Updated Feb 20, 2026
Details
Known For
Actor
Occupations
Screenwriter, Film director, Actor, Showrunner, Film producer
Birthday
(Thursday)
Nationality
Citizenship
United States
Languages
English
Partner
Cynthia Erivo
Education
Columbia College Chicago, Evanston Township High School
Zodiac Sign
♉ Taurus
Chinese Zodiac
鼠 Rat
Popularity
Tier A -- 98,108 Wikipedia views/month
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Screen debut
First screen credit at age 31
Year context
Born in 1984 -- Apple Macintosh introduced; Bhopal disaster in India; Ronald Reagan was US president
Year 1984 →
Career
Career spanning 9 years (2015-2024)
Zodiac
Born in the Year of the Rat
DROPTHE GOOD_
5
Recognized
out of 100
Most people on Earth score 0. Only those with measurable positive impact appear on this scale.
Human Impact
0
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
22
Cultural Uplift
27
Public Vote
★
★
★
★
★
Be the first to vote
Filmography (7)
AWARDS (6)
B
Time 100
2018
WON
G
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
2017
WON
G
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
2017
WON
G
Primetime Emmy Award
WON
Biography
Lena Waithe (/weɪθ/; born May 17, 1984) is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is the creator of the Showtime drama series The Chi (2018–present) and the BET comedy series Boomerang (2019–20) and Twenties (2020–21). She also wrote and produced the crime film Queen & Slim (2019) and is the executive producer of the horror anthology series Them (2021–present).
Waithe gained recognition for her role in the Netflix comedy-drama series Master of None (2015–2021) and became the first African-American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2017 for writing the show's "Thanksgiving" episode, which was loosely based on her personal experience of coming out to her mother. She has also appeared in Steven Spielberg's 2018 adventure film Ready Player One and the HBO series Westworld. In 2023, she was nominated for Best Play at the 76th Tony Awards, her production work on the sketch-comedy play Ain't No Mo'.
Waithe was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018 and was included on Fast Company's Queer 50 list in 2021 and 2022.
Related People
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Lena Waithe?
Lena Waithe is 41 years old, born on .
Where was Lena Waithe born?
Lena Waithe was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
What movies or shows has Lena Waithe been in?
Lena Waithe has 7 credits in our database. Notable titles include Bitter Leaf (2024), Beast (2022), Onward (2020), Queen & Slim (2019), Ready Player One (2018).
What is Lena Waithe known for?
Lena Waithe is primarily known as an actor. Lena Waithe (/weɪθ/; born May 17, 1984) is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is the creator of the Showtime drama series The Chi (2018–present) and the BET comedy series Boomerang (2019–20) and Twenties (2020–21). She…
Where can I find more information about Lena Waithe?
You can find more about Lena Waithe on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.
