Childhood & Early Life
Sasheer Zamata Moore was born on May 6, 1986, in Okinawa, Japan, to Henry Moore and Ivory Steward. Her father, Henry Moore, was a lieutenant colonel drafted in the ‘Air Force’ and was posted in Japan.
Zamata grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and attended the 'Pike High School.' She later graduated from the 'University of Virginia' with a bachelor of arts degree.
During her university days, she participated in the 'Disney College Program,' performing as various costumed characters. She later founded the university's long-form “improv” comedy troupe, 'Amuse Bouche.'
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Career
Zamata Began her career with short films in 2005. She appeared in 'Sticks and Stones' and then portrayed Michelle Obama in 'Michelle Obama's Breaking Point' in 2009. She also played Tyra Banks in 'Tyra Banks Exclusive 2010.'
In 2009, she began performing at the 'Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre' in New York City. The 'Upright Citizens Brigade' is an “impov” and sketch-comedy group that gained prominence after Chicago's 'ImprovOlympic.'
She made her TV debut in 2010, appearing in 'Acid Tests' (as 'Karen') and playing the title role in 'Beyoncé as a Mommy.'
From 2011 to 2014, she was seen in several short films, such as 'Subway Rush,' 'White Powder,' 'Three to One’, Black Superheroes,' 'Tie,' 'Little Horribles,' 'Best Buy Real Home Theater Experience,' 'The Re-Gift,' 'The Crumb of It,' 'Intimate Semaphores,' and 'Grow a Guy.'
From 2012 to 2013, she was seen in 14 episodes of 'Fodder.' From 2012 to 2015, she was featured in five episodes of 'CollegeHumor Originals.’
In 2013, she appeared in three episodes of 'Above Average Presents.' Subsequently, she was seen in nine episodes of the sketch 'UCB Comedy Originals.' Additionally, Zamata also appeared in sketches for 'Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell' and 'Inside Amy Schumer.'
During that period, she also played 'Sheer' in five episodes of the web series 'Pursuit of Sexiness' (featured on the 'Top 10 Web Series of 2013' list, curated by 'Variety,' and the '7 Web Series We Can't Stop Watching in 2015' list, curated by 'Glamour'). She also appeared in the ‘MTV’ series 'Hey Girl.'
In 2014, Zamata was cast in the 39th season of the ‘NBC’ late-night live sketch comedy and variety show 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL). The season was highlighted due to the revelations that black cast members such as Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson, TV critics, and other black comedians made on the show, portraying it as ethnically discriminating.
The show was subjected to a lot of criticism from various spheres for not casting enough black artists. ‘SNL’ had featured only five black artists throughout its glorious run of over 4 decades. With Zamata's entry, she became the first black female to be featured on the show since bi-racial Maya Rudolph had quit it midway in its 33rd season in 2007.
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Zamata impersonated Rihanna in her ‘SNL’ debut, aired on January 18, 2014. She was promoted as a repertory player from the 41st season. In her entire ‘SNL’ career, she has impersonated people such as “YouTuber” Janelle, Keeley (a participant in an African–American centric version of 'Jeopardy!), Michelle Obama, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé Knowles, Solange Knowles, Diana Ross, Lupita Nyong, and Taraji P. Henson. She quit the show in 2017.
She portrayed singer Beyoncé Knowles in the 2015 short film 'The Jay Z Story.' She was seen as 'Georgi' in the 2016 science-fiction drama film 'Sleight.'
She voiced the character 'Maisie,' a palm tree and the title character's girlfriend, in the 2016 Christmas-themed musical comedy 'Albert,' the first original animated movie of 'Nickelodeon.'
Zamata played 'Principal Invincible' in the 2016 horror–comedy film 'Yoga Hosers' and lent her voice to the character 'Sally' in the video game 'Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Zombies.’
She was cast as 'Ms. Spencer,' a high-school guidance counselor, in the 2017 comedy–drama crime film 'Deidra & Laney Rob a Train.' She was featured in the internet streaming special 'Sasheer Zamata: Pizza Mind,' which is available on 'iTunes' and 'Spotify.'
That year, she began playing the recurring character 'Kim Whitfield,' owner of a charitable organization and the lead character Nicole Byer’s childhood friend, in the comedy web series 'Loosely Exactly Nicole.'
In March 2018, Zamata, joined the cast of the comedy film 'The Weekend,' screened at the 'Tribeca Film Festival.’ She played a comedian named 'Zadie Barber,' former girlfriend of ‘Bradford Collins' (played by Tone Bell) and daughter of Karen Barber (played by Kym Whitley). The following year, she made recurring appearances as 'Vanessa' in the second season of the 'Comedy Central' show 'Corporate.'
Zamata portrayed real-life civil rights activist Rosa Parks in an episode of the 'Netflix' comedy 'Historical Roasts,' titled 'Martin Luther King, Jr.' She played 'Jessie Adams,' a stand-up comedian and an aspiring social media personality, in the 2020 indie movie 'Spree.'
She has co-hosted the ‘ABC News’ hidden camera series 'Primetime: Would You Fall for That?' and has hosted the live variety show 'Sasheer Zamata Party Time.'
Zamata also owns a 'YouTube' channel, where she has impersonated famous personalities such as Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Tyra Banks, and Beyoncé.
'Time Out New York' featured Zamata on their 'Top 10 Funniest Women in NYC' list, while 'Brooklyn Magazine' featured them on their '50 Funniest People in Brooklyn' list. She has also been placed on the list of 'Women in Comedy You Should Be Paying Attention to Right Now,' curated by 'Complex’ magazine.
She has also appeared on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' and 'This American Life.'
