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Michael Ian Black
Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, Additional CreditsBorn August 12, 1971 (54 years)
Michael Ian Black (born Michael Ian Schwartz; August 12, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, writer and director. He has starred in several TV comedy series, including The State, Ed, Viva Variety, Stella, Another Period and Michael & Michael Have Issues. He is also a prominent poker player, appearing on Celebrity Poker Showdown several times. He released a well-received children's book, Chicken Cheeks, in 2009.
Black was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Jill and Robert Schwartz, a store owner and an executive, respectively. His family is Jewish. He grew up in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, where he attended Hillsborough High School. His parents divorced when he was three years old; his mother, Jill, later came out as a lesbian. Black's father died at age 39 due to a head injury apparently suffered in an assault and allergic reaction during subsequent surgery.
His birth name, Schwartz, is derived from the German word schwarz, which means black. He changed his name to Michael Ian Black to avoid confusion with the actor Mike Schwartz.
Black briefly attended New York University, but dropped out to portray Raphael in the promotional campaign for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles concert tour.
Black was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Jill and Robert Schwartz, a store owner and an executive, respectively. His family is Jewish. He grew up in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, where he attended Hillsborough High School. His parents divorced when he was three years old; his mother, Jill, later came out as a lesbian. Black's father died at age 39 due to a head injury apparently suffered in an assault and allergic reaction during subsequent surgery.
His birth name, Schwartz, is derived from the German word schwarz, which means black. He changed his name to Michael Ian Black to avoid confusion with the actor Mike Schwartz.
Black briefly attended New York University, but dropped out to portray Raphael in the promotional campaign for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles concert tour.
Known For
Filmography
| 2025 | Superman · as Cleavis Thornwaite |
| 2023 | Handyman from Hell · as Philosophy Contractor |
| 2023 | Spinning Gold · as Bill Aucoin |
| 2022 | Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist · as Hatzolah Commander |
| 2022 | Linoleum · as Tony |
| 2022 | Reno 911! Defunded (TV Series) · as Time Traveler |
| 2020 | First One In · as Philip |
| 2020 | Reno 911! (TV Series) · as Hatzolah Commander |
| 2019 | Helpsters (TV Series) · as Sea Lovin' Sam |
| 2019 | Sextuplets · as Doug |
| 2019 | Bless This Mess (TV Series) · as Cheff |
| 2018 | Insatiable (TV Series) · as Pastor Mike |
| 2018 | Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters (TV Series) |
| 2017 | Who Is? (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 2017 | Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (TV Series) · as Mckinley / George H.w. Bush |
| 2017 | The Good Fight (TV Series) · as Stephen Rankin-Hall |
| 2016 | Slash · as Denis |
| 2016 | Search Party (2016) (TV Series) · as Wally |
| 2016 | Folk Hero & Funny Guy · as Randy Jeppesen |
| 2015 | Wet Hot American Summer (TV Series) · as Mckinley Dozen |
| 2015 | Smosh: The Movie · as Steve Youtube |
| 2015 | The Jim Gaffigan Show (TV Series) · as Daniel |
| 2014 | Us & Them (TV Series) · as Brian |
| 2014 | Beef · as Lynn Vanderloo |
| 2014 | They Came Together · as Trevor |
| 2014 | Deadbeat (TV Series) · as Tj |
| 2013 | |
| 2013 | Another Period (TV Series) · as Peepers |
| 2013 | Inside Amy Schumer (TV Series) · as Martin Daniels |
| 2012 | This Is 40 · as Accountant |
| 2012 | You're Whole (TV Series) · as Randall Tyree Mandersohn |
| 2012 | Burning Love (TV Series) · as Bill Tundle |
| 2011 | Impractical Jokers (TV Series) |
| 2011 | Take Me Home Tonight · as Pete Bering |
| 2010 | Backwash · as Fleming |
| 2009 | Mercy (TV Series) · as Mark Gunther |
| 2009 | Stella: Live in Boston · as Michael |
| 2008 | The Xtacles (TV Series) · as Chase Fontaine |
| 2008 | Reality Bites Back (TV Series) · as Host |
| 2007 | Reaper (TV Series) |
| 2007 | The Ten · as Prison Guard Jamberg Saivon |
| 2007 | Wainy Days (TV Series) · as Waiter |
| 2007 | Reno 911!: Miami · as Ron Of Ron's Tattoo |
| 2006 | CollegeHumor Shorts (TV Series) · as Speaker |
| 2006 | I Love Toys (TV Series) |
| 2006 | Frisky Dingo (TV Series) · as Chase Fontaine (voice) |
| 2005 | The Baxter · as Ed |
| 2005 | Partner(s) · as Christopher |
| 2005 | Stella (TV Series) |
| 2005 | Alchemy · as Jerry (voice) |
| 2005 | Robot Chicken (TV Series) · as Mo-Larr |
| 2004 | Tom Goes to the Mayor (TV Series) · as Dr. Ian Black (voice) |
| 2004 | Cheap Seats (TV Series) · as Eztech Executive |
| 2003 | Reno 911! (TV Series) · as Chris |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series) |
| 2002 | Stella Shorts 1998-2002 · as Michael |
| 2002 | I Love... (TV Series) |
| 2002 | Crank Yankers (TV Series) · as Al Foster #2 |
| 2001 | Wet Hot American Summer · as Mckinley |
| 2000 | The Bogus Witch Project · as Stephen Hawking (segment "in The Woods") |
| 2000 | Ed (TV Series) · as Phil Stubbs |
| 1999 | Big Helium Dog · as Martin Huber |
| 1998 | Hercules (TV Series) · as Romulus |
| 1997 | Viva Variety (TV Series) · as Johnny Blue Jeans |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Johnny Blue Jeans |
| 1995 | The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special · as Various |
| 1993 | The State (TV Series) · as Various Characters |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue (TV Series) · as Joey Diaz |
| 1993 | You Wrote It, You Watch It (TV Series) · as (segment: Italian Mother, Singing Lesson) |
| 1992 | I'm Your Man · as Party Attendee |
| 1991 | Cults: Saying No Under Pressure · as Male Student |