A NATIVE of Winston-Salem, Jerrod Carmichael quickly rose through the ranks of aspiring entertainers after making the move to California in 2008.
The comedian-turned-actor continues to grow his resume, from hosting the Golden Globes in January 2023 to creating a documentary series for HBO, premiering on Friday, March 29, 2024.
Who is Jerrod Carmichael?
Rothaniel Jerrod Carmichael is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and filmmaker.
He was born on April 7, 1987, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
After graduating from Robert B. Glenn High School in 2005, Carmichael moved to Los Angeles to pursue stand-up comedy despite never having performed in front of a live audience before.
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His first show was at an open-mic night at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood.
Since moving to California, Carmichael has been able to amass a relatively large fortune.
While his exact net worth is unclear, it is reportedly around $5 million.
This estimate comes from his comedy and acting gigs and other business ventures.
By 2011, he had appeared in the New Faces showcase at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.
In 2014, Carmichael appeared in the hit Seth Rogen comedy Neighbors and reprised his role in the 2016 sequel, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising.
In 2017, Carmichael appeared in The Disaster Artist, Transformers: The Last Knight, and the animated film Ferdinand.
In 2021, he directed, produced, and starred in the black comedy-drama film On the Count of Three alongside Christopher Abbott.
Carmichael teamed up with Abbott again in the critically acclaimed 2023 film Poor Things.
Carmichael has also released three stand-up comedy specials on HBO, including Love at the Store (2014), 8 (2017), and Rothaniel (2022).
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When did Jerrod Carmichael come out?
Jerrod Carmichael officially came out in his most recent HBO stand-up special, Rothaniel.
Rothaniel was released on Friday, April 1, 2022.
The special was taped in February 2022 at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.
Much of the special revolves around Carmichael's family history, including how his relationships with friends and family have changed since opening up about his sexuality.
Carmichael revealed the news while telling a story about his parents' relationship, specifically when he realized his father had been cheating on his mother.
“After that was out in the open, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret,” he says during the special, as reported by Variety.
“One that I kept from my father, my mother, my family, my friends, and you," he added.
"Professionally, personally. And the secret is that I’m gay.”
After a brief silence, the audience claps, and Carmichael, relieved, continues his stand-up routine.
“I’m accepting the love, I really appreciate the love. My ego wants to rebel against it," he said.
“I rebelled against it my whole life. I thought I’d never, ever come out."
"At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that, to actually say it to people."
"Because I know it changes some people’s perceptions of me. I can’t control that," he said.
Carmichael admits that it hasn't been smooth sailing since revealing the news, noting that his relationship with his mother changed dramatically.
“As much as she believes in God, I believe in personal growth and feeling free,” he said.
“And I do feel freer," he added.
Rothaniel is available to stream exclusively on Max.
What shows has Jerrod Carmichael been in?
Jerrod Carmichael may have made a name for himself via stand-up specials and several movie appearances, but he's also amassed a significant amount of credits on the silver screen.
Carmichael made his on-screen debut in 2013 with The Goodwin Games, a short-lived Fox sitcom.
He later got his own television show, The Carmichael Show, which focused on growing up in America as a Black man.
The show touched on themes and topics like Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ issues, and gun rights.
It ran on NBC from 2015 to 2017.
He's also made appearances on Axe Cop and Comedy Bang! Bang! in 2013, and voiced Jerrod in the animated series, Lucas Bros Moving Co. from 2014 to 2015.
On April 2, 2022, he hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live alongside musical guest Gunna.
In 2023, Carmichael also hosted the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
During Carmichael's Golden Globes monologue, he took the time to poke fun at himself.
Still, he ultimately did not shy away from the complaints that there is a lack of diversity and inclusivity within the Hollywood Foreign Press.
The diversity scandal first broke out in February 2021, after the Los Angeles Times posted an exposé revealing that there were no Black members in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
As a result of the article, the 2022 awards show was not broadcast.
"I'll tell you why I'm here. I'm here because I'm Black," Carmichael said at the time via PEOPLE.
"This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — which I won't say were a racist organization, but they didn't have a single Black member until George Floyd died [in 2020]."
"So do with that information what you will," he added.
He later explained how he got the prestigious hosting gig, telling the audience: "One minute you're making mint tea at home, the next you're invited to be the Black face of the embattled White organization."
"Life really comes extra fast, you know?"
At first, Carmichael was skeptical about taking the gig, but after reaching out to a friend for guidance, he decided to take the stage.
"I did what I do when I have a moral racial dilemma. I call the homegirl Avery, who for the sake of this monologue represents every Black person in America," Charmichael continued.
"And I said to Avery, I said, 'Avery, they asked me to host the Golden Globes.' I said, 'You know, what should I do?'"
"And she said, 'Oh, Buki, I'm so proud of you. Now, remind me what awards show is that again?'"
"And I told her what the show was, and I told her about how last year didn't air because of the no Black people thing. And she was like, 'Well, how much are they paying you?'"
"And I said, 'Well, Avery, it's not about the money. Honestly, it's about the moral question of rather, I should elaborate.'"
"She said, ' ... How much are they paying you?' and I said, '$500,000.'"
"And she said, 'Boy, if you don't put on a good suit and take the White people's money.'"
Carmichael can next be seen in the HBO comedy documentary series, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, which premieres on Friday, March 29, 2024.
The show follows Carmichael as he navigates his relationships with friends, family, and even some strangers, on his "tumultuous quest for love, sex, and truth," as reported by Deadline.
Carmichael also serves as the show's executive producer.
