Larry Wilmore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larry Wilmore |
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Wilmore in 2016
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| Birth name | Elister Larry Wilmore III |
| Born | October 30, 1961 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
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| Spouse |
Leilani Jones
(m. 1995; div. 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
Larry Wilmore (born October 30, 1961) is an American comedian, writer, and actor. He is known for his smart humor and observations about society. He was a special correspondent on The Daily Show from 2006 to 2014. Later, he hosted his own show, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, in 2015 and 2016.
Larry also created the popular TV show The Bernie Mac Show. He helped produce the TV series Black-ish and co-created Insecure with Issa Rae. Since 2017, he has hosted a podcast called Black on the Air. On his podcast, he talks about current events and interviews interesting guests. He also hosted a talk show called Wilmore.
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Early Life and Education
Larry Wilmore was born on October 30, 1961, in Los Angeles County, California. He grew up in Pomona. His family originally came from Evanston, Illinois. Larry was raised in the Catholic faith. He is the third of six children in his family. His younger brother, Marc Wilmore, also became a television writer and producer.
As a kid, Larry loved science, magic, and fantasy stories. These interests helped shape his comedy style. He once said in an interview that he was a "nerd." He explained that it's now okay for Black comedians to be nerdy, not just tough.
Larry graduated from Damien High School in La Verne, California in 1979. He studied theater at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. However, he left college to follow his dreams of acting and doing stand-up comedy.
Larry Wilmore's Career Journey
Larry Wilmore started his career in the 1980s. He appeared in small roles in movies and TV shows. One of his first roles was as a police officer on The Facts of Life.
Writing and Producing TV Shows
In the early 1990s, Larry joined the writing teams for several shows. He wrote for the talk show Into the Night With Rick Dees. He also wrote for the sketch comedy show In Living Color. His brother Marc also wrote for In Living Color and became a cast member. Larry then wrote for the sitcom Sister, Sister. He even played a bus driver in one episode.
He became a writer and producer for many popular Black sitcoms. These included The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Jamie Foxx Show.
In 1999, Larry Wilmore helped create the animated comedy The PJs with Eddie Murphy. He was an executive producer for the show. After that, he created and produced The Bernie Mac Show. He won an Emmy for writing the very first episode of this show. He also created and produced Whoopi with Whoopi Goldberg. From 2005 to 2007, he worked as a producer for The Office. He even appeared in an episode called "Diversity Day" as Mr. Brown.
Comedy Central and Beyond
In 2006, Larry started appearing on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. He was known as the "Senior Black Correspondent." He often made funny observations about the Black experience in America. In 2009, he released a humor book called I'd Rather We Got Casinos: And Other Black Thoughts. The book explored funny ideas about race.
Larry continued to act in movies too. He played a minister in I Love You, Man (2009). He also had a role in Dinner for Schmucks (2010). In 2011, he had a recurring role on the ABC comedy Happy Endings. He played Mr. Forristal, who was Brad's boss.
In 2016, Larry Wilmore was the main speaker at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. This is a big event where comedians often make jokes about politics and the media.
In May 2017, Larry started his podcast, Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air. Time magazine named it one of the top podcasts of 2017.
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
On January 19, 2015, Larry Wilmore began hosting The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. This was a late-night talk show on Comedy Central. It was a spin-off from The Daily Show. The show replaced The Colbert Report in its time slot. Jon Stewart's company produced the show. On August 15, 2016, Comedy Central announced the show was ending. The final episode aired on August 18, 2016, after 259 episodes.
Wilmore
Larry also hosted a short talk show series on Peacock called Wilmore.
Comedy Influences
Larry Wilmore has said that Johnny Carson, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Jon Stewart influenced his comedy. He finds inspiration by watching people. He likes to ride the subway or sit in a coffee shop. He believes that "there’s nothing funnier than real human behavior."
Personal Life
Larry Wilmore was married to actress Leilani Jones for 20 years. They have two children, John and Lauren. They divorced in 2015. Larry used to live in San Marino, California with his family. He moved to New York City to work on The Nightly Show.
Film and Television Roles
Larry Wilmore has appeared in many films and TV shows. Here are some of his notable roles:
Film Appearances
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | I Love You, Man | Minister |
| 2010 | Dinner for Schmucks | Williams |
| 2019 | The Laundromat | Jeff |
TV Acting Roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Facts of Life | Officer Ziaukus |
| 1992 | In Living Color | Various |
| 2005–2007 | The Office | Mr. Brown |
| 2006–2014 | The Daily Show | Himself (senior black correspondent) |
| 2008 | How I Met Your Mother | Dr. Greer |
| 2011–2012 | Happy Endings | Mr. Forristal |
| 2015–2016 | The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore | Himself (host) |
TV Showrunner and Producer Roles
Larry has also been a showrunner, writer, and executive producer for many TV series.
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2001 | The PJs | Co-creator, writer, executive producer |
| 2001–2003 | The Bernie Mac Show | Creator, writer, director, executive producer |
| 2016 | Insecure | Co-creator, writer, executive producer |
| 2014–2015 | Black-ish | Executive producer |
| 2018–2024 | Grown-ish | Writer, co-creator |
Awards and Recognitions
Larry Wilmore has received many awards and nominations for his work in television.
- Emmy Award: He won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for The Bernie Mac Show.
- Peabody Award: In 2001, The Bernie Mac Show also won a Peabody Award, which recognizes excellence in broadcasting.
- TCA Award: He won a TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy in 2002 for The Bernie Mac Show.
- Humanitas Prize: In 2003, he won a Humanitas Prize for The Bernie Mac Show, which honors media that promotes human dignity.
- Teen Choice Award: The Bernie Mac Show won a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Show in 2002.
- Austin Film Festival: In 2018, he received an award for his Extraordinary Contribution to Television.
Larry has also been nominated for several NAACP Image Awards and Writers Guild of America Awards for his various projects.
