was a psychological horror that explored the theme of duality and the dark side of human nature.
Nope, which starred Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun, was a mystery horror that followed a group of friends encountering a terrifying phenomenon in the sky.
Jordan Peele founded Monkeypaw Productions, producing several other films and TV shows, such as Candyman, BlacKkKlansman, The Twilight Zone, and Weird City.
He has also acted in various roles, such as in Fargo, Toy Story 4, and The Muppets. He has been praised for his innovative and diverse storytelling, influencing and inspiring many other artists and audiences.
Awards
Jordan Peele has won numerous awards for his work, including:
- Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Get Out (2018).
- BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay for Get Out (2018).
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Get Out (2018).
- Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film for Get Out (2018).
- Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay for Get Out (2018).
- Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture for Get Out (2018).
- Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Original Screenplay for Get Out (2018).
- Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie for Get Out (2018).
- MTV Movie Award for Best Movie for Get Out (2018).
- MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance for Get Out (2018).
- MTV Movie Award for Best Duo for Key and Peele (2016).
- Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series for Key and Peele (2016).
- Peabody Award for Key and Peele (2014).
Controversy
Jordan Peele has not been involved in any major scandals or controversies that have tarnished his reputation or career.
He has been generally well-respected and admired by his peers and fans.
However, he has faced some criticism and backlash for some of his opinions and statements, such as:
- His decision to cast only black leads in his horror films, which he said was a way of representing and empowering black voices in a historically marginalised genre. Some people accused him of being racist and divisive, while others praised him for being bold and visionary.
- His comment that he would not cast a white male lead in his films, which he said was because he had seen that movie before and wanted to tell stories from his perspective. Some people called him hypocritical and discriminatory, while others defended him for being honest and authentic.
- His remark that he was not interested in making a sequel to Get Out, which he said was because he felt the story was complete and he wanted to explore new ideas. Some expressed disappointment and frustration, while others respected his artistic integrity and vision.
Social Media
- Instagram: @jordanpeele
- Twitter: @JordanPeele
Filmography
- Get Out Producer, writer, director
- Us – Writer, director, producer
- Nope – Writer, director, producer
- Candyman – Producer, co-writer
- BlacKkKlansman – Producer
- The Twilight Zone – Producer, narrator, writer
- Weird City – Producer, writer
- Key and Peele – Creator, writer, producer, actor
- Keanu – Writer, producer, actor
- Toy Story 4 – Voice actor
- Fargo – Actor
- The Muppets – Actor
Net Worth
Jordan Peele has an estimated net worth of $75 million. He has earned wealth from his successful acting, comedian, and filmmaker career.
He has also signed lucrative deals with Universal Pictures and Amazon Studios, which have given him creative freedom and financial backing for his projects.
