Kenan Thompson Set To Receive Reel Works ChangeMaker Award

kenan thompson - thestewartofny

Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson is to receive the Reel Works ChangeMaker Award at the 2025 Reel Works ChangeMakers Gala next month.

Thompson, who has worked on SNL since 2003, has been recognized as the longest-serving cast member in the Saturday night staples fifty-year history.

He is also known for starring in the NBC sitcom Kenan, as well as in a range of films and TV series including All That, Kenan & Kel, Snakes On A Plane, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Thompson has become a well-known member of the SNL line-up, holding the record for the largest number of celebrity impressions preformed on the show, and describing his role on SNL as his “forever plan.” He has previously been nominated for five Primetime Emmys for his work, winning for Outstanding Music and Lyrics in 2018.

Reel Works is a New York-based non-profit organisation seeking to mentor and empower youths from underrepresented communities to gain opportunities in filmmaking. The Reel Works ChangeMakers Gala, which is to be held on Wednesday, May 21 in New York, celebrates figures within the entertainment industry who have helped to improve diversity and widen opportunities within the entertainment industry.

Thompson will be receiving the award in recognition for his work in helping to create a more inclusive space for aspiring filmmakers throughout his career.

“Supporting young filmmakers and helping them tell their stories is something I’m deeply passionate about,” Thompson stated, “and I’m grateful to be a part of an event that champions that mission.”