Retta
{{Short description|American comedian and actress (born 1970)}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Retta
| image = Retta 2012 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Retta at the 71st Annual Peabody Awards in 2012
| alt =
| birth_name = Marietta Sangai Sirleaf
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|4|12}}
| birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
| education = Duke University (BA)
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Comedian
- actress
- television personality
- singer
}}
| years_active = 1997–present
| relatives = Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (aunt)
}}
Marietta Sangai SirleafJung, E. Alex. [https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/retta-has-a-story-to-tell.html "Retta Has a Story to Tell"]. Vulture.com, May 23, 2018. [Archived https://web.archive.org/web/20180523214634/https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/retta-has-a-story-to-tell.html] on 05-23-2018[https://edgemagonline.com/article/retta/ Retta]. Edge. (born April 12, 1970), known professionally as Retta, is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is best known for her roles as Donna Meagle on NBC's Parks and Recreation and Ruby Hill on NBC's Good Girls.{{cite news|last1=Read|first1=Bridget|title=Retta Moves on From Parks and Recreation in Good Girls, But Never Say Never|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/retta-good-girls-nbc-parks-and-recreation-interview|work=Vogue|date=26 February 2018|language=en}} She has appeared in several films and television shows, and has performed stand-up on Comedy Central's Premium Blend.
Early life and education
Retta was born in Newark, New Jersey. She is of Liberian descent.{{cite news|last1=Chaney|first1=Jen|title=What's the connection between a Nobel Prize winner and 'Parks and Recreation'?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/whats-the-connection-between-a-nobel-prize-winner-and-parks-and-recreation/2011/10/07/gIQAjGkoSL_blog.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=8 October 2011}} She grew up in Edison and in the Cliffwood Beach section of Aberdeen Township, New Jersey,Feuer, Ryan. [https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2015/07/comedian_retta_talks_jersey_roots_parks_and_rec_an.html "Comedian Retta talks Jersey roots, 'Parks and Rec' and 'Geeks Who Drink'"], NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 16, 2015. Accessed October 8, 2024. "'Growing up in Jersey makes you a little bit ballsier, a little more outspoken,' says the comedian/actress, who was born in Newark and raised in Edison and Cliffwood Beach." where she attended Matawan Regional High School, graduating in 1988.{{cite news|last1=Feuer|first1=Ryan|title=Comedian Retta talks Jersey roots, 'Parks and Rec' and 'Geeks Who Drink'|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/07/comedian_retta_talks_jersey_roots_parks_and_rec_an.html|work=NJ.com|date=16 July 2015}}{{cite book|title=Pillar 1998|date=1988|publisher=Matawan Regional High School|pages=99, 125, 144, 208, 224|url=http://www.digifind-it.com/matawan/DATA/yearbooks/1988.pdf}} In 1992, Retta graduated from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where she was pre-med and graduated with a degree in sociology.
Retta was raised as a member of the New Apostolic Church. In the youth group of her church, her ability to make others laugh was a major talent. When Retta competed in her first TV comedy contest, members from all over the world from the New Apostolic Church voted for her. This contributed to her winning the contest and helped to further her career. In that contest she mentioned her faith and spiritual upbringing.{{cite news|last1=Fishbein|first1=Anne|title=Chatting With "Parks and Recreation's" Retta Sirleaf '92|url=http://dukemagazine.duke.edu/article/chatting-with-parks-and-recreations-retta-sirleaf-92|work=Duke Magazine|publisher=Duke University|date=25 September 2014|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Sangweni|first1=Yolanda|title=7 Reasons You Should Know Parks and Recreation Star, Retta|url=https://www.essence.com/2012/09/20/7-reasons-you-should-know-parks-and-recreation-star-retta|work=Essence|date=20 September 2012|language=en}}
Career
After graduating from Duke, Retta worked as a chemist. In her spare time, she performed stand-up at Charlie Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh, North Carolina.{{cite news|last1=Holder|first1=Christina|title=Retta Sirleaf Returns to Duke|url=https://today.duke.edu/2015/02/retta-sirleaf-returns-duke|work=Duke Today|publisher=Duke University|date=25 February 2015|language=en|format=includes video}} Eventually, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy.{{Cite news|last=Azzi |first=Amy |title=Comedian took long route to comedy |publisher=University of Wisconsin-Whitewater |work=Royal Purple News |date=January 28, 2009 |url=http://media.www.royalpurplenews.com/media/storage/paper1225/news/2009/01/28/WebExtras/Comedian.Took.Long.Route.To.Comedy-3599833.shtml |access-date=November 17, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Retta said on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! that when she started performing stand-up comedy, she decided to call herself Retta rather than explain her name.{{cite news|title=Best of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me|url=https://www.npr.org/podcasts/344098539/wait-wait-don-t-tell-me|work=NPR|date=24 August 2019|format=Audio podcast}} She started doing standup in 1996, although she said she did not start "earning money" until 1998, when she began touring on the college circuit. Retta said she used to get "really nauseated" before a performance, but that the feeling passed with experience.