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Lena Waithe

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Lena Waithe

Lena Waithe (; born May 17, 1984) is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is the creator of the Showtime drama series The Chi (2018–present) and the BET comedy series Boomerang (2019–20) and Twenties (2020–21). She also wrote and produced the crime film Queen & Slim (2019) and is the executive producer of the horror anthology series Them (2021–present). Waithe gained recognition for her role in the Netflix comedy-drama series Master of None (2015–2021), and became the first African-American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2017 for writing the episode "Thanksgiving", which was loosely based on her personal experience of coming out to her mother. She has also appeared in Steven Spielberg's 2018 adventure film Ready Player One and the HBO series Westworld. In 2023, she received a nomination for Best Play at the 76th Tony Awards, her production work on the sketch-comedy play Ain't No Mo'. Waithe was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018; and was included on Fast Company's Queer 50 list in 2021 and 2022.

Infobox

Born
(1984-05-17) May 17, 1984 (age 41)Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Education
Columbia College Chicago (BFA)
Occupations
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Years active
2007–present
Spouse
mw- Alana Mayo (m. 2019; div. 2021)

Tables

· Filmography › Film
2011
Save Me
Role(s)
Notes
Short film; Director, writer
2014
Role(s)
Notes
Producer
Ladylike
Role(s)
Notes
Co-producer
2018
Role(s)
Notes
Producer
Role(s)
Aech / Helen
2019
Role(s)
Notes
Screenwriter, co-producer
2020
Role(s)
Brook-Lynne
Role(s)
Notes
Producer
Role(s)
Officer Specter (voice)
2021
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Also executive producer
2022
Role(s)
Notes
Screenwriter, producer
2023
Role(s)
Herself
Role(s)
Notes
Producer
Role(s)
Notes
Producer
Role(s)
Notes
Executive producer
TBA
Role(s)
Place to Be
Notes
TBA
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2011
Save Me
Short film; Director, writer
2014
Dear White People
Producer
Ladylike
Co-producer
2018
Step Sisters
Producer
Ready Player One
Aech / Helen
2019
Queen & Slim
Screenwriter, co-producer
2020
Bad Hair
Brook-Lynne
The Forty-Year-Old Version
Producer
Onward
Officer Specter (voice)
2021
The One and Only Dick Gregory
Herself
Also executive producer
2022
Beauty
Screenwriter, producer
2023
House Party
Herself
A Thousand and One
Producer
Chang Can Dunk
Producer
Kokomo City
Executive producer
TBA
Place to Be
TBA
Filming
· Filmography › Television › Actress
2014
Role(s)
Summer
Notes
Episode: "Valerie Faces the Critics"
2015, 2017,2021
Role(s)
Master of None
Notes
Denise
2016
Role(s)
Jane
Notes
Episode: "Elizah"
2018
Role(s)
Animal Shelter Clerk
Notes
Episode: "That'll Be the Day"
Role(s)
P. Ninny
Notes
3 episodes
2019
Role(s)
Office Employee
Notes
Episode: "Your Boss Knows You Don't Have Eyebrows"
2020
Role(s)
Lord Dingwall
Notes
Episode: "I'll Be Right Here"
Role(s)
Ash
Notes
8 episodes
Role(s)
Camille Hallaway
Notes
2 episodes
2020–2025
Role(s)
Big Mouth
Notes
Lena Foreman (voice)
2022
Role(s)
Adult Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins (voice)
Notes
Episode: "When You Wish Upon a Roker"
2025
Role(s)
Dr. Evynn Moore
Notes
Episode: "Jump (for My Love)" and others
