Larry Wilmore facts for kids

{{Infobox comedian | name = Larry Wilmore | image = Larry Wilmore by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Wilmore in 2016 | birth_name = Elister Larry Wilmore III | birth_date = (1961-10-30) October 30, 1961 (age 63) | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | active = 1983–present | spouse =

| children = 2

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| subject = {{hlist|American politics|African-American culture|popular culture|current events|racism|[[religion}} | website = }}

Elister Larry Wilmore III (born October 30, 1961) is an American comedian, writer, producer, and actor. He is famous for his role as the "Senior Black Correspondent" on the TV show The Daily Show from 2006 to 2014. From 2015 to 2016, he hosted his own show, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.

Wilmore has also created and produced many popular television shows. He created the hit sitcom The Bernie Mac Show. A sitcom is a comedy show that has the same characters in each episode. He was also an executive producer for the ABC series Black-ish. An executive producer helps manage the show's creation. With actress Issa Rae, he co-created the HBO series Insecure. He also hosts a podcast called Black on the Air.

Early Life and Education

Larry Wilmore was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the nearby city of Pomona. He was the third of six children and was raised in a Catholic family. His younger brother, Marc, also became a successful writer and producer for television.

As a kid, Wilmore was very interested in science, magic, and science-fiction stories. He has said these interests helped shape his comedy. He described himself as a "nerd," which was different from many other Black comedians at the time.

Wilmore went to Damien High School and graduated in 1979. He later studied theater at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. However, he left college to start his career in acting and stand-up comedy.

Career in Television and Film

Early Writing and Acting

In the 1980s, Wilmore started his career with small acting roles. He had a recurring part as a police officer on the show The Facts of Life.

By the 1990s, he began writing for popular TV shows. He was a writer for the comedy show In Living Color and the sitcom Sister, Sister. He also worked as a writer and producer for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Jamie Foxx Show.

Creating His Own Shows

In 1999, Wilmore co-created the animated show The PJs with famous comedian Eddie Murphy. He then created The Bernie Mac Show, which became a huge success. He even won a special award called an Emmy for writing the first episode. He also created the show Whoopi with actress Whoopi Goldberg.

From 2005 to 2007, Wilmore worked on the American version of The Office. He was a consulting producer and appeared in an episode called "Diversity Day" as a character named Mr. Brown.

The Daily Show and Beyond

In 2006, Wilmore joined The Daily Show on the channel Comedy Central. He was called the "Senior Black Correspondent." In his segments, he used humor to talk about the experience of being Black in America. His work on the show led him to write a book of political humor called I'd Rather We Got Casinos: And Other Black Thoughts.

Wilmore continued to act in movies, including I Love You, Man (2009) and Dinner for Schmucks (2010).

Hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner

In 2016, Wilmore was the main comedian at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. This is a special event attended by journalists, politicians, and the President.

Wilmore's performance caused a lot of discussion. At the end of his speech, he used a controversial and offensive racial term when speaking to President Barack Obama. Wilmore later explained that he wanted to make a serious point about the importance of Obama's presidency, not just a joke.

Hosting His Own Shows

The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore

On January 19, 2015, Wilmore began hosting The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on Comedy Central. The show followed The Daily Show and featured a panel of guests who discussed news and current events. The show was produced by Jon Stewart's company. It was canceled in August 2016 after 259 episodes.

Wilmore

In 2020, he hosted a talk show on the Peacock streaming service. The show was simply called Wilmore.

Influences and Personal Life

Wilmore has said that his comedy is influenced by famous comedians like Johnny Carson, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Jon Stewart. To find ideas for his jokes, he likes to watch people in everyday places like coffee shops or on the subway.

Wilmore was married to actress Leilani Jones for 20 years, and they have two children, John and Lauren. The couple divorced in 2015.

Selected Work

Film Roles

Television Shows Created or Produced

Notable Acting Roles on TV

Awards

Larry Wilmore has won many awards for his work in television. Here are a few of his most important ones.

• Peabody Award (2001): Won for The Bernie Mac Show, an award for excellence in broadcasting.
• Primetime Emmy Award (2002): Won for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the first episode of The Bernie Mac Show.
• TCA Award (2002): Won for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy for The Bernie Mac Show.
• Humanitas Prize (2003): Won for writing on The Bernie Mac Show that promotes human dignity.
• Austin Film Festival (2018): Won an award for his Extraordinary Contribution to Television.