Keegan-Michael Key Interview: Reveals the Origin of Luther, Obama's Anger Translator

Keegan-Michael Key discusses portraying Barack Obama through comedy and how he approached impersonating him on Mad TV and Key & Peele. Key recalls what it was like to meet Obama and perform at the White House correspondent’s dinner.
Keegan-Michael Key is an actor, comedian, producer and writer, best known for co-starring and co-creating the Comedy Central sketch “Key & Peele” and for his six seasons as a cast member on MADtv. While on MADtv, Key impersonated countless public figures, including Barack Obama. In 2012, Key, with his castmate, Jordan Peele, created a character called Luther, who served as Obama’s anger translator and was meant to express their frustrations regarding the issues the president faced as the first Black president. Peele portrayed Obama, while Key took on the role of Luther, the anger translator. In 2014, “Key and Peele” received a Peabody Award and an American Comedy Award for best alternative comedy series. Then, in 2015, Key was invited to perform as Luther alongside President Obama at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
From the 2021 three-part HBO documentary series Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union. The personal and political journey of President Barack Obama is explored that weaves together conversations with colleagues, friends, and critics, alongside his own speeches and interviews.
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Keegan-Michael Key, Actor
Interviewed By: Peter Kunhardt
Interview Date: November 14, 2018
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