Keke Palmer Biography
Keke Palmer is an American actress, singer, and TV host known for her versatility across Hollywood. Over the course of her career, she has received numerous honors, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Daytime Emmy Award, as well as an Actor Award nomination and four Critics’ Choice Award nominations. In 2019, Time named her one of the world’s 100 most influential people.
Palmer got her start as a child actor, appearing in Barbershop 2: Back in Business and The Wool Cap in 2004. Her breakthrough came two years later, when she starred as Akeelah Anderson in the drama Akeelah and the Bee. She went on to appear in films including Madea’s Family Reunion (2006), Jump In! (2007), The Longshots (2008), and Shrink (2009). In 2007, she also launched her music career with her debut album, So Uncool.
Her profile rose further through her work with Nickelodeon, where she played the title character in the sitcom True Jackson, VP (2008–2011). She voiced Aisha in the revived animated series Winx Club (2011–2014) and starred in the TV musical Rags (2012).
Palmer has also made her mark as a presenter and producer. She hosted the talk shows Just Keke in 2014 and Strahan, Sara and Keke from 2019 to 2020, and has hosted the game show Password since 2022. In 2021, she launched KeyTV Network, an online platform aimed at highlighting diverse voices and emerging talent. She added author to her résumé in 2024 with Master of Me, a memoir and self-help book about her experiences, personal growth, and outlook on life.
Keke Palmer Age and Birthday
How old is Keke Palmer? Born Lauren Keyana Palmer on August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois, Keke Palmer is 33 years old as of 2026. She celebrates her birthday on August 26 each year.
Keke Palmer Height
Keke Palmer is approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall.
Keke Palmer Nationality and Ethnicity
Palmer is American by birth, having been born in Harvey, Illinois. She is of African American heritage.
Keke Palmer Parents and Siblings
Keke Palmer grew up in Harvey, Illinois, with her parents, Sharon and Larry Palmer. Both had worked as professional actors before moving into other careers. Her father works for a polyurethane company, and her mother is a high school teacher who has worked with autistic children.
Palmer has three siblings: Lawrence, Lawrencia, and Loreal. Her family supported her early interest in performing and the entertainment industry.
Keke Palmer Husband and Son
Is Keke Palmer married? No. As of 2026, the actress, singer, and television personality is not publicly known to be married. She previously dated Darius Jackson, whom she began seeing in 2021.
The couple welcomed their son, Leodis “Leo” Andrellton Jackson, in February 2023. They were never married.
Their relationship drew significant media attention in 2023 after a public disagreement, and they later separated. Since then, Palmer has continued to focus on her career and motherhood while keeping much of her personal life private.
Darius Jackson is a fitness instructor and former college football player. He is Leo’s father, but he and Palmer are not married.
Keke Palmer Boyfriend
Who is Keke Palmer dating? Her love life has drawn plenty of attention, especially since her 2023 split from fitness instructor Darius Jackson. More recently, Palmer has fueled romance rumors with television host Sean Evans.
In June 2026, the pair were seen having dinner in Brooklyn, leading fans to wonder whether their friendship had turned romantic. Palmer later spoke about the rumors at a Spotify panel during Cannes Lions, saying they were spending time together and taking things one day at a time.
Palmer shared that she cares about Evans, but stopped short of confirming they were officially or exclusively together. The two seem close, and fans have been quick to notice their chemistry.
Before Evans, Palmer was in a relationship with Darius Jackson from 2021 to 2023. They welcomed their son, Leodis “Leo” Andrellton Jackson, in February 2023, but never married.
As of 2026, Sean Evans is the latest person romantically linked to Palmer, though neither has publicly clarified their relationship status.
Keke Palmer New Movie
Palmer continues to build a varied acting career, with new projects in both film and television. Among her notable 2026 projects is The ’Burbs, a Peacock mystery-comedy series inspired by the 1989 movie of the same name.
She’s also set to appear in several films, including I Love Boosters, Being Mortal, and The Angry Birds Movie 3. Her recent screen credits include One of Them Days (2025), The Pickup (2025), and Good Fortune (2025).
Keke Palmer Baby Daddy
Who is Keke Palmer’s baby daddy? It’s Darius Jackson, a fitness instructor and former college football player. They started dating in 2021 and welcomed their son, Leodis “Leo” Andrellton Jackson, in February 2023.
The couple ended their romantic relationship in 2023, but Jackson is still Leo’s father. Since becoming a mom, Palmer has continued to juggle motherhood with her busy career in acting, music, and television.
