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IMDbPro

Lena Waithe(I)

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Actress
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Lena Waithe
Lena Waithe is the ambassador for the 2023 American Black Film Festival. While you may know Lena from her on-screen performances in "Master of None" and 'Ready Player One,' she's also a creator, producer, and an Emmy-winning writer of multiple projects. "No Small Parts" takes a look at her multifaceted career in film and television.
Play clip3:48
The Rise of Lena Waithe
40 Videos
99+ Photos
Lena Waithe was born on 17 May 1984 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Master of None (2015), Ready Player One (2018) and Queen & Slim (2019). She has been married to Alana Mayo since November 2019.
BornMay 17, 1984
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 17, 1984
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 7 wins & 23 nominations total

The Roles That Inspired Their Careers

The Roles That Inspired Their Careers

IMDb chats with stars like Jonathan Majors, Teyana Taylor, Sanaa Lathan about the performances across movies, TV, and theater that inspired their careers.
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View list
List

Photos171

Lena Waithe, Teyana Taylor, and A.V. Rockwell in A Thousand and One (2023)
Lena Waithe and Naomi Ackie in Master of None (2015)
Lena Waithe and Naomi Ackie in Master of None (2015)
Aaron Paul, Marshawn Lynch, and Lena Waithe in Westworld (2016)
Lena Waithe and Elle Lorraine in Bad Hair (2020)
Lena Waithe in Visible: Out on Television (2020)
Yaani King Mondschein, Lena Waithe, and Elle Lorraine in Bad Hair (2020)
Kyra Sedgwick, Ed Helms, and Lena Waithe in The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015)
Lena Waithe, Win Morisaki, Olivia Cooke, and Philip Zhao in Ready Player One (2018)
Lena Waithe in Ready Player One (2018)
Lena Waithe and Tye Sheridan in Ready Player One (2018)
Lena Waithe and Philip Zhao in Ready Player One (2018)

Known for:

Aziz Ansari in Master of None (2015)
Master of None
8.2
TV Series
  • Producer
Steven Spielberg, Ben Mendelsohn, George Michael, Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Perdita Weeks, Kamara Benjamin Barnett, Mandy June Turpin, T.J. Miller, Lena Waithe, Stephen Mitchell, Neet Mohan, Win Morisaki, Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Kae Alexander, Sarah Sharman, Robert Gilbert, Raed Abbas, Letitia Wright, Tye Sheridan, Asan N'Jie, Hannah John-Kamen, Cara Theobold, Olivia Cooke, Alphonso Austin, Amy Clare Beales, Jane Leaney, Kathryn Wilder, and Philip Zhao in Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One
7.4
  • Aech
  • Helen
  • 2018
Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith in Queen & Slim (2019)
Queen & Slim
7.1
  • Producer(produced by, p.g.a.)
  • 2019
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Yolonda Ross, Jacob Latimore, Michael Epps, Alex R. Hibbert, Shamon Brown Jr., and Birgundi Baker in The Chi (2018)
The Chi
7.6
TV Series
  • Producer

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Producer

  • Order for Pickup
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2023
  • In Your Light, Do We See Light
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2023
  • Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)
    Being Mary Tyler Moore
    • producer (p.g.a.)
    • 2023
  • Chang Can Dunk (2023)
    Chang Can Dunk
    • producer (produced by)
    • 2023
  • A Thousand and One (2023)
    A Thousand and One
    • producer (produced by)
    • 2023
  • Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, Harris Doran, Bill Butler, Daniella Carter, Stacy Barthe, D. Smith, and Dominique Silver in Kokomo City (2023)
    Kokomo City
    • executive producer
    • 2023
  • Kym (2022)
    Kym
    • executive producer
    • Podcast Series
    • 2022
  • Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Yolonda Ross, Jacob Latimore, Michael Epps, Alex R. Hibbert, Shamon Brown Jr., and Birgundi Baker in The Chi (2018)
    The Chi
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2022
  • Crooked Trees Gon Give Me Wings (2022)
    Crooked Trees Gon Give Me Wings
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2022
  • The 25th Filial Exemplar (2022)
    The 25th Filial Exemplar
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2022
  • Amina (2022)
    Amina
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2022
  • 100% USDA Certified Organic Homemade Tofu (2022)
    100% USDA Certified Organic Homemade Tofu
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2022
  • Before Dawn, Kabul Time (2022)
    Before Dawn, Kabul Time
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2022
  • Beauty (2022)
    Beauty
    • producer (p.g.a.)
    • 2022
  • Davion Farris: Tunel Vision (2022)
    Davion Farris: Tunel Vision
    • executive producer
    • Music Video
    • 2022
  • Davion Farris: Bad Guy (2022)
    Davion Farris: Bad Guy
    • executive producer
    • Music Video
    • 2022
  • Denise Blasor in Huella (2022)
    Huella
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 2022

