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IMDbPro

Lena Waithe

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Actress
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
Lena Waithe
Filmmaker A.V. Rockwell, producer Lena Waithe, and star Teyana Taylor sit down with IMDb at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival to discuss their inner-city, foster care drama, 'A Thousand and One.' Rockwell explains what she saw in Taylor's audition that convinced her that the singer could take on the challenging starring role of Inez, while Taylor reveals the scene that made her want to play the part. And Waithe traces her history with Rockwell and how she's grown as an artist.
Play clip2:58
How Teyana Taylor Reflects New York City's Women in 'A Thousand and One'
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
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy

Photos169

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)
Lena Waithe and Tye Sheridan 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
7.5
TV Series
  • Producer

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Producer

  • Being Mary Tyler Moore
  • Chang Can Dunk
    • Completed
  • A Thousand and One (2023)
    A Thousand and One
  • Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, Harris Doran, Bill Butler, Daniella Carter, Stacy Barthe, D. Smith, and Dominique Silver in Kokomo City (2023)
    Kokomo City
  • Kym (2022)
    Kym
  • 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
  • Crooked Trees Gon Give Me Wings (2022)
    Crooked Trees Gon Give Me Wings
  • The 25th Filial Exemplar (2022)
    The 25th Filial Exemplar
  • Amina (2022)
    Amina
  • 100% USDA Certified Organic Homemade Tofu (2022)
    100% USDA Certified Organic Homemade Tofu
  • Before Dawn, Kabul Time (2022)
    Before Dawn, Kabul Time
  • Beauty (2022)
    Beauty
    • (p.g.a.)
  • Davion Farris: Tunel Vision (2022)
    Davion Farris: Tunel Vision
  • Davion Farris: Bad Guy (2022)
    Davion Farris: Bad Guy
  • Denise Blasor in Huella (2022)
    Huella
  • Sakina Deer and Jeff Crossley in Grace: Love in 3 Acts (2021)
    Grace: Love in 3 Acts
  • Twenties (2020)
    Twenties

Writer

  • Kym (2022)
    Kym
  • 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
    • (creator)
  • Beauty (2022)
    Beauty
  • Twenties (2020)
    Twenties
    • (creator)
  • Aziz Ansari in Master of None (2015)
    Master of None
  • Boomerang (2019)
    Boomerang
    • (creator)
  • Kylee Russell, Kayla Maisonet, Anjelika Washington, Yindra Zayas, and Gi'onna Kamille in Girls Room (2020)
    Girls Room
  • Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith in Queen & Slim (2019)
    Queen & Slim
  • Rising (2018)
    Rising
  • Untitled Lena Waithe Project
  • David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel in Bones (2005)
    Bones
    • (as Lena D. Waithe)
  • Hayley Marie Norman, Brandon Scott, and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins in Hello Cupid (2013)
    Hello Cupid
  • M.O. Diaries (2012)
    M.O. Diaries
  • Lulu Antariksa, Noah Crawford, Cymphonique Miller, Samantha Boscarino, Max Schneider, Halston Sage, and Chris O'Neal in How to Rock (2012)
    How to Rock
  • Save Me

Actress

  • Jacob Latimore and Tosin Cole in House Party (2023)
    House Party
  • Tab Time (2021)
    Tab Time
  • Kym (2022)
    Kym
  • Pamela Adlon in Better Things (2016)
    Better Things
  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022)
    The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
    • (voice)
  • Andrew Rannells, Pamela Adlon, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas, Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Brandon Kyle Goodman, and Ayo Edebiri in Big Mouth (2017)
    Big Mouth
    • (voice)
  • The L Word: Generation Q (2019)
    The L Word: Generation Q
  • Aziz Ansari in Master of None (2015)
    Master of None
  • 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
  • Westworld (2016)
    Westworld
  • Rashida Jones and Kenya Barris in #BlackAF (2020)
    #BlackAF
  • 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
    • (voice)
  • Bad Hair (2020)
    Bad Hair
  • The Healing Powers of Dude (2020)
    The Healing Powers of Dude
    • (voice)
  • A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019)
    A Black Lady Sketch Show
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos44

Lena Waithe on the Thanksgiving Episode of "Master of None"
Full Episode 31:10
Lena Waithe on the Thanksgiving Episode of "Master of None"
Ep. 109 "This Is Us" Star Chris Sullivan, "The Chi," and TV to See in 2018
Full Episode 14:29
Ep. 109 "This Is Us" Star Chris Sullivan, "The Chi," and TV to See in 2018
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

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • May 17, 1984
    • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Alana MayoNovember 2019 - present (separated)
    • (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.

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