The Best Obama Impressions, Ranked

Jay Pharoah, Jordan Peele, and more have impersonated Barack Obama over the last eight years—whose impression is the best?

Jay Pharoah
Getty

Image via Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Jay Pharoah

It’s finally setting in. In just a few days, Barack Obama’s presidency will end, leaving behind a legacy of memorable moments and a time when it was undoubtedly easier to be optimistic as an American. But even as this uncertain, hate-filled fog approaches, now is a good time to remember the happy days of the Obama presidency. From his hilariously dry dad-jokes to his unshakeable wit, Obama was one of the most meme-able people in the entire world for over eight years. His dynamic personality meant that he could be malleable in any form of media without it being too corny. Because deep down he wasn’t just the president—he was one of us.

The most interesting aspect of Obama being such a lightning rod for good mannered fun is that the impersonations of him never made him the butt of the joke (unlike the ones that have and will be centered on our incoming “president”). Instead, Obama was the life of the party, and we were laughing with him. To help ease the pain of Obama’s exit from the White House, we’ve narrowed down the list of Obama impersonations over the past eight years to the seven best. Check 'em out.

7. James Davis

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Title: Baracka Flacka Flames - "Head of The State"

Year: October 2010

Making his name as the star of an absolutely outrageous flip on Waka Flocka Flame’s “Hard In The Paint,” James Davis is an infamous Obama impersonator for all of the wrong reasons. Though his remake of Waka’s rowdy anthem was equal parts witty and controversial, it wasn’t nearly as thought out as other entries on this list. 

6. Fred Armisen

Title: "Obama Plays It Cool"

Year: 2008

Being one of many SNL cast members to don the suit of the former president, Fred Armisen's impersonation is probably the most subdued performance of them all. He has the mannerisms and the voice mostly down, but he missed some of the swag of the real Obama. It’s not a total wash, however, as one of Armisen's castmates did finally get it right.

5. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Title: "Obama Cold Open"

Year: 2015

This one is a no brainer. The Rock and Barack Obama circled each other in pop culture references for years (“If you smell what Barack is cookin!”), but during The Rock’s hosting stint on SNL, the world of meme and reality finally came together for “The Rock Obama.” The segments worked well because the writers didn’t have Johnson go the boring route, instead opting to let his personality mix with the Head of State's.

4. Jordan Peele

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Title: "Obama's Anger Translator" 

Year: 2012

Jordan Peele is undoubtedly one of the kings of celebrity impersonations, and during the run of the wildly successful Key & Peele, he was able to flex his skills as Barack Obama. Perhaps the most famous skit involving his impression was the “Obama Anger Translator,” a hilarious segment in which Obama attempts to connect with his audience while using a translator to express his real feelings.

 

3. Iman Crosson

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Title: "Back to Back"

Year: 2015

Vine superstar Alphacat (real name Iman Crosson) is widely considered to be one of the most famous users on the app, providing quality laughs on a daily basis with his impersonation of Obama. From freestyles to dance-offs, Crosson put the former president in all types of compromising, five-seconds-or-less, situations. His impersonations painted Obama as a relatable, everyday guy, endearing his followers and providing more proof of how much sauce he had as the Commander-in-Chief.

 

2. Jay Pharoah

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Title: "Obama Ukraine Address"

Year: 2014

Jay Pharoah is a natural at impersonating just about anyone, so it is no surprise that he lands on this list. He’s definitely the best SNL cast member to have attempted to fill Obama’s shoes, and in turn, he was asked to do so many times during his run on the show. 

1. Reggie Brown

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Title: "State of the Union on Huckabee"

Year: 2012

Reggie Brown is so good at being Obama, he made it his life—literally. The comedian turned internet superstar has made a living off of performing as the former president, and his impersonations have gained him notoriety on television and with the man himself. Instead of getting his views by having Obama rapping, or dancing, he has somehow perfectly recreated whole speeches in-character—a feat that goes above and beyond a regular impersonation. 

Latest in Pop Culture