Jay Pharoah, 30, actor and stand-up comedian extraordinaire, was in town this past weekend. If you missed him at Zanies, you missed a treat. You may have also dodged some rib pain, because that’s what you probably would’ve incurred from laughing so hard. The six-season SNL alum (Saturday Night Live) is well known for his stellar impressions of a few notable individuals, for example: former President Barack Obama, Jay Z, Denzel Washington, Kanye West and Eddie Murphy just to name a few. The master impressionist/specialist can emulate the voices of more than 200 celebrities. He just added Jason Statham, and has been working on Claire Foy, too.
“I haven’t mastered that yet, but I got a little something,” Jay was recently quoted as saying.
Pharoah also made a splash (on SNL) with his memorable character, Principal Daniel Frye, actually based on Pharoah’s real high school principal.
Previously, Jay dazzled with fun supporting roles in the Lionsgate comedy Get a Job, opposite Miles Teller and Anna Kendrick, Chris Rock’s Top Five, and Universal’s Ride Along opposite Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. Audiences most recently got a taste of Jay’s dramatic side in Showtime’s White Famous and Steven Soderberg’s Unsane (a movie shot on an iPhone). Unsane was his first dramatic role, but he returns to funny in the upcoming Two Minutes Of Fame with Katt Williams. Jay has voiced various roles on animated series as well. Family Guy, Bojack Horseman, Legends of Chamberlain Heights, Robot Chicken, and Supermansion are a few of many more to come.
Next time Mr. Pharoah visits Music City, be sure to check him out live and in-person. He won’t disappoint. As of now, Jay is currently working on his second stand-up special and headlines throughout the country.
