Keith Powell (born August 12, 1979) is an American television actor, writer, director, and web series creator, known for his role as James "Toofer" Spurlock on 30 Rock, and for creating and starring in the web series Keith Broke His Leg, for which he won several Indie Series Awards in 2016.
Early life and education Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Powell later moved to California before graduating from St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Delaware. Powell then earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2001.
Career Powell was the Producing Artistic Director of Contemporary Stage Company, a summer theater in Wilmington, Delaware. His producing credits include New York productions of The Mouse That Roared, Enter Pissarro, Indra & Agni Collide and a workshop of Kidding Jane with Ellen McLaughlin and William Charles Mitchell. Powell was the resident director for Equalogy, a professional touring company promoting social change, for which he directed two plays by August Schulenberg, Four Hearts Changing and One Night.
His other directing credits include Dutchman, Quality of Silence, The Visit and Enter Pissarro. As an actor, Powell has appeared in numerous national network commercials. His theatre credits include Romeo & Juliet (The Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C.), Kidding Jane (Portland Stage Company), Macbeth (Pittsburgh Public Theater), As Bees in Honey Drown (Hangar Theater, Ithaca, New York), and The French (HB Playwrights Foundation, NYC) among others.
In the spring of 2007, while working as a recurring character on 30 Rock, he shot an ABC pilot called Judy's Got A Gun. It was not picked up for the Fall 2007 season, and Powell returned to 30 Rock, where he was promoted to a series regular. In October 2008, Powell launched and starred in a self-funded web series called Keith Powell Directs a Play (co-written and directed by Patrick Flynn), chronicling Powell's foray into directing Uncle Vanya at a fictional repertory theatre group. In 2009, Powell was a guest commentator on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s, and also played a Tuskegee Airman in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
In 2014, Powell began a recurring role on the television series About a Boy as Richard, Will's workaholic friend, accountant, and business manager.
Powell recurred on the final season of The Newsroom. He appeared in the feature film My Name Is David. In 2015, he created, wrote, directed, and starred in the web series Keith Broke His Leg. The series went on to win several Indie Series Awards, including Best Comedy Series and Best Actor in a Comedy.
Powell began his television directing career in March 2018 with the season three episode "Amnesty" of the NBC television series Superstore. He has since directed episodes of Dickinson, Single Drunk Female, Interview with the Vampire, and So Help Me Todd.
Personal life In October 2013, Powell married visual artist Jill Knox. They had a son who was stillborn. In 2019, Powell and Knox announced the birth of their daughter. In 2021, they welcomed a boy. Powell and Knox live in Los Angeles.
Filmography Film Actor +YearTitleRoleNotes2009Night at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianTuskegee Airman #12010ArmlessHotel Receptionist2013SyrupCameron2015Train BabyDavid2016Odd Squad: The MovieWeird Keith2019The Way We Weren'tDanLying and StealingMike Williams2020To the Beat! Back 2 SchoolMr. Richards2021Marvelous and the Black HoleLeoThe Beta TestTerrance2022Spoonful of SugarDr. Welsh
Director YearTitleNotes2012Nate & AbeShort2014People We Meet2019Sophie's QuinceañeraConvenience2020Dosed2021In White Places2026Buttercup Pudding Pie
Television Actor YearTitleRoleNotes2003Law & Order: Criminal IntentGregg MonroeEpisode: "Blink"2005Law & OrderMikeEpisode: "Ain't No Love"2006–201330 RockJames "Toofer" Spurlock130 episodes2007Judy's Got a GunBrad WilkesTelevision film2008–2009Keith Powell Directs a PlayKeith Powell8 episodes2009Reno 911!Innocent Black ManEpisode: "Wiegel's Couple's Therapy"2012NCIS: Los AngelesRobert PierceEpisode: "Out of the Past"2014The NewsroomWyatt Geary2 episodes2014–2015About a BoyRichard6 episodes2016DeadbeatCashier / LonathanEpisode: "Medieval Dead"2018Cape KidsAcerEpisode: "Ignite Good to Help the Environment"2019Better ThingsKeith PowellEpisode: "The Unknown"The Room Actors: Where Are They Now?NormanEpisode: "Stay at home Dan"2020Grace and FrankieJordanEpisode: "The Tank"ConnectingGarrett8 episodes30 Rock: A One-Time SpecialJames "Toofer" SpurlockTelevision special2020, 2021This Is UsDr. Vance2 episodes2022Little DemonVarious voices2 episodes2023–presentShrinkingMark4 episodes2026R.J. DeckerBob VernonEpisode: "In Vanity Veritas"
Director YearTitleNotes2008–2009Keith Powell Directs a Play2 episodes2015Keith Broke His Leg10 episodes2018SuperstoreEpisode: "Amnesty"2021A Holiday in HarlemTV movieDickinsonEpisode: "Sang from the Heart, Sire"2022Single Drunk FemaleEpisode: "New York"Interview with the Vampire2 episodesSo Help Me ToddEpisode: "Let the Wright One In"Home EconomicsEpisode: "Wheel of Vegan Brie, $24"Big SkyEpisode: "Where There's Smoke There's Fire"2023Young RockEpisode: "Going Heavy"Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.Episode: "I'm Just a Mom"2023–presentKeith vs8 episodes2024Not Dead YetEpisode: "Not in the Game Yet"2024–presentWill Trent3 episodes2025Clean SlateEpisode: "Chrome Jesus"
References
External links Official Keith Powell website
A Chat with Keith Powell of 30 Rock Interview with Keith Powell Duncan Sheik Will Conjure Ghosts in New Musical, an article including Powell