This page uses content from the Keke Palmer biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Keke Palmer (born Lauren Keyana Palmer on August 26, 1993) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing the title role in the 2006 film, Akeelah and the Bee.

Biography

Early life

Keke Palmer was born in Harvey, Illinois; her father works for a polyurethane company and her mother, Sharon, is a high school teacher who works with autistic children. Palmer has three siblings, including an older sister, Loreal, who gave her the nickname "Keke" during her early years. She began singing in her church's choir at the age of five, and auditioned for a stage production of The Lion King at the age of nine. Her family moved to Los Angeles in 2004 so Palmer could pursue a screen career.

Career

Keke Palmer made her acting debut in 2004's Barbershop 2: Back in Business, playing the part of the niece of Queen Latifah's character. Between 2004 and 2006, she appeared in episodes of several television series, including Cold Case, Strong Medicine, ER and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and was subsequently cast in two films released in 2006: playing a supporting part in Madea's Family Reunion, and starring as the lead character, Akeelah Anderson, a young girl from South Los Angeles who attempts to win a spelling bee, in Akeelah and the Bee. Akeelah and the Bee was released on April 28, 2006, and Palmer's performance has received several positive notices, including praise from film critic Roger Ebert.

Palmer is also pursuing a career in singing. She participated in the 2003 American Juniors, an American Idol spin-off, although she was not particularly successful. Palmer has signed a record deal with Atlantic Records, and is currently working on her debut music album. Her debut single, "All My Girlz," is featured on the Akeelah and the Bee soundtrack. On November 18, 2006, she performed at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for VH1's "Save the Music" Battle of the High School Marching Bands, marking her first ever stadium performance in front of thousands of people.

She recently starred in the video for Ludacris's "Runaway Love" as Erica.

Selected filmography

External links

• The Wool Cap interview (2004)
• The Official KeKe Palmer Fansite

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