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.
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The setting is Camp Firewood, the year 1981. It's the last day before everyone goes back to the real...
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An enterprising lawyer, acting on a report that a female colleague is up to make partner, plays up t...
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Mild mannered tax accountant Elliot Sherman is what he calls a "Baxter": the kind of calm, unexcitin...
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After losing the woman of his dreams, Anderson is convinced he'll never fall in love again. But at t...
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A rag-tag team of Reno cops are called in to save the day after a terrorist attack disrupts a nation...
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Five years after jilting his pregnant fiancée on their wedding day, out-of-shape Dennis decides to r...
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Recent MIT grad Matt Franklin should be well on his way to a successful career at a Fortune 500 comp...
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Pete and Debbie are both about to turn 40, their kids hate each other, both of their businesses are ...
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Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple surveys alternative living options, ultimately de...
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Ben Stiller, Mike Myers, Seth Meyers and Michael Ian Black have a roundtable comedy discussion....
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In the spring of 1984, a strange new comic book sat beside cash registers in select shops, too big t...
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Exclusive behind-the-scenes footage offers a glimpse into the comic minds behind a "Wet Hot" summer-...
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An embarrassing video of Anthony surfaces online right before his fifth high school reunion. The Smo...
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Do you have to be miserable to be funny? More than sixty comedians—including stand-ups, writers, act...
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Veteran of sketch, television, and film, comedian Michael Ian Black has mastered a delivery that's e...
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Two artistically inclined childhood friends, a comedian and a folk-rocker respectively, set out on a...
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Father-to-be Alan is shocked to learn that he was born a sextuplet. With his newfound brother Russel...
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Thrown off a reality show in disgrace, an unemployed real estate agent joins a group of slightly men...
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It’s Holiday Season in Reno, and Lieutenant Dangle wishes he’d never been born. With the help of a r...
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A biopic of 1970s record producer Neil Bogart, co-founder of Casablanca Records....
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Recent movies
| # | Name | Character | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superman (2025) | Cleavis Thornwaite | 7.4 | |
| 2 | Spinning Gold (2023) | Bill Aucoin | - | - |
| 3 | Linoleum (2023) | Tony | 5 | |
| 4 | Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist (2022) | Hatzolah Commander | 3.5 | |
| 5 | First One In (2020) | Philip | - | - |
| 6 | Sextuplets (2019) | Doug | 5.6 | |
| 7 | Slash (2016) | Denis | 6 | |
| 8 | Michael Ian Black: Noted Expert (2016) | Director / Writer | 8 | |
| 9 | Folk Hero & Funny Guy (2016) | Randy Jeppesen | 6 | |
| 10 | Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot (2015) | Self | 8 | |
| 11 | Smosh: The Movie (2015) | Steve Youtube | 1 | |
| 12 | Misery Loves Comedy (2015) | Self | 7 | |
| 13 | Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) | Self | 8 | |
| 14 | Beef (2014) | Director / Writer | - | - |
| 15 | They Came Together (2014) | Trevor | 6.4 | |
| 16 | Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable (2013) | Self | 7 | |
| 17 | Hell Baby (2013) | Dr. Marshall | 5.5 | |
| 18 | This Is 40 (2012) | Accountant | 6.6 | |
| 19 | Wanderlust (2012) | Himself | 5.8 | |
| 20 | Take Me Home Tonight (2011) | Pete Bering | 6.2 | |
| 21 | Backwash (2010) | Fleming | - | - |
| 22 | Reno 911!: Miami (2007) | Ron of Ron's Tattoo | 7.3 | |
| 23 | The Ten (2007) | Prison Guard Jamberg Saivon | 4.8 | |
| 24 | Run Fatboy Run (2007) | Director / Writer | 6 | |
| 25 | Wedding Daze (2006) | Director / Writer | 3 | |
| 26 | Partner(s) (2005) | Christopher | 8 | |
| 27 | Alchemy (2005) | Jerry (voice) | - | - |
| 28 | The Baxter (2005) | Ed | - | - |
| 29 | Wet Hot American Summer (2001) | McKinley | 6.6 |