{{Cite news|last=Eells |first=Kelly Feser |title=T-150 seats down for stand-up guys |work=Ojai Valley News |date=June 6, 2003 |url=http://www.ojaivalleynews.com/issues2003/06-June2003/06-06-03/06-06-03news5.html |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723032720/http://www.ojaivalleynews.com/issues2003/06-June2003/06-06-03/06-06-03news5.html |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }} Retta has said her stand-up material tends to be slightly embellished stories from her regular everyday life, family, and friends.{{Cite news|last=Dunn |first=Valeree |title=Performer Spotlight on... Retta |work=UIS Journal |date=October 14, 2009 |url=http://www.uis.edu/journal/artsEntertainment/2009/20091014spotlightonretta.html |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608223938/http://www.uis.edu/journal/artsEntertainment/2009/20091014spotlightonretta.html |archive-date=June 8, 2011 }}
Retta has served as the opening act for such comedians as Shirley Hemphill and Bobby Collins. She has made television appearances on Bravo's Welcome to the Parker, E! Entertainment Television's The Soup, Freddie, Moesha, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,{{Cite news|last=Haynes|first=Robert|title=Comedian Retta brings glee to bear country|date=November 17, 2009|work=The Echo|publisher=University of Central Arkansas}} and the "Comedy Divas Showcase" segment of The Jenny Jones Show.{{Cite news|last=Ory |first=Marie |title=Laughter -- the medicine of life |work=The Nicholls Worth |date=March 15, 2001 |url=http://media.www.thenichollsworth.com/media/storage/paper262/news/2001/03/15/Lagniappe/Laughter.The.Medicine.Of.Life-55719.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110717015652/http://media.www.thenichollsworth.com/media/storage/paper262/news/2001/03/15/Lagniappe/Laughter.The.Medicine.Of.Life-55719.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=November 17, 2009 }} Retta has also performed on Premium Blend, a Comedy Central show featuring up-and-coming comedians.
In 2009, Retta started making regular guest appearances on the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation as Donna Meagle, an employee in the Parks Department of the fictional town, Pawnee, Indiana. During a stand-up performance at the University of Illinois at Springfield, Retta said the acting job on the show was stressful because it was unclear how long the show would stay on the air, due to the poor reviews it received during the first season. Alan Sepinwall, a television columnist with The Star-Ledger, said season 2 episodes of Parks and Recreation afforded more personality and funnier jokes to Donna and other minor characters.{{Cite news |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |title=Parks and Recreation, "Ron and Tammy": Megan Mullally guests |work=The Star-Ledger |date=November 5, 2009 |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/11/parks_and_recreation_ron_and_t.html |publisher=New Jersey On-Line |access-date=November 6, 2009}} She was upgraded to a full-time regular cast member in the third season.{{cite web |url= http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/07/comedian_retta_talks_jersey_roots_parks_and_rec_an.html|title= Comedian Retta talks Jersey roots, 'Parks and Rec' and 'Geeks Who Drink'|last1= Feuer|first1= Ryan|date= 16 July 2015|website= Nj.com|access-date= 13 December 2015}}
In late 2011, she received a "Best Supporting Actress (Comedy)" nomination at the 3rd Indie Soap Awards for the indie web series Vampire Mob.{{cite web|url=https://www.indieseriesawards.com/2011/12/nominations-3rd-annual-indie-soap.html|title=NOMINATIONS: 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards|year=2011|website=Indie Series Awards|publisher=We Love Soaps|access-date=June 10, 2024}}
Retta also hosted the 3rd Critics' Choice Television Awards in 2013.{{cite web |url= http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/news/1000743/|title= Awards News: Critics' Choice Nominations|website= CBS|access-date= 13 December 2015}} In 2014, she appeared on Hollywood Game Night as a contestant along with the other celebrities Paget Brewster, Michael Chiklis, Mario Lopez, Thomas Lennon, and Alyssa Milano.{{cite web |url= http://www.ew.com/article/2014/01/15/retta-mario-lopez-hollywood-game-night|title= Retta takes on Mario Lopez in the Olympics on 'Hollywood Game Night' -- EXCLUSIVE|last1= Snetiker|first1= Marc|date= 15 January 2014 |website= Ew.com|access-date= 13 December 2015}}
In 2015, Retta was one of the audiobook narrators for Welcome to Night Vale, a novel tie-in to the eponymous podcast series in which she is the voice of Old Woman Josie. The same year she appeared in season 2 of Bravo's Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce.
In 2018, Retta co-starred in the NBC series, Good Girls, opposite Christina Hendricks and Mae Whitman.
In 2018, Retta published a series of essays in a book called So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know.{{cite book|last1=Retta|title=So Close to Being the Sh*T, Y'all Don't Even Know|date=2018|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1-250-10934-7|oclc=1001333805}} Where she talks about her journey with weight loss with "bestie" and the joys and adventures of being in the "Hollywood Scene!"
In 2022, Retta signed a talent holding deal with NBCUniversal.{{cite web|title=Retta Inks Holding Deal at NBCUniversal|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/nbcuniversal-retta-deal-1235082539/|website=The Hollywood Reporter |last=Porter|first=Rick|date=January 27, 2022|access-date=January 28, 2022}}
In 2022, Retta hosted seasons 1-5 of HGTV's Ugliest House in America.