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2014
The Comeback
Summer
Episode: "Valerie Faces the Critics"
2015, 2017,2021
Master of None
Denise
Main Role
2016
Transparent
Jane
Episode: "Elizah"
2018
This Is Us
Animal Shelter Clerk
Episode: "That'll Be the Day"
Dear White People
P. Ninny
3 episodes
2019
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Office Employee
Episode: "Your Boss Knows You Don't Have Eyebrows"
2020
The Healing Powers of Dude
Lord Dingwall
Episode: "I'll Be Right Here"
Westworld
Ash
8 episodes
The Chi
Camille Hallaway
2 episodes
2020–2025
Big Mouth
Lena Foreman (voice)
4 episodes
2022
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Adult Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins (voice)
Episode: "When You Wish Upon a Roker"
2025
Grey's Anatomy
Dr. Evynn Moore
Episode: "Jump (for My Love)" and others
· Filmography › Television › Writer
2012
M.O Diaries
Role(s)
Writer
Notes
TV series
Role(s)
Writer
Notes
2 episodes
2013
Hello Cupid
Role(s)
Writer
Notes
7 episodes
2014–2015
Role(s)
Bones
Notes
Staff writer
2015, 2017,2021
Role(s)
Master of None
Notes
Writer
2018–present
Role(s)
The Chi
Notes
Creator; writer
2019–2020
Role(s)
Boomerang
Notes
Creator; writer; executive producer
2020
Role(s)
Creator; executive producer
Notes
8 episodes
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2012
M.O Diaries
Writer
TV series
How to Rock
Writer
2 episodes
2013
Hello Cupid
Writer
7 episodes
2014–2015
Bones
Staff writer
15 episodes
2015, 2017,2021
Master of None
Writer
6 episodes
2018–present
The Chi
Creator; writer
8 episodes
2019–2020
Boomerang
Creator; writer; executive producer
4 episodes
2020
Twenties
Creator; executive producer
8 episodes
· Filmography › Television › Producer
2021
Role(s)
Executive producer
Notes
TV series
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2021
Them
Executive producer
TV series
· Awards and nominations
2015
Role(s)
Best First Feature
Notes
Dear White People
Role(s)
Audience Award
Notes
Nominated
Black Reel
Role(s)
Outstanding Motion Picture
Notes
Nominated
2017
Role(s)
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Notes
"Thanksgiving", Master of None
2018
Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle
Role(s)
Trailblazer Award
Notes
Role(s)
Comedy Series
Notes
Master of None
Role(s)
Writing – Comedy Series
Notes
Nominated
Role(s)
Best on Screen Team
Notes
Ready Player One
2019
Role(s)
Best Original Screenplay
Notes
Queen & Slim
Black Film Critics Circle Awards
Role(s)
Best Original Screenplay
Notes
Won
2023
Role(s)
Best Play
Notes
Ain't No Mo'
Year
Award
Category
Work
Result
2015
Independent Spirit Awards
Best First Feature
Dear White People
Nominated
Gotham Awards
Audience Award
Nominated
Black Reel
Outstanding Motion Picture
Nominated
2017
Primetime Emmy Award
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
"Thanksgiving", Master of None
Won
2018
Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle
Trailblazer Award
Nominated
Writers Guild of America
Comedy Series
Master of None
Nominated
NAACP Image Awards
Writing – Comedy Series
Nominated
MTV Movie Award
Best on Screen Team
Ready Player One
Nominated
2019
St. Louis Film Critics Association
Best Original Screenplay
Queen & Slim
Nominated
Black Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Original Screenplay
Won
2023
Tony Awards
Best Play
Ain't No Mo'
Nominated

