Larry Wilmore

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Larry Wilmore
Larry Wilmore St Marys College MD.jpg
Wilmore at St. Mary's College of Maryland, April 29, 2011
Born Elister Larry Wilmore
(1961-10-30) October 30, 1961 (age 62)
Los Angeles, California U.S.
Alma mater California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Occupation Comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, media critic, television host, magician
Years active 1983–present
Spouse(s) Leilani Jones (1995-2015)
Children 2[1]
Comedy career
Medium Stand-up, film, television
Genres Political/news satire, observational comedy, black comedy, sarcasm, sketch comedy, deadpan
Subject(s) American culture, American politics, political punditry, popular culture, current events, mass media/news media, egomania, xenophobia, discrimination based on skin color, sexuality
Influences Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Richard Pryor,[2] Jon Stewart[3]
Notable works and roles The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
The Daily Show
In Living Color
The PJs
The Bernie Mac Show

Elister Larry Wilmore (born October 30, 1961) is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, media critic, magician,[4] and television host. Wilmore is the host of The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, a late-night panel talk show, which premiered on January 19, 2015 on Comedy Central.

Early life

Wilmore was born on October 30, 1961, in Los Angeles,[5] and grew up in suburban Pomona.[6] His family is from Evanston, Illinois.[7][8] Wilmore was raised Catholic.[6][9] He is the third of six children. His brother Marc, is also a television writer, actor, and producer.[6][8]

As a child, Wilmore found interest in topics such as science, magic, science-fiction and fantasy, all of which have shaped the evolution of his comedy. In an interview with NPR, he described himself as a nerd, saying that "it used to be that the black comic figure had to have this bravado and always showed strength...now there's a comic figure where it's OK to just be a nerd and be black."[10]

Wilmore graduated from Damien High School in La Verne in 1979.[1] He studied theatre at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; he dropped out to pursue acting and stand-up comedy.[6]

Career

Beginning in the 1980s, Wilmore appeared as an actor in several small film and television roles, including a recurring role as a police officer on The Facts of Life. In the early to mid-1990s, he was on the writing staff of the talk show Into the Night With Rick Dees,[1] the sketch comedy show In Living Color[1] (his younger brother Marc was also a writer with In Living Color, but, unlike Larry, was also a cast member), and the sitcom Sister, Sister, where he portrayed a bus driver in one episode. Wilmore went on to be a writer and producer on a series of sitcoms, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Jamie Foxx Show.[1]

In 1999, Wilmore co-created the animated comedy The PJs[11] with Eddie Murphy and was executive producer until its conclusion in 2001. He subsequently created[11] and produced[12] The Bernie Mac Show, and he won an Emmy for writing the pilot episode.[13] He created and produced Whoopi, with Whoopi Goldberg.[14] From 2005 to 2007, he was a consulting producer for The Office and made an appearance on the show as Mr. Brown, during the episode, "Diversity Day" as a diversity consultant.[6][11]

In 2006, Wilmore began appearing regularly on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, where he was billed as the "Senior Black Correspondent" or a derivative form of the title, such as the "Senior Executive Commander-in-Chief Who Happens To Be Black Correspondent" following the election of Barack Obama.[6] His work on the show frequently centered on humorous observations of the Black experience in American society.[6][9] In January 2009, Hyperion published Wilmore's I'd Rather We Got Casinos: And Other Black Thoughts, a political humor book described by Booklist as "a faux collection of articles, essays, radio transcripts, and letters exploring the more ludicrous angles on race." Wilmore originated the titular phrase I'd Rather We Got Casinos in a January 2007 Daily Show appearance.[15]

Wilmore has continued to make occasional acting appearances, including a role as a minister in I Love You, Man (2009) and a supporting role in Dinner for Schmucks (2010). In 2011, Wilmore began a recurring role on the ABC comedy Happy Endings, where he played Mr. Forristal, Brad (Damon Wayans, Jr.)'s uptight boss. Since 2012, Wilmore has starred in the Showtime special titled Race, Religion and Sex, shot in Salt Lake City.[citation needed]

The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore

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On May 9, 2014 it was announced that Wilmore was selected to host a late-night talk show on Comedy Central, to replace The Colbert Report following Stephen Colbert's departure from the network to host Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS.[16][17] The show, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore is produced by Jon Stewart's production company, Busboy Productions.[18] It premiered on January 19, 2015, and airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11:30pm.

