Zelenskyy was born Jan. 25, 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, according to his official biography. Kryvyi Rih is a city in the southern part of the country that was known for iron mining, according to Britannica.
In 2000, Zelenskyy graduated with a law degree from Kyiv National Economic University and became a comedian and performer on a stand-up comedy team called Kvartal 95.
While he was with the performance group Kvartal 95 (which translates to “Quarter 95,” and references the area in which Zelenskyy grew up), Zelenskyy appeared on the televised finals of a popular competition show that was broadcast to the Commonwealth of Independent States, according to Brittanica. Zelenskyy and his team became regulars on the show until 2003, when Zelenskyy co-founded Studio Kvartal 95. During his tenure as a comedian, Zelenskyy portrayed a character who accidentally becomes the president of Ukraine, BBC reported.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared on Ukranian TV before becoming president File photo: KIEV, UKRAINE - MARCH 19: Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends the rehearsal of his comedy show Liga Smeha (League of Laughter) on March 19, 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Studio Kartal 95 is a production company behind several television shows and movies in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy ran for president in Ukraine in 2019, and won a run-off vote with nearly 73% of votes over the incumbent, BBC reported at the time. With no political experience, Zelenskyy’s campaign focused on how he stood apart from other candidates rather than offering concrete policy ideas, BBC reported.
As president of Ukraine, Zalenskyy found himself at the center of an impeachment scandal in the United States that focused on whether President Trump tried to pressure Zelenskyy into undermining Joe Biden’s campaign during the 2020 American presidential race, The New York Times reported.
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president KIEV, UKRAINE - MARCH 19: aKIEV, UKRAINE - MARCH 19: Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends the rehearsal of his comedy show Liga Smeha (League of Laughter) on March 19, 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. Ukrainians are set to go to the polls on March 31, choosing from nearly 40 registered candidates. Zelenskiy is in the lead with an unconventional campaign, but it is unlikely he will win an outright majority, forcing a second round runoff of the top two candidates on April 21. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) on March 19, 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president KIEV, UKRAINE - MARCH 19: Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy backstage during the filming of his comedy show Liga Smeha (League of Laughter) on March 19, 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. Ukrainians are set to go to the polls on March 31, choosing from nearly 40 registered candidates. Zelenskiy is in the lead with an unconventional campaign, but it is unlikely he will win an outright majority, forcing a second round runoff of the top two candidates on April 21. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 7: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena during an audience at Buckingham Palace on October 7, 2020 in London, England. The President is on a two-day official visit to the UK. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/Getty Images) (Jonathan Brady/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 at SECC on November 1, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. 2021 sees the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference will run from 31 October for two weeks, finishing on 12 November. It was meant to take place in 2020 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 19: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a statement during the 58th Munich Security Conference (MSC) on February 19, 2022 in Munich, Germany. The conference, which brings together security experts, politicians and people of influence from across the globe, is taking place as Russian troops stand amassed on the Russian, Belarusian and Crimean borders to Ukraine, causing international fears of an imminent military invasion. (Photo by Ronald Wittek - Pool/Getty Images) (RONALD WITTEK/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president WARSAW, POLAND - AUGUST 31: Polish President Andrzej Duda (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listen to their nations' national anthems upon Zelensky's arrival at the Presidential Palace on August 31, 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. Zelensky is in Poland for bilateral talks with the Polish government and to take part in tomorrow's international commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (SEAN GALLUP-GETTY IMAGES/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 09: (L-R) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend their summit on Ukraine at Elysee Palace on December 9, 2019 in Paris, France. The Normandy format was created in 2014 to resolve the conflict between Kiev and the breakaway republics in Ukraine's east. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON - Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky attends the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 24, 2019 in New York City. World leaders from across the globe are gathered at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, amid crises ranging from climate change to possible conflict between Iran and the United States. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president MUNICH, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 19: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a photo opportunity ahead of bilateral talks at the 2022 Munich Security Conference on February 19, 2022 in Munich, Germany. The conference, which brings together security experts, politicians and people of influence from across the globe, is taking place as Russian troops stand amassed on the Russian, Belarusian and Crimean borders to Ukraine, causing international fears of an imminent military invasion. (Photo by Alexandra Beier - Pool/Getty Images) (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president KIEV, UKRAINE - MARCH 31: Comedian and leading Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy celebrates after exit polls showed that he likely won the first round of voting at his election night gathering on March 31, 2019 in Kiev, Ukraine. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in a second-round election on April 21. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president KYIV, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 01: (L-R) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson seen with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following their joint news conference on February 1, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The prime minister held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a show of support for Ukraine as 100,000 Russian troops amass on the Ukraine border. The UK also announces £88m of new funding for Ukraine to help reduce its reliance on Russian energy supplies. (Photo by Peter Nicholls - Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president KYIV, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 08: French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at the conclusion of their joint press conference after their meeting on February 08, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The meeting comes one day after Macron met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and discussed several proposals in a five-hour long meeting in an effort to find common ground on Ukraine and NATO. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House on September 01, 2021 in Washington, DC. This was the two leaders' first face-to-face meeting and the first by a Ukrainian leader in more than four years. (Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) (Doug Mills/Getty Images)
Photos: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president BERLIN, GERMANY - JULY 12: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky give statements ahead of talks at the Chancellery on July 12, 2021 in Berlin , Germany. (Photo by Stefanie Loos-Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)