Larry Wilmore

Larry Wilmore
Name	Larry Wilmore
Caption	Wilmore in 2015
Birth name	Lawrence Bernard Wilmore
Birth date	30 October 1961
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Comedian, writer, producer, actor, television host, political commentator
Years active	1989–present
Spouse	Angela Scott, 1992

Larry Wilmore is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host known for his incisive political and cultural commentary. He gained prominence as a correspondent on The Daily Show and later created and hosted Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. A versatile figure in Hollywood, his career spans writing for acclaimed sitcoms, producing hit series, and performing stand-up comedy, earning him a reputation as a sharp, influential voice on issues of race and society.

Early life and education

Lawrence Bernard Wilmore was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in the nearby suburb of Pomona. His father was a psychologist and his mother a homemaker, fostering an environment where intellectual curiosity was encouraged. He attended Damien High School, a private Roman Catholic institution in La Verne, where he first developed an interest in performance. For his higher education, Wilmore studied at Cal Poly Pomona, initially pursuing a degree in architecture before shifting his focus to theatre and communication studies.

Career

Wilmore began his career in the late 1980s as a stand-up comedian in the vibrant Los Angeles comedy scene. His big break came in 1992 when he was hired as a writer for the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color, working alongside creators Keenen Ivory Wayans and Damon Wayans. He later served as a co-producer and writer for the popular ABC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Wilmore established himself as a sought-after creative force, serving as a consulting producer on NBC's The Office and creating the ''black-ish'' spinoff Grown-ish. His role as "Senior Black Correspondent" on Comedy Central's The Daily Show from 2006 to 2014 brought him national recognition for his satirical takes on American politics and social justice.

The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore

In January 2015, Wilmore launched The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on Comedy Central, succeeding The Colbert Report in its prestigious time slot. The show blended political satire, panel discussions, and monologues, often focusing on issues of race, police brutality, and the 2016 presidential election. A recurring segment, "Keep It 100," became a signature, demanding frankness from guests. The show was noted for its diverse writers' room and for providing a platform for voices often marginalized in mainstream cable news. Despite critical praise for its bold perspective, the program was canceled by Comedy Central in August 2016 after nearly two years on the air.

Other television and film work

Beyond his hosting duties, Wilmore has an extensive portfolio as a creator and producer. He co-created the ABC sitcom Black-ish with Kenya Barris, serving as an executive producer and helping to shepherd the acclaimed series about an upper-middle-class African-American family. He also created and executive produced the Netflix historical comedy The Carmichael Show, inspired by the stand-up of Jerrod Carmichael. His film work includes writing the screenplay for the 1999 comedy The Ladies Man. More recently, he hosted the podcast Black on the Air for The Ringer and served as an executive producer on the Peacock series Bust Down.

Personal life

Wilmore has been married to Angela Scott since 1992, and the couple has two children. He maintains a relatively private personal life but has occasionally discussed the influence of his family on his comedic perspective. A longtime resident of Los Angeles, he is known among colleagues for his mentorship of young writers and comedians. In his public appearances and interviews, such as those on ''Oprah'' and ''The Howard Stern Show'', he often reflects on the complexities of navigating the entertainment industry as a Black creative.

Awards and recognition

Throughout his career, Wilmore has received significant accolades for his work in television. His tenure on The Daily Show contributed to the program winning multiple Primetime Emmy Awards. For his role in creating and producing Black-ish, he received several NAACP Image Award nominations, winning for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. Perhaps his most prominent honor was hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2016, where he delivered a celebrated and provocative monologue before an audience including President Barack Obama.

Category:American comedians Category:American television writers Category:American television producers Category:1961 births Category:Living people