Retta Biography

Fast Facts

• Named one of comedy's best talents in 2005 by Essence magazine
• Nominated for female comic of the year by Campus Activities Magazine after appearing as a stand-up comedian on the college circuit of several years
• Graduated from Duke University and intended to attend medical school before pursuing acting
• Born to Liberian immigrants, she is directly related to the country's first female President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
• Quote: "(On choosing acting over stand-up) "I'm not married to stand-up, just because it's a road thing․ It's very lonely with all the traveling․""
• After winning Comedy Central's first annual Laugh Riots Stand-Up Competition, she would eventually land a first-look deal with ABC/Disney before eventually landing a recurring role on NBC's "Parks and Recreation" in 2009
• Began her career as a stand-up comedian in North Carolina, but eventually relocated to Los Angeles to land sitcom roles