Influences

Wilmore has named Eddie Murphy as the funniest person he knows, and has cited Jon Stewart as the most insightful man he knows, characterizing him as "a combination of Walter Cronkite, Jesus and Johnny Carson."[19]

Personal life

Wilmore was married to actress Leilani Jones for 20 years, and they have two children. They divorced in 2015.[8][20] Wilmore resided in San Marino, California with his family,[21] until moving to New York City to work on The Daily Show and The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.[22][23]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Good-bye, Cruel World Sergeant, Thug
1990 The Ghost Writer The Paramedic TV movie
2009 I Love You, Man Minister
2010 Dinner for Schmucks Williams
2012 Vamps Professor Quincy
2014 Date and Switch Mr. Vernon

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Facts of Life Officer Ziaukus 2 episodes
1986 Sledge Hammer! Mail Man, Terrorist #3 2 episodes
1992 In Living Color Various 2 episodes
1994 Sister, Sister Bus Driver 2 episodes
1999 The PJs Various voices 2 episodes
2005–2007 The Office Mr. Brown 3 episodes
2006–2014 The Daily Show Himself (correspondent) 78 episodes
2006–2007 Help Me Help You Larry, Jimmy 2 episodes
2008 How I Met Your Mother Dr. Greer Episode: "Everything Must Go"
2009–2010 Accidentally on Purpose Dr. Roland 5 episodes
2011 Traffic Light Harvey 2 episodes
2011 Love Bites The Boss Episode: "Firsts"
2011–2012 Happy Endings Mr. Forristal 2 episodes
2012 Bullet in the Face Racken's Mafiosi #1 Episode: "The World Stage"
2012 Race, Religion and Sex Himself Stand-up special
2013 Malibu Country Mr. Clark 2 episodes
2013 NTSF:SD:SUV:: Historian Episode: "A Hard Drive to Swallow"
2013 Instant Mom Franklin Turner Episode: "The Gift of the Maggies"
2014 Playing House Dr. Ullman Episode: "37 Weeks"
2014–present[24] Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Principal Larry (voice) Main role
2015–present The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore Himself (host) Also writer, executive producer

As a crew member

Year Title Notes
1990–1991 Into the Night 6 episodes; writer
1991–1993 In Living Color 58 episodes; writer
1994–1995 Sister, Sister 5 episodes; writer
1995–1996 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 24 episodes; co-producer, writer
1996–1997 The Jamie Foxx Show 21 episodes; writer, supervising producer
1997–1998 Teen Angel 17 episodes; writer, consulting producer
1999–2001 The PJs 43 episodes; co-creator, writer, executive producer
2001–2003[25] The Bernie Mac Show 104 episodes; creator, writer, director, executive producer
2003–2004 Whoopi 22 episodes; writer, executive producer
2005–2007 The Office 50 episodes; writer, consulting producer
2011 Love Bites 8 episodes; writer, consulting producer
2014–present Black-ish Executive producer

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1992 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program In Living Color Nominated
1996 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award Favorite TV Show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Nominated
1996 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Nominated
1997 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Nominated
1998 Young Artist Award Best Family TV Comedy Series Teen Angel Nominated
1999 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Jamie Foxx Show Nominated
1999 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Program The PJs Nominated
2001 Peabody Award The Bernie Mac Show Won
2001 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Jamie Foxx Show Nominated
2002 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2002 TCA Award Outstanding Achievement in Comedy The Bernie Mac Show Won
2002 Teen Choice Award Choice Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2002 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Breakout Show The Bernie Mac Show Won
2002 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Won
2003 Writers Guild of America Award Episodic Comedy The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2003 Young Artist Award Best Family Television Series (Comedy or Drama) The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2003 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Won
2003 Humanitas Prize 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television The Bernie Mac Show Won
2003 Teen Choice Award Choice Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2003 Satellite Award Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy The Bernie Mac Show Won
2004 Young Artist Award Best Family Television Series (Comedy or Drama) The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2004 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Won
2004 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series Whoopi Nominated
2004 BET Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Won
2004 Teen Choice Award Choice Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2004 Satellite Award Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2005 BET Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Won
2005 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Won
2005 Satellite Award Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2006 Writers Guild of America Award Comedy Series The Office Nominated
2006 Writers Guild of America Award New Series The Office Nominated
2006 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2007 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series The Bernie Mac Show Nominated
2008 Writers Guild of America Award Comedy Series The Office Nominated
2015 People's Choice Award Favorite New TV Comedy Black-ish Nominated
2015 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Comedy Series Black-ish Won

References

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  4. [1] as Larry Wilmore explains he is a magician: September 15, 2015, The Nightly Show on Comedy Central
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  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Lee, Felicia R. "They Call Me Mister Correspondent", The New York Times, April 2, 2007.
  7. Wilmore, Larry "Larry Wilmore: The Wilmore Report."Chicago Humanities Festival, November 19, 2012.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Bashir, Martin and Dan Morris. "Veteran TV Writer Moves in Front of the Camera", ABC News, October 10, 2007.
  10. http://www.npr.org/2015/08/19/432906983/with-its-100th-episode-larry-wilmores-nightly-show-has-found-its-voice
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. Carter, Bill (May 9, 2014). "Larry Wilmore to Take Place of Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central." The New York Times.
  19. Schwindt, Oriana (July 27, 2015). "Goodbye, and Goodnight". TV Guide. p 19.
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. Hawai'i Tony winner back in N.Y. spotlight, The Honolulu Advertiser; accessed June 20, 2015.
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  23. Larry Wilmore profile, biography.com, A&E Television Networks, LLC; accessed June 20, 2015.
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External links