Kenny Blank

Kenneth Michael Benbow "Kenny" Blank (born September 15, 1977) is an American actor, filmmaker and composer. Later he changed his name to Kenn Michael. Blank is best known for his role as Michael Peterson in the television series The Parent 'Hood from 1995 to 1997 for which he also composed some music, as well as his appearance in Eddie Murphy's 1992 movie Boomerang. He also appeared in Space Jam.

Kenn Michael
Born
Kenneth Michael Benbow Blank

(1977-09-15) September 15, 1977 (age 47)
Other names
  • Kenn Michael
  • Kenny Michael Benbow Blank
  • Kenn Michaels
  • Kenn Micheal
  • Kenn Micheals
Occupation
Years active1991-present

Early life and education

Blank was born as Kenneth Michael Benbow[1] in New York City, New York[2] on September 15, 1977,[1] the son of Lola, a dancer for James Brown[3] who later became Blank's manager,[4] and Warren Benbow, a jazz drummer[2] who has worked with Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder.[4] His parents later divorced[5] and Blank was raised by his mother and stepfather, Bob Blank, who owned a music studio.[4]

By the time he was 6 years old, Blank played the piano[5] and made short films.[3] He graduated from Stamford High School in 1995.[3] In the late 1990s, Blank was a student at the University of Southern California, where he studied filmmaking.[2]

Other career

Since 1998, Blank has cinematographed, edited and directed a number of short films.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1991 The Super Tito
1992 Boomerang Kenny
1998 Dead Man on Campus Luke
2000 Boltneck Jordy
2001 Delivering Milo Mr. Ralph
Evolution Student
Silent Story Short film
2005 The Legend of Frosty the Snowman Walter Wader (voice) Direct-to-video
2006 All You've Got Composer
2017 Mutafukaz Angelino (voice)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Henry 1 episode
Homicide: Life on the Street James Hill
Alex Haley's Queen Henry at 11
Tall Hopes Ernest Harris 6 episodes
1995–1997 The Parent 'Hood Michael Peterson Seasons 1–3
1997 Living Single Damon Barker 1 episode
1999 Pepper Ann Malik, Lamar Abudabe (voices) 2 episodes
2000–2006 As Told by Ginger Darren Patterson (voice) 32 episodes
2003 All Grown Up! J.T. (voice) Episode: "Tweenage Tycoons"
2019 Cannon Busters Philly the Kid (voice) 12 episodes; English dub

Video games

Year Title Role
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Pedestrian
2006 Saints Row Stilwater's Resident / Radio Voice
Company of Heroes Voice
2007 Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts Aldrich
Power Rangers: Super Legends Navy Thunder Ranger
2008 Saints Row 2 Male Voice 2
2011 Saints Row: The Third Male Voice 2
2013 Saints Row IV The President of the United States, Male 2
2015 Saints Row: Gat out of Hell The President of the United States

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Blank, Kenny 1977–". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Regelman, Kazz (July 1998). "The Music Man". Boys' Life (Boy Scouts of America): 6. https://books.google.com/books?id=OP8DAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Kenny+Blank%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA6. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Blank Productions, Starring Kenny. April 29, 1995. p. C6. https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INR19950429-01.1.24&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22Kenny+Blank%22------. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sullivan, Meg (October 9, 1995). "Just act naturally". University of Southern California. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Superboy". Ebony (Johnson Publishing Company): 118−122. April 1992. https://books.google.com/books?id=xdQDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Kenny+Blank%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA118.