Larry Wilmore

Larry Wilmore (born Elister Larry Wilmore III on October 30, 1961) is an American comedian, writer, producer, and actor whose career spans more than four decades. Born in Los Angeles, California, to parents Betty and Larry, he grew up in suburban Pomona as the third of six children and was raised Catholic. Wilmore attended Damien High School in La Verne, graduating in 1979, and briefly studied theatre at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona before leaving to pursue stand‑up comedy and acting. His early work in the 1980s included small television and film roles, such as a recurring police officer on The Facts of Life, and writing stints on Into the Night With Rick Dees, In Living Color, and Sister, Sister. He quickly became a key figure in black‑sitcom development, contributing to The Fresh Prince of Bel‑Air, The Jamie Foxx Show, co‑creating the animated series The PJs with Eddie Murphy, and creating The Bernie Mac Show, for which he won an Emmy for the pilot. In the mid‑2000s he consulted on The Office and appeared as Mr. Brown in the memorable “Diversity Day” episode, while continuing to write and produce across a range of television projects.

From 2006 to 2014 Wilmore served as the Senior Black Correspondent on The Daily Show, where his sharp observations on race, politics, and pop culture earned him a distinct voice in late‑night satire. He authored the humor book I’d Rather We Got Casinos (2009) and launched the podcast Black on the Air in 2017, which was lauded by Time as one of the year’s best podcasts. Wilmore hosted The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (2015‑2016), a spin‑off of The Daily Show, and later the Peacock talk series Wilmore. As an executive producer, he helped shape modern sitcoms such as Black‑ish and co‑created Insecure with Issa Rae. His personal life includes a marriage to actress Leilani Jones (1995‑2015) and two children, John and Lauren. Wilmore remains a respected commentator on American culture, blending humor with incisive social critique.