Acting · Chicago, Illinois, USA · Born August 12, 1971
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.
MovieGail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass
2026
as Very Famous Star Maps Salesman
MovieDeepfaking Sam Altman
2026
as Self
MovieSuperman
2025
as Cleavis Thornwaite
MovieLong Live the State
2025
as Self
TVHave I Got News for You
2024
as Self - Team Captain
MovieSorry/Not Sorry
2024
as Self
MovieHandyman from Hell
2023
as Philosophy Contractor
MovieSpinning Gold
2023
as Bill Aucoin
MovieLinoleum
2023
as Tony
MovieReno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist
2022
as Hatzolah Commander
TVCriss Angel's Magic with the Stars
2022
as Self
TVWould I Lie to You?
2022
as Self
TVReno 911! Defunded
2022
as Miss Mertz
TVPeacemaker
2022
as Cleavis Thornwaite
TVName That Tune
2021
as Self - Contestant
MovieFirst One In
2020
as Philip
Calls
2020
TVReno 911!
2020
as Hatzolah Commander
TVRetro Tech
2019
as Self - Actor / Writer / Comedian
MovieSextuplets
2019
as Doug
MovieI Want My MTV
2019
as Self
TVBless This Mess
2019
as Cheff
TVThe Fix
2018
as Self - Guest
TVInsatiable
2018
as Pastor Mike
TVBobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters
2018
TVWet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
2017
as McKinley / George H.W. Bush
TVThe Good Fight
2017
as Stephen Rankin-Hall
TVSearch Party
2016
as Wally
Debate Wars
2016
as Self - Host
TVMatch Game
2016
as Self - Panelist
MovieMichael Ian Black: Noted Expert
2016
as Self
MovieFolk Hero & Funny Guy
2016
as Randy Jeppesen
MovieSlash
2016
as Denis
TVJoin or Die with Craig Ferguson
2016
as Self
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Guest
MovieHurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot
2015
as Self
TVWet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
2015
as McKinley Dozen
MovieSmosh: The Movie
2015
as Steve Youtube
TVThe Jim Gaffigan Show
2015
as Daniel
TVAnother Period
2015
as Peepers
MovieMisery Loves Comedy
2015
as Self
MovieBeef
2014
as Lynn Vanderloo
MovieTurtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
2014
as Self
MovieThey Came Together
2014
as Trevor
TVDeadbeat
2014
as TJ
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self - Guest
TVDuck Quacks Don't Echo
2014
as Self - Host
TVUs & Them
2014
as Brian
Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable
2013
as Self
TV@midnight with Chris Hardwick
2013
as Self
MovieHell Baby
2013
as Dr. Marshall
TVMaron
2013
as Himself
MovieThis Is 40
2012
as Accountant
TVGotham Comedy Live
2012
as Self - Host
TVYou're Whole
2012
as Randall Tyree Mandersohn
TVThe Burn with Jeff Ross
2012
as Self
TVBurning Love
2012
as Bill Tundle
MovieWanderlust
2012
as Himself
TVImpractical Jokers
2011
MovieMichael Ian Black: Very Famous
2011
as Self
MovieTake Me Home Tonight
2011
as Pete Bering
Backwash
2010
as Fleming
MovieStella: Live in Boston
2009
as Michael
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
TVMichael & Michael Have Issues
2009
as Self
Birthday
2008
as Michael
TVThe Xtacles
2008
as Chase Fontaine
TVReality Bites Back
2008
as Host
TVI Love the New Millennium
2008
as Self
TVReaper
2007
as Steve
MovieThe Ten
2007
as Prison Guard Jamberg Saivon
MovieReno 911!: Miami
2007
as Ron of Ron's Tattoo
TVTim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
2007
as Self
TVFrisky Dingo
2006
as Chase Fontaine (voice)
TVI Love the '70s: Volume 2
2006
as Self
I Love Toys
2006
MovieThe Baxter
2005
as Ed
MoviePartner(s)
2005
as Christopher
TVStella
2005
MovieAlchemy
2005
as Jerry (voice)
TVThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005
as Self
TVTom Goes to the Mayor
2004
as Dr. Ian Black (voice)
TVCelebrity Poker Showdown
2003
as Self
TVReno 911!
2003
as Kevin the Sex Offender
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
MovieStella Shorts 1998-2002
2002
as Michael
MovieWet Hot American Summer
2001
as McKinley
MovieThe Bogus Witch Project
2000
as Stephen Hawking (segment "In the Woods")
TVEd
2000
as Phil Stubbs
Random Play
1999
TVThe Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self - Guest
MovieBig Helium Dog
1999
as Martin Huber
TVComedy Central Presents
1998
as Self
TVViva Variety
1997
as Johnny Blue Jeans
MovieThe State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special
1995
as Various
TVThe State
1994
as Various Characters
Cults: Saying No Under Pressure
1991
as Male Student (as Michael Schwartz)
MovieMTV: The State, Skits and Stickers
Bad Day For Bigfoot
