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.

Filmography

• 2026Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass — Very Famous Star Maps Salesman
• 2026Michael Ian Black: First Annual Retirement Special — Self, Writer
• 2025Alaskan Murder Mystery — Writer
• 2025Superman — Cleavis Thornwaite
• 2023Handyman from Hell — Philosophy Contractor
• 2023Linoleum — Tony
• 2023Spinning Gold — Bill Aucoin
• Peacemaker — Cleavis Thornwaite
• Reno 911! Defunded — Miss Mertz, Time Traveler, Hatzolah Captain, Organ Dealer
• 2022Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist — Hatzolah Commander
• 2020Calls
• 2020First One In — Philip
• Reno 911! — Hatzolah Commander
• Bless This Mess — Cheff
• 2019Sextuplets — Doug
• Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters
• Insatiable — Pastor Mike
• The Good Fight — Stephen Rankin-Hall
• Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later — McKinley / George H.W. Bush, Consulting Producer
• 2016Folk Hero & Funny Guy — Randy Jeppesen
• 2016Michael Ian Black: Noted Expert — Self, Writer
• Search Party — Wally
• 2016Slash — Denis
• Another Period — Peepers, Writer
• 2015Smosh: The Movie — Steve Youtube
• The Jim Gaffigan Show — Daniel
• Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp — McKinley Dozen
• 2014Beef — Lynn Vanderloo, Producer, Writer
• Deadbeat — TJ
• 2014They Came Together — Trevor
• Us & Them — Brian
• 2013Hell Baby — Dr. Marshall
• Burning Love — Bill Tundle
• 2012This Is 40 — Accountant
• You're Whole — Randall Tyree Mandersohn, Creator
• Impractical Jokers
• 2011Michael Ian Black: Very Famous — Self, Writer
• 2011Take Me Home Tonight — Pete Bering
• Backwash — Fleming
• Michael & Michael Have Issues — Self, Producer, Creator
• 2009Stella: Live in Boston — Michael
• 2008Birthday — Michael
• Reality Bites Back — Host
• The Xtacles — Chase Fontaine
• Reaper — Steve
• 2007Reno 911!: Miami — Ron of Ron's Tattoo
• 2007Run Fatboy Run — Screenplay
• 2007The Ten — Prison Guard Jamberg Saivon
• Frisky Dingo — Chase Fontaine (voice)
• I Love Toys
• 2006Wedding Daze — Screenplay, Director
• 2005Alchemy — Jerry (voice)
• 2005Partner(s) — Christopher
• Stella — Writer, Producer, Creator
• 2005The Baxter — Ed
• Tom Goes to the Mayor — Dr. Ian Black (voice)
• Reno 911! — Kevin the Sex Offender, Chris
• 2002Stella Shorts 1998-2002 — Michael, Writer, Director
• 2001Wet Hot American Summer — McKinley
• Ed — Phil Stubbs
• 2000The Bogus Witch Project — Stephen Hawking (segment "In the Woods")
• 1999Big Helium Dog — Martin Huber
• Random Play
• Viva Variety — Johnny Blue Jeans, Creator
• 1995The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special — Various
• The State — Various Characters
• 1992I'm Your Man — Screenplay
• 1991Cults: Saying No Under Pressure — Male Student (as Michael Schwartz)
• Bad Day For Bigfoot
• MTV: The State, Skits and Stickers

Appearances as themselves (34)

• 2026Deepfaking Sam Altman — Self
• 2025Long Live the State — Self
• Have I Got News for You — Self - Team Captain
• 2024Sorry/Not Sorry — Self
• Criss Angel's Magic with the Stars — Self
• Would I Lie to You? — Self
• Name That Tune — Self - Contestant
• 2019I Want My MTV — Self
• Retro Tech — Self - Actor / Writer / Comedian
• The Fix — Self - Guest
• Debate Wars — Self - Host
• Join or Die with Craig Ferguson — Self
• Match Game — Self - Panelist
• 2015Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot — Self
• 2015Misery Loves Comedy — Self
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — Self - Guest
• Duck Quacks Don't Echo — Self - Host
• Late Night with Seth Meyers — Self - Guest
• 2014Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Self
• @midnight with Chris Hardwick — Self
• Maron — Himself
• 2013Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable — Self
• Gotham Comedy Live — Self - Host
• The Burn with Jeff Ross — Self
• 2012Wanderlust — Himself
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen — Self - Guest
• I Love the New Millennium — Self
• Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! — Self
• I Love the '70s: Volume 2 — Self
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson — Self
• Celebrity Poker Showdown — Self
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Self
• The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn — Self - Guest
• Comedy Central Presents — Self