Kenan Thompson has been a jokester since he was a little kid – just like his brother Kerwin Thompson and sister Felicia Thompson.
The Saturday Night Live star and his siblings were raised by their parents, Fletcher and Elizabeth Ann Thompson, in Atlanta. They became active in their community at a young age, joining youth choirs and theater programs. However, it was the late-night comedy watching parties that cemented the sibling bond.
Despite their busy work schedules and Keenan’s growing fame, the trio remained close into adulthood. While celebrating Keenan’s 20th season on SNL in a 2023 Emmy Magazine profile, the outlet pressed Kerwin to share a few words about his brother.
“He was always quiet and kind,” Kerwin said of Keenan. “He is a very quiet person. He leads by example. Through him I learned how to be generous.”
Here’s everything to know about Kenan Thompson’s siblings: Kerwin and Felicia Thompson.
They grew up in Georgia and Virginia Felicia Thompson (far left), Kerwin Thompson (center) and Kenan Thompson pose with family members on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Keenan and his siblings were raised by their father Fletcher, a helicopter mechanic turned real estate broker, and mother Elizabeth Ann, a nurse anesthetist, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Speaking to WLNI 105.9 FM, Keenan shared that while he and his immediate family moved to Atlanta, they would often visit loved ones during the summer in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he felt connected to the area.
Wherever they were, church was a “big part” of Kenan’s upbringing, and they attended five times a week.
In his 2023 memoir, When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories, and Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional Clown, Keenan recalls what it was like to grow up “as a middle-class kid in Georgia.”
“I was a fan of the brand,” he wrote. “We didn’t drink Coke, we drank RC Cola. We didn’t eat endless shrimp at Red Lobster, we had Super Sampler plates at Long John Silver’s. “We didn’t go to Disney World, we went to Six Flags.”
Kerwin knew Keenan was destined for stardom at a young age Kenan Thompson speaks on stage during Byron Allen Presents: The Comedy & Music Superfest on February 06, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Stephanie Keenan/Getty
Keenan was five years old when Kerwin first noticed that his younger brother had a penchant for acting and performing.
“One day our parents told us we couldn’t have company,” Kerwin recalled in an interview with Emmy magazine. “I pass Kenan’s room, and I hear all these people. I peek inside and see he’s alone with the Star Wars characters, doing all the voices.”
“That was the beginning of us doing impressions and performing for the company,” he added.
Keenan credits his brother with introducing him to sketch comedy Kerwin Thompson and Kenan Thompson are inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Without Kerwin’s influence, Keenan may not have pursued a career in comedy. The funnyman recalled his first interaction with sketch comedy while speaking about his childhood in his 2023 memoir.
“Kerwin and I were big fans of sketch comedies growing up,” Keenan wrote. “My love of performing definitely started with my brother. We watch Living Color and all the shows and movies that reflect the black zeitgeist.
The siblings, who were “like two peas in a pod,” soon began testing each other’s ability to perform, especially on long trips.
“I was always running after my brother… We would quote movies about those road trips from Atlanta to Virginia, back and forth and impress our parents with our knowledge of Coming to America or some other movie,” Keenan told WLNI 105.9 FM. . “We loved comedies and movies at a very young age.”
He also recounted his childhood memories to The Wall Street Journal during a 2023 interview. “At home, Kerwin and I would watch a lot of TV. Our sister Felicia was very young,” he said. “TV was pure escapism and exposed me to the outside world. I responded to characters that were out of the ordinary.”
Kerwin has been singing and acting since he was five years old
Kerwin discovered theater at an early age. He traveled internationally with the Atlanta Boy Choir before joining the Youth Theater Ensemble of Atlanta (YEA), where he performed in shows such as “Rhymes and Reasons” and “Times,” according to his website.
He later landed roles on television, starring in South Side, CSI: Vegas, and most notably The Quest on Disney+.
Keenan’s sister Felicia is more private Keenan Thompson with his brother Kerwin Thompson and sister Felicia Thompson.
Kenan Thompson/Instagram
While Keenan and Kerwin’s acting careers have put them in the spotlight, Felicia has maintained a lower level of attention. However, she can sometimes be seen on her siblings’ social media.
In celebration of National Siblings Day in 2020, Kenan posted a photo of the trio on Instagram along with a sweet message. “My hearts!!! I love you both,” he wrote.
Although Felicia didn’t start her career in comedy, Keenan told the Wall Street Journal that humor runs in the family. “Everyone in my family was funny, so I wasn’t special growing up,” he said.
Kerwin and Felicia are Kenan’s biggest supporters Kenan Thompson poses with his brother Kerwin Thompson at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
David Livingston/Getty
Both Kerwin and Felicia were on hand to watch Keenan receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022. The couple posed for photos and received a special shoutout at Keenan’s speech.
“This is so surreal, it’s amazing. My whole family is here,” the actor said at the event. “I never thought any of this would be possible. I just wanted to act, entertain, have a good time, and put a smile on the faces of my family.
In his 2023 book, Keenan reflected on the life lessons he hopes to pass on to his daughters, Georgia and Gianna – most importantly, that family is everything.
“At the end of the day, this bond of brotherhood is the strongest thing on the planet,” he wrote.
