Michael Ian Black
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 (97 Appearances)
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass
MTV: The State, Skits and Stickers
Deepfaking Sam Altman
Superman
Long Live the State
Have I Got News for You
Sorry/Not Sorry
Handyman from Hell
Spinning Gold
Linoleum
Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist
Criss Angel's Magic with the Stars
Would I Lie to You?
Reno 911! Defunded
Peacemaker
Name That Tune
First One In
Calls
Reno 911!
Retro Tech
Sextuplets
I Want My MTV
Bless This Mess
The Fix
Insatiable
Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
The Good Fight
Search Party
Debate Wars
Match Game
Michael Ian Black: Noted Expert
Folk Hero & Funny Guy
Slash
Join or Die with Craig Ferguson
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
Smosh: The Movie
The Jim Gaffigan Show
Another Period
Misery Loves Comedy
Beef
Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
They Came Together
Deadbeat
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
Us & Them
Nantucket Film Festival's 2nd Comedy Roundtable
@midnight with Chris Hardwick
Hell Baby
This Is 40
Gotham Comedy Live
You're Whole
The Burn with Jeff Ross
Burning Love
Wanderlust
Impractical Jokers
Michael Ian Black: Very Famous
Take Me Home Tonight
Backwash
Stella: Live in Boston
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Michael & Michael Have Issues
Birthday
The Xtacles
Reality Bites Back
I Love the New Millennium
Reaper
The Ten
Reno 911!: Miami
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Frisky Dingo
I Love the '70s: Volume 2
I Love Toys
The Baxter
Partner(s)
Stella
Alchemy
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Celebrity Poker Showdown
Reno 911!
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Stella Shorts 1998-2002
Wet Hot American Summer
The Bogus Witch Project
Ed
Random Play
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Big Helium Dog
Comedy Central Presents
Viva Variety
The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special
The State
Cults: Saying No Under Pressure