References

  1. "Lena Waithe & Writers Of 'Boomerang' Talk Importance Of Diversity In Black Millennials"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsAGgDcyoH4
  2. "Lena Waithe"
    https://www.emmys.com/bios/lena-waithe
  3. Chicago
    https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/February-2018/Lena-Waithe/
  4. Time
    https://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5238194/lena-waithe/
  5. Fast Company
    https://www.fastcompany.com/queer-50/2021
  6. Fast Company
    https://www.fastcompany.com/queer-50/list/rank/14
  7. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-master-of-none-lena-waithe-20151118-story.html
  8. Refinery29
    https://www.refinery29.com/2016/02/102333/lena-waithe-master-of-none-interview
  9. Stated on Finding Your Roots, February 15, 2022
  10. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/master-nones-lena-waithe-talks-841476
  11. Columbia College Chicago: Alumni Spotlights
    http://www.colum.edu/academics/alumni/lena-waithe.html
  12. Master of None's
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151128093330/http://www.vogue.com/13371492/lena-waithe-denise-master-of-none
  13. HWD
    https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/03/lena-waithe-cover-story
  14. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/arts/television/lena-waithe-the-chi.html
  15. Vanity Fair
    https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/03/lena-waithe-cover-story
  16. "Lena Waithe '06"
    https://www.colum.edu/academics/alumni/lena-waithe.html
  17. Chicago Sun-Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151207202928/http://entertainment.suntimes.com/movies/chicagoan-lena-waithe-co-stars-ansaris-new-netflix-series/
  18. DEMO Magazine
    http://blogs.colum.edu/demomagazine/2014/04/25/millennial-hustle/
  19. Columbia College Chicago
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151211023210/http://www.colum.edu/academics/faculty/michael-fry.html
  20. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jan/05/master-of-nones-lena-waithe-if-you-come-from-a-poor-background-tv-becomes-what-you-dream-about
  21. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/showtime-orders-black-coming-age-814424
  22. Variety
    https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/bet-producing-lena-waithe-pilot-twenties-exclusive-1201256570/
  23. The Toast
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180127201310/http://the-toast.net/2013/08/28/on-making-mirrors/
  24. The / Slanted
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151208152543/http://theslanted.com/2015/08/20156/lena-waithe-common-to-create-coming-of-age-drama-series/
  25. Variety
    https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/showtime-the-chi-lena-waithe-jason-mitchell-series-order-1201956428/
  26. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-mov-set-visit-the-chi-20170915-story.html
  27. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/09/17/lena-waithe-gavebecame-first-black-woman-win-emmy-writing-comedy-series-and-delivered-powerful-speec/675860001/
  28. Television Academy
    http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2017/outstanding-writing-for-a-comedy-series
  29. Variety
    https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/master-of-none-lena-waithe-comedy-writing-emmy-award-1202516324/
  30. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-en-st-0810-lena-waithe-master-of-none-20170809-story.html
  31. lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu
    http://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/about/
  32. Variety
    https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/lena-waithe-wins-emmy-black-woman-comedy-writing-1202562040/
  33. Time
    https://time.com/4945661/lena-waithe-emmys-speech-master-of-none/
  34. Variety
    https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/lena-waithe-wins-emmy-black-woman-comedy-writing-1202562040/
  35. Andreeva, Nellie, "Showtime Picks Up Drama ‘The Chi’ To Series; Jason Mitchell Joins Cast – TCA", Deadline Hollywood, Ja
    https://deadline.com/2017/01/showtime-picks-up-the-chi-drama-series-jason-mitchell-cast-1201881855/
  36. "OUT100: Lena Waithe, Artist of the Year"
    https://www.out.com/out100-2017/2017/11/08/out100-lena-waithe-artist-year
  37. AdWeek
    https://www.adweek.com/creativity/att-releases-new-crop-of-just-ok-is-not-ok-ads-highlight-speed-of-5g/
  38. Facts.net
    https://facts.net/celebrity/50-facts-about-lena-waithe/
  39. Jodie Smith-Turner to Star Opposite Daniel Kaluuya in ‘Queen & Slim’ (EXCLUSIVE)
    https://variety.com/2018/film/news/jodie-smith-turner-queen-and-slim-daniel-kaluuya-1203022499/
  40. Black Agenda Report
    http://blackagendareport.com/two-views-queen-slim
  41. IMDb
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8722346/awards/
  42. Black Enterprise
    https://www.blackenterprise.com/onward-will-feature-disneys-first-lgbtq-animated-character-voiced-by-lena-waithe/
  43. Vanity Fair
    https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/03/lena-waithe-cover-story
  44. Variety
    https://variety.com/2020/film/news/lena-waithe-hillman-grad-mentorship-lab-1234864079/
  45. froneri.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220902134745/https://www.froneri.com/news/lena-waithe-x-haeagen-dazs/
  46. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/lena-waithe-prepping-hoop-dreams-series-as-part-of-wbtv-overall-deal-1235047786/
  47. Refinery29
    https://www.refinery29.com/lena-waithe-girlfriend
  48. Autostraddle
    https://www.autostraddle.com/lena-waithe-got-engaged-on-thanksgiving-is-truly-committed-to-queering-thanksgiving-405244/
  49. Entertainment Tonight
    https://www.etonline.com/lena-waithe-reveals-she-secretly-married-longtime-love-alana-mayo-136425
  50. "Lena Waithe and wife Alana Mayo split two years after marriage announcement"
    https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/23/entertainment/lena-waithe-alana-mayo-split/index.html
  51. Entertainment Tonight
    https://web.archive.org/web/20210808173610/https://www.etonline.com/lena-waithe-and-wife-alana-mayo-split-2-months-after-marriage-announcement-140106
  52. People
    https://people.com/cynthia-erivo-lena-waithe-wicked-support-8751494
  53. "Cynthia Erivo's Same-Sex Partner Celebrates 'Wicked'"
    https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/story/336620
  54. "'The Chi' Creator Lena Waithe Says Television 'Taught Me How To Dream'"
    https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=577311653
  55. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2025/02/lena-waithe-greys-anatomy-evynn-moore-photos-1236300476/
  56. tonyawards.com
    https://www.tonyawards.com/news/2023-tony-awards-nominees/
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