Kenny Blank
Encyclopedia
Kenny Blank, full birth name Kenneth Michael Benbow Blank (born September 15, 1977 in New York
), is an American
actor
and prodigy
musician
. 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 on Eddie Murphy's
1992 film, Boomerang.
Blank provided the voice of the character Darren Patterson on the Nickelodeon
animated series As Told by Ginger
, as well as earning a small role in All Grown Up!
, as Sulky Boy's band member J.T.. He also appeared in Silent Story
and Delivering Milo
. Notable guest appearances on television shows include roles in City of Angels, Living Single
, and Freaks and Geeks
. In 1991 he starred as Linus Bragg in the movie "Carolina Skeletons" (or "The End of Silence"), featuring an African-American boy who was executed at the age of 14, a story partly based on the true events around George Stinney Jr.
As a child, Blank reviewed the book Jumanji
on Reading Rainbow
in the episode about the Macy's Day Parade. His major breakthrough was his role as Tito in the 1991 Joe Pesci
film The Super
. For his performance as Tito, Blank was nominated for a Young Artist Award
in 1992 in the category 'Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Motion Picture'.
Since 1998, Blank has cinematographed, edited and directed number of short films.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
), is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. 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
The Parent 'Hood
The Parent 'Hood is an American sitcom that aired on The WB airing from January 18, 1995 to July 25, 1999. The series starred Robert Townsend and Suzzanne Douglas....
from 1995 to 1997 for which he also composed some music, as well as his appearance on Eddie Murphy's
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
1992 film, Boomerang.
Blank provided the voice of the character Darren Patterson on the Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
animated series As Told by Ginger
As Told by Ginger
As Told by Ginger is an American teen drama animated series that was produced by Klasky-Csupo and aired on Nickelodeon from 2000 to 2009. The series focuses on a middle schooler Ginger Foutley who, with her friends, tries to become more than a social geek. There are many subplots that focus on...
, as well as earning a small role in All Grown Up!
All Grown Up!
All Grown Up! is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky and Gábor Csupó. After the success of All Growed Up, the Rugrats 10th anniversary special, Nickelodeon commissioned All Grown Up! as a spin-off series based on the episode.The series ran from April 12, 2003 to August...
, as Sulky Boy's band member J.T.. He also appeared in Silent Story
Silent Story
Silent Story is a 2001 film which was written and directed by Eduardo Cisneros.It stars Megahn Perry as Rose and David Fickas as Eddie. The film won Best Short at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival....
and Delivering Milo
Delivering Milo
Delivering Milo is a 2001 film written by David Hubbard and directed by Nick Castle. Anton Yelchin stars as Milo, with Bridget Fonda and Campbell Scott in the roles of his parents. Albert Finney stars as Elmore Dahl, a guardian angel sent to convince a soul that life on Earth is worth living. Sean...
. Notable guest appearances on television shows include roles in City of Angels, Living Single
Living Single
Living Single is an American television sitcom which aired for five seasons on the Fox network from August 29, 1993 to January 1, 1998. The show centered on the lives of six friends who share personal and professional experiences while living in a Brooklyn brownstone.Throughout its run, Living...
, and Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks is an American teen comedy-drama television series, created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season...
. In 1991 he starred as Linus Bragg in the movie "Carolina Skeletons" (or "The End of Silence"), featuring an African-American boy who was executed at the age of 14, a story partly based on the true events around George Stinney Jr.
George Stinney
George Junius Stinney Jr. was, at age 14, the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th century.The question of Stinney's guilt and the judicial process leading to his execution remain controversial....
As a child, Blank reviewed the book Jumanji
Jumanji
Jumanji is the title of a 1981 children's illustrated short story and fantasy story written and illustrated by the American author Chris Van Allsburg. It was made into a 1995 film of the same name. Both the book and the movie are about a magical board game that implements real animals and other...
on Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow is an American children's television series aired by PBS from June 6, 1983 until November 10, 2006 that encouraged reading among children. The award-winning public television series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's...
in the episode about the Macy's Day Parade. His major breakthrough was his role as Tito in the 1991 Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
film The Super
The Super
The Super is a 1991 American comedy film starring Joe Pesci as a New York slum landlord sentenced to live in one of his own buildings until it is brought up to code...
. For his performance as Tito, Blank was nominated for a Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
in 1992 in the category 'Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Motion Picture'.
Since 1998, Blank has cinematographed, edited and directed number of short films.