Writer

  • Kym (2022)
    Kym
    • written by
    • Podcast Series
    • 2022
  • Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Yolonda Ross, Jacob Latimore, Michael Epps, Alex R. Hibbert, Shamon Brown Jr., and Birgundi Baker in The Chi (2018)
    The Chi
    • created by
    • written by (creator)
    • TV Series
    • 2018–2022
  • Beauty (2022)
    Beauty
    • written by
    • 2022
  • Twenties (2020)
    Twenties
    • created by
    • written by (creator)
    • TV Series
    • 2020–2021
  • Aziz Ansari in Master of None (2015)
    Master of None
    • written by
    • TV Series
    • 2017–2021
  • Boomerang (2019)
    Boomerang
    • developed by
    • written by (creator)
    • TV Series
    • 2019–2020
  • Kylee Russell, Kayla Maisonet, Anjelika Washington, Yindra Zayas, and Gi'onna Kamille in Girls Room (2020)
    Girls Room
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith in Queen & Slim (2019)
    Queen & Slim
    • screenplay by
    • story by
    • 2019
  • Rising (2018)
    Rising
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 2018
  • Untitled Lena Waithe Project
    • Writer
    • TV Movie
    • 2016
  • David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel in Bones (2005)
    Bones
    • staff writer
    • written by (as Lena D. Waithe)
    • TV Series
    • 2014–2015
  • Hayley Marie Norman, Brandon Scott, and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins in Hello Cupid (2013)
    Hello Cupid
    • story
    • creator
    • TV Series
    • 2013
  • M.O. Diaries (2012)
    M.O. Diaries
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Lulu Antariksa, Noah Crawford, Cymphonique Miller, Samantha Boscarino, Max Schneider, Halston Sage, and Chris O'Neal in How to Rock (2012)
    How to Rock
    • written by
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Save Me
    • writer
    • Short
    • 2011

Actress

  • Jacob Latimore and Tosin Cole in House Party (2023)
    House Party
    • Lena Waithe
    • 2023
  • Tab Time (2021)
    Tab Time
    • TV Series
    • 2021–2022
  • Kym (2022)
    Kym
    • The Funeral Director
    • The Drive Thru Employee
    • Christina the Hairdresser
    • Podcast Series
    • 2022
  • Pamela Adlon in Better Things (2016)
    Better Things
    • Eli
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022)
    The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
    • College Maya (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Fred Armisen, Jessica Chaffin, Mark Duplass, Richard Kind, Maya Rudolph, Paula Pell, Paul Scheer, Seth Morris, Jordan Peele, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas, Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Chelsea Peretti, and Heather Lawless in Big Mouth (2017)
    Big Mouth
    • Lena (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2020–2021
  • The L Word: Generation Q (2019)
    The L Word: Generation Q
    • Eddie
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Aziz Ansari in Master of None (2015)
    Master of None
    • Denise
    • TV Series
    • 2015–2021
  • Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Yolonda Ross, Jacob Latimore, Michael Epps, Alex R. Hibbert, Shamon Brown Jr., and Birgundi Baker in The Chi (2018)
    The Chi
    • Camille Hallaway
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Westworld (2016)
    Westworld
    • Ash
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Rashida Jones and Kenya Barris in #BlackAF (2020)
    #BlackAF
    • Lena Waithe
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Ratzenberger, Tracey Ullman, Mychael Danna, Jeff Danna, Wilmer Valderrama, Catherine Apple, Sharon Calahan, Grey Griffin, Chris Pratt, Kori Rae, Mel Rodriguez, Dan Scanlon, Octavia Spencer, Keith Bunin, Kyle Bornheimer, Noah Klocek, Lena Waithe, Adam Habib, Jason Headley, Tom Holland, Ali Wong, and George Psarras in Onward (2020)
    Onward
    • Officer Spector (voice)
    • 2020
  • Bad Hair (2020)
    Bad Hair
    • Brook-Lynne
    • 2020
  • The Healing Powers of Dude (2020)
    The Healing Powers of Dude
    • Lord Dingwall (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade, Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Angel Laketa Moore, and Skye Townsend in A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019)
    A Black Lady Sketch Show
    • Office Employee
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos44

The Rise of Lena Waithe
Clip 3:48
The Rise of Lena Waithe
How Teyana Taylor Reflects New York City's Women in 'A Thousand and One'
Clip 2:58
How Teyana Taylor Reflects New York City's Women in 'A Thousand and One'
7 Tribeca Festival Films We Can't Wait to See
Clip 4:31
7 Tribeca Festival Films We Can't Wait to See
Kevin Smith's 6 Films to Watch Out For at Sundance 2020
Clip 3:35
Kevin Smith's 6 Films to Watch Out For at Sundance 2020
I Think You Should
Clip 0:57
I Think You Should
How 'Queen' Met 'Slim' on a Powerful Film of Firsts
Interview 4:13
How 'Queen' Met 'Slim' on a Powerful Film of Firsts
Tye Sheridan and 'Ready Player One' Stars Get Up to Speed on the '80s
Interview 3:09
Tye Sheridan and 'Ready Player One' Stars Get Up to Speed on the '80s
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:50
Official Trailer
Season 3 Official Trailer
Trailer 1:11
Season 3 Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:15
Official Trailer
Season 2 Official Trailer
Trailer 2:11
Season 2 Official Trailer
"Dreamer" Trailer
Trailer 2:29
"Dreamer" Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • Alternative name
    • Lena D. Waithe
  • Height
    • 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
  • Born
    • May 17, 1984
    • Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Spouse
    • Alana MayoNovember 2019 - present (separated)
  • Parents
    • Ethel Laverne
  • Relatives
    • Sibling(Sibling)
  • Other works
    TV commercial for Nike
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    She became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for Thanksgiving (2017).
  • Quotes
    Here's the thing. I was raised on deep dish pizza. So, what you guys call pizza, I don't think that it's pizza. I think it's cheese bread.
  • Nickname
    • Katraukus

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