American actor, comedian, and author Taran Hourie Killam is also a comedian and a writer. His appearances on shows such as “The Amanda Show” and “Saturday Night Live” contributed to his rise to fame. Born in Culver City, California, he debuted as a comic on ‘All That’. Following his performance on ‘The Amanda Show,’ he had a significant role in the television series ‘Undressed.’ The second series focused on the sexual and romantic life of adolescents. After his participation on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ he achieved significant popularity. The Oscar-winning drama picture ’12 Years a Slave’ is among Killam’s efforts on the big screen. The film was an enormous critical and economic success. It received multiple prizes, including three Oscars. Killam wrote, directed, and co-produced the film Killing Gunther, in addition to playing the lead part. He just got an award for ‘Special Achievement’ at the ‘San Diego International Film Festival’ as a highly talented and devoted professional.
Youth and Early Life
Taran Killam was born in Culver City, California, on April 1, 1982. He attended Los Angeles County High School for the Arts for his education. One year later, he entered the University of California, Los Angeles.
Taran Killam’s Career
In 1994, Taran Killam made his cinematic debut in “Naked Gun 3313: The Final Insult” with a small role. The film directed by Peter Segal was a commercial triumph. In the same year, he made his television debut on the comedy show ‘All That’. It aired from 1994 to 2002, and its success was average. Killam also contributed to the series as a writer.
In his subsequent outing on the big screen, he portrayed a bully in “Big Fat Liar.” The movie was a financial success, grossing over three times its budget.
Then, he had a little part in “Just Married,” a film that was a commercial hit. Over the next few years, he acted in numerous other films, including ‘Stuck in the Suburbs’ (2004), ‘And Dr. Miracles’ (2006), and ‘My Best Friend’s Girl (2008).
During the 2000s, he became well-known for his parts in shows including ‘The Amanda Show,’ ‘Undressed,’ ‘MADtv,’ ‘Wild n Out,’ and ‘Nick Cannon Presents Short Circuits,’ for which he was also a writer. In 2010, he began making appearances on the renowned comedy program ‘Saturday Night Live’ It is one of the most popular and longest-running shows on American television.
Killam provided the voice for one of the main characters in the animated television series The Awesomes. It aired between 2013 and 2015. Since 2015, he has also provided the voice for the lead character of the anime series “Nature Cat.”
He also maintained his film career, starring in films such as ‘Anderson’s Cross’ (2010), ‘Grown Ups 2’ (2013), and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). In addition, he participated in the Academy Award-winning picture 12 Years a Slave. The audience and critics praised the picture, in which he played one of the supporting roles. It was a commercial triumph as well.
His latest filmography includes “Brother Nature” (2016) and “All Nighter” (2017). In addition, he wrote, directed, co-produced, and starred in the film Killing Gunther. It was published in October 2017.
His Major Opera
The 2013 drama film ’12 Years a Slave’ is one of Taran Killam’s most memorable performances. The film starred Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Bill Pohlad and was directed by Steve McQueen. Killam served as a minor supporting character.
The picture was both critically and commercially successful, grossing almost 10 times its budget. It received multiple prizes, including three Oscars. The plot is centered on a New York guy who is abducted and sold into slavery.
In the animated comedy series ‘The Awesomes,’ Killam voiced one of the major characters. From 2013 through 2015, the series aired on the Hulu network for a total of three seasons. The plot centered on a group of superheroes who must prove themselves after replacing disbanded members of a famed superhero team. In addition to Killam, the series included a number of ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast members.
He authored, directed, and co-produced the film Killing Gunther, in which he also starred. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hannah Simone, Cobie Smulders, and Killam himself portrayed the key characters in the film. The film is about a group of assassins who get together to eliminate the man regarded as the world’s greatest assassin.
Awards & Achievements
In 2012, Taran Killam was nominated for a “Gold Derby Award” for his performance on “Saturday Night Live.”
In 2014, he was nominated for a Gold Derby Award for his performance in “12 Years a Slave.” He was also nominated for a Picture Critics Society Award for his work in the film.
He was also nominated for the “Online Film and Television Award” for his work on “Saturday Night Live” in the same year.
In 2017, he received the “Visionary Filmmaker Award” from the San Diego International Film Festival.
His Personal Life
Before getting engaged in 2009, Taran Killam and Canadian actress Cobie Smulders dated for several years. They tied the knot on September 8, 2012. The couple is the parents of two children.
Estimated Net Worth
Taran Killam is an actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer with a $10 million net worth. Killam is best known for his roles on the NBC sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” (2010-2016) and on “Single Parents” (2018-2020) as Will Cooper.
Trivia
Killam is an enthusiastic comic book reader. Additionally, he enjoys Star Wars and James Bond movies.