Jaboukie Young White

Jaboukie Young-White was born on July 24, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Harvey, Illinois. He is the son of Jamaican immigrants. Young-White attended Marian Catholic High School and later DePaul University, where he engaged in improv comedy with “The Titanic Players.” He left DePaul during his senior year to focus on his burgeoning comedy career. He performed stand-up for the first time at 19 and secured his first gig at 21, performing in various bars and clubs in Chicago and New York City. His early career saw him gain recognition through viral memes, tweets, and social media posts, leading to a significant online following, particularly on Twitter and Instagram.

Young-White’s television debut as a stand-up comedian was on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (2017–2018), where he performed twice. In 2017, he was featured in Rolling Stone’s “25 Under 25” list, and in 2018, Vulture recognized him in their “20 Comedians You Should and Will Know” list. He also contributed as a writer for Netflix’s “Big Mouth” and co-wrote the mockumentary television series “American Vandal” (2018). In October 2018, Young-White joined “The Daily Show” as a correspondent, appearing opposite Trevor Noah until his departure in 2021. He also secured a film debut in the black comedy “Rough Night” (2017).

The 2020s marked significant career milestones for Young-White across film, television, and music. He starred in the film “Dating and New York” (2021) and appeared alongside Joaquin Phoenix in “C’mon C’mon” (2021). His voice acting roles include Disney’s “Strange World” (2022) as Ethan Clade, Disney+’s “Baymax!” (2022) as Mbita, and “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” (2023) as Connor. On television, he had recurring roles in “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens” (2020–2021), “Only Murders in the Building” (2021–2022), and Issa Rae’s “Rap Sh!t” (2022–2023). In 2021, he announced a partnership with Issa Rae’s production company Hoorae to adapt “The Gang’s All Queer: The Lives of Gay Gang Members” for HBO, where he is set to write and executive produce. He also began a musical career under the moniker “jaboukie,” releasing his debut album “All who can’t hear must feel” in August 2023 via Interscope Records, following several singles.