Keke Palmer Kids
Keke Palmer has one child, a son named Leodis “Leo” Andrellton Jackson, born in February 2023. He is her first and, as far as is publicly known, only child.
Palmer sometimes shares small glimpses of life as a mom with fans while keeping much of her son’s life private. She has also talked about how motherhood has changed her outlook, shifted her priorities, and deepened her appreciation for family.
As of 2026, Palmer is a proud mother of one. Darius Jackson is her son’s father, and while the two are no longer a couple, they share a child together.
The ‘Burbs Keke Palmer
The ‘Burbs is a Peacock mystery-comedy series starring Keke Palmer and British actor Jack Whitehall. The show debuted on February 8, 2026, with all eight episodes available to stream at once.
Based on the 1989 horror-comedy film of the same name, the series offers a modern spin on suburban life, neighborhood secrets, and the unease that can lurk behind a seemingly quiet street.
Palmer plays Samira Greene Fisher, who moves into her husband Rob’s childhood home with him. Played by Whitehall, Rob is ready to settle into familiar surroundings—but their plans take a turn when a mysterious neighbor arrives across the street, bringing long-buried secrets and troubling events to light.
The cast also includes Julia Duffy as Lynn, Paula Pell as Dana, Mark Proksch as Tod, and Kapil Talwalkar as Naveen.
Palmer is also an executive producer on the series, created by Celeste Hughey. Seth MacFarlane and Brian Grazer are among its other executive producers.
The project gives Palmer a chance to bring her comedic timing and dramatic range to a fresh take on a beloved cult classic.
Keke Palmer Songs
Alongside her acting career, Keke Palmer is an accomplished singer and songwriter. She has released a range of songs blending R&B and pop. After signing with Atlantic Records in 2005, she put out her debut studio album, So Uncool, on September 18, 2007.
Her music career spans albums, singles, mixtapes, and collaborations. Some of her best-known songs include:
Keep It Movin’
Footwork
Bottoms Up
The One You Call
I Don’t Belong to You
We Are (Theme from Ice Age: Continental Drift)
Enemiez
Better to Have Loved
Wind Up
Sticky
Virgo Tendencies
Assets
Palmer’s sound draws on R&B, pop, and hip-hop. She has also contributed music to film and television soundtracks.
Acting and television may now take up much of her professional life, but music remains an important part of who she is as an entertainer.
Keke Palmer Movies and TV Shows
Keke Palmer has built a wide-ranging career across film, television, reality shows, and voice acting. She first made a name for herself as a young actress and has since become a popular host, singer, and producer.
Her big break came in 2006, when she played Akeelah Anderson in the acclaimed drama Akeelah and the Bee. The role brought her widespread attention and led to more acting opportunities.
Some of her notable movies and television shows include:
Keke Palmer Movies
Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)
The Wool Cap (2004)
Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Madea’s Family Reunion (2006)
Jump In! (2007)
The Longshots (2008)
Joyful Noise (2012)
Brotherly Love (2015)
Hustlers (2019)
Alice (2022)
Nope (2022)
Lightyear (2022)
One of Them Days (2025)
The Pickup (2025)
Good Fortune (2025)
Keke Palmer TV Shows
True Jackson, VP (2008–2011)
Winx Club (2011–2014)
Masters of Sex (2014–2016)
Scream Queens (2015–2016)
Star (2017–2019)
Berlin Station (2017)
Strahan and Sara (2019)
Turnt Up with the Taylors (2021)
Password (2022–present)
The ‘Burbs (2026)
Across these projects, Palmer has shown just how easily she can move between comedy, drama, horror, and family entertainment.
Sean Evans and Keke Palmer
Sean Evans and Keke Palmer’s connection first caught people’s attention through their professional appearances together on the popular YouTube series Hot Ones.
Evans first interviewed Palmer in 2017. Their easy chemistry stood out, and Palmer returned to the show in the years that followed.
Their connection became a trending entertainment topic in 2026, when Evans appeared on Palmer’s podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. They talked about their friendship and chemistry, as well as a playful kiss they had shared in the past.
In June 2026, the two were photographed having dinner at an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. The outing sparked dating rumors, with fans wondering if their long-standing professional connection had become something more.
Palmer later addressed the speculation at Spotify’s Conversations That Channel Culture panel at Cannes Lions. She warmly called Evans “her guy” and confirmed they were spending time together, while saying they were taking things day by day.
Their interactions continue to draw public interest, though Palmer has not officially announced that they’re exclusive or engaged.
Keke Palmer Net Worth
Celebrity wealth estimates put Keke Palmer’s net worth at around $7.5 million as of 2026.
