Michael Blackson

Michael Kojo Blackson ( Kojo Bediako, born November 28, 1972) is a Ghanaian-Liberian actor, and comedian based in the United States. His stage surname is a parody of pop singer, Michael Jackson.

Michael Blackson
Blackson in 2019
Born
Kojo Bediako

(1972-11-28) November 28, 1972 (age 51)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1989–present
PartnerRada Darling
Children4
Websitemichaelblacksonfoundation.org

Early life

Michael Kojo Blackson was born Kojo Bediako on November 28, 1972, in Liberia to a Liberian mother and Ghanaian Father.[1][2][3][4] His family lived in the slum of Clara Town in Monrovia.[5] He spent his young years in between Monrovia and Ghana before relocating to the United States in the mid-1980s. His father died in 2008.[6] Michael lived in Newark, New Jersey, when he was 13, and then settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was 15. He began pursuing comedy after his coworker at Domino's suggested he start open mic.[7] He made one of his first appearances on screen as a student extra in the 1989 film Lean On Me.[8]

Career

In 2005, he released a comedy sketch CD entitled Modasucka: Welcome to America.[9] Also in 2005, he made an appearance on the TV series 30 Rock, P. Diddy Presents: The Bad Boys of Comedy on HBO,[10] and starred in a commercial for Chappelle's Show on Comedy Central.

In 2011, Blackson appeared on Starz's Martin Lawrence Presents: 1st Amendment Stand-Up and Showtime's Shaquille O'Neal Presents All Star Comedy Jam.[11][12]

In 2019, Blackson appeared in the "Wakonda" official music video by Akon.[13]

Personal life

On July 31, 2021, Blackson proposed to his girlfriend, Rada Darling, during a radio interview on The Breakfast Club, they continue to be together as partners.[14] On November 24, 2021, he became a U.S citizen.[4] Blackson is the uncle of Miami Dolphins cornerback Eli Apple.[15] As part of his work in philanthropy he built a school in Ghana that was commissioned in early January 2023. The school, which is eponymously named Michael Blackson Academy, is located at Agona Nsaba in the Agona East District of Ghana’s Central Region where he grew up.[16]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Next FridayCustomer #1
2006ReposCoffeeVideo
The Last StandComic #6
2007The SavagesHoward
Black SupamanAkonVideo
Banana LeavesChuks
You're TriflinMichael the ComedianVideo
2008Internet DatingAkeem the DreamVideo
2009The Mail ManMohammed
What We DoTaxi Cab DriverVideo
2010My American Nurse 2Freddie
Ex$pendable-Video
2011Threading NeedlesLandlord
2012In Sickness and in HealthYusufTV movie
2013One Night in VegasMr. Roland
Coffin Dodgers(Voice)Short
Mutumbo the Lost PrinceMutumbo
2014Kony MontanaKony Montana
2015TookenFake Akon
More Money, More FamilyBootleg
2016Meet the BlacksMr. Wooky
2018Easy MoneyCaine
The StuffSecurity Guard
Nobody's FoolThug
Got My Hustle UpMichael
SlidersCaine
2019Angel and the MailmanAkin
I Got The Hook Up 2Officer Midnight
The Lick MovieKofi
2020American DreamJohn
2021Coming 2 AmericaNexdorian Lieutenant
Someday IslesPrincipal
The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2Mr. Wooky

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995SnapsHimselfEpisode: "Episode #1.1"
2000ComicViewHimselfEpisode: "ComicView: New Orleans Party Gras"
2005The Bad Boys of ComedyHimselfEpisode: "Episode #1.6"
200630 RockAfrican ManEpisode: "Jack Meets Dennis"
2008ComicViewHimselfEpisode: "ComicView: One Mic Stand"
20091st Amendment Stand UpHimselfEpisode: "Cortney Gee/Mark Viera/Ronnie Jordan/Michael Blackson"
2011-12Are We There Yet?Various RolesRecurring Guest
2014The Arsenio Hall ShowHimselfEpisode: "Episode #1.145"
2015In the CutCustomerEpisode: "The Ball's in Your Court"
201750 CentralAfrican TravelerEpisode: "Amistad Travel Agency"
2017-18Leave It to StevieHimselfEpisode: "Standing Down" & "The Game of Faith"
2017-19Wild 'N OutHimself/Cast MemberCast Member: Season 8 & 10 & 12 & 15
Hip Hop SquaresHimself/PanelistRecurring Panelist
2018BET Social AwardsHimself/HostMain Host
Love & Hip Hop: AtlantaHimselfEpisode: "I'm Telling"
Rich AfricansMichaelMain Cast
2019Hollywood and African Prestigious AwardsHimself/HostMain Host
TransitionsKodjoeEpisode: "Nigerian Nightmare"
Dr. BlacksonDr. BlacksonMain Cast
2020Casting One Mo' ChanceHimself/JudgeMain Judge: Season 1
2021VH1 Couples RetreatHimselfMain Cast: Season 1
MTV CribsHimselfEpisode: "Michael Blackson/Ashlee Simpson & Evan Ross/Johnny Weir"
2022Sherman's ShowcaseFadaEpisode: "Sherman From Africa: Live from Lagos"
2023The Michael Blackson ShowMr. Michael BlacksonMain Cast

Music Videos

YearSongArtist
2008"Dat Baby Don't Look Like Me"Shawty Put featuring Lil Jon and Too Short
2014"Sugar Daddy"LeLe XO
2020"Czar"Busta Rhymes featuring M.O.P.

References

External links