Personal life
On Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, she said she dated a man from Georgia who nicknamed her Retta because her name Marietta sounded like where he came from.
She is a niece by marriage of the former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Despite public confusion, Retta is not the cousin of Ginuwine.{{cite book |last1=Retta |title=So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know |date=May 29, 2018 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York City |isbn=1250109345 |pages=272 |edition=First |url=https://www.amazon.com/Close-Being-Yall-Dont-Even/dp/1250109345 |access-date=19 January 2025| quote =And, just a quick note, Ginuwine is NOT my cousin. I feel the need to point this out because about twice a week someone asks, "Is Ginuwine really your cousin?" Nope. Not my cousin. It was a plot point in a TV show.}}
Retta is a fan of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, and presented awards at the NHL award ceremonies in Las Vegas, in 2014 and 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/retta-how-i-became-a-hockey-fan/c-882350|title=Retta: How I Became a Hockey Fan|access-date=9 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/upstream/retta-helparettaout-hockey-lesson/|title=Hey, Retta, this Tumblr is teaching you all about hockey|website=The Daily Dot|date=15 April 2013|access-date=9 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lennyletter.com/life/a380/how-i-became-a-hockey-fan/|title=How I Became a Hockey Fan|date=11 May 2016|access-date=9 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/nhl-awards-2015-1.10577529|title=NHL Awards 2015|access-date=9 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/news/524538|title=NHL releases lineup of presenters and performers for awards show|date=22 June 2014 |access-date=9 December 2016}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1998
| Additional voices | |
| 2002
| Slackers | Bruna | |
| 2003
| Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Sad Eye Sadie | |
| 2007
| Fracture | Evidence Room Cop | |
| 2007
| Ethel | |
| 2008
| Roberta | |
| 2014
| Sex Ed | Sydney | |
| 2015
| Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip | Party Planner | |
| rowspan="3" | 2016
| Nina | |
| Operator
| Pauline "Roger" Rogers | |
| Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
| Ida Stricker | |
| rowspan="5" | 2017
| Lobo | |
| Band Aid
| Carol | |
| The Lego Ninjago Movie
| Maggie the Cheerleader | Voice |
| Where's the Money
| Roberta | |
| Father Figures
| Annie | |
| 2019
| Lucas' Mom | |
| rowspan="2" | 2023
| Herself | |
| Hit Man
| Claudette | |
| 2024
|Dr. Evelyn Bartlett | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1997
| Moesha | Hostess | Episode: "Double Date" (Season 3, Episode 12) |
| 2004
| $5.15/Hr | Joy | |
| 2005
| Freddie | Joan | Episode: "Rich Man, Poor Girl" |
| 2006
| Rodney | Tanya Evans | Episode: "When Rodney Comes Marching Home" |
| 2008
| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Hardware Store Clerk | Episode: "The Gang Gets Extreme: Home Makeover Edition" |
| 2009–15, 2020
| Recurring (seasons 1–2); Starring/main (seasons 3–7){{efn|name="parks bililng"|For Parks and Recreation, Retta was credited after the opening title sequence with star billing for seasons 3-5, and was part of the opening title sequence as a main in seasons 6-7}} |
| 2009
| Heckler | Episode: "#7.46" |
| 2014, 2015
| TSA #1, Lara | Episodes: "Krolling Around with Nick Klown" and "Body Bouncers" |
| 2014
| Episode: "American Music" |
| 2014
| The Woman | Episode: "Sex Addict Wendell" |
| 2015–18
| Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Barbara | Recurring (season 2); Main (season 3–5) |
| 2018–2021
| Ruby Hill | Main cast |
| rowspan="3"| 2019
| Mrs. Malinky (Voice) | Episode: "Snack" |
| Where's Waldo?
| Wizard Nightingale (Voice) | Episode: "Vienna Voice-Versa" |
| Big Mouth
| Duke's Mother (Voice) | Episode: "Duke" |
| 2020–21
| Mystical Harp (Voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2020
| Home Movie: The Princess Bride | The Mother | Episode: "Chapter One: As You Wish"{{cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/221665/quibi-just-announced-a-princess-bride-remake-you-never-expected-to-see/|title=Quibi just announced a Princess Bride remake you never expected to see|website=Looper.com|first=Nina|last=Starner|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}} |
| 2021
| Makeover Station Employee (Voice) | Episode: "Das Banana Boot" |
| 2022
| General Yuck (Voice) | Episode: “Don’t Yuck My Yum!” |
| 2022
| Voice | Episode: "Fledging Day" |
| 2022–present
| Ugliest House in America | Host | {{cite web |last1=Piazza |first1=Bianca |title=Retta Is Here to Hunt Down the "Ugliest House in America" — How Many Episodes Is the Show? |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/how-many-episodes-is-ugliest-house-in-america |website=Distractify |access-date=January 24, 2022|date=January 7, 2022}} |
| 2023
| Herself |
| 2024
| Elsbeth | Margo Clarke | season 1 episode 4 "Love Knocked Off" |
| 2025
| Elsbeth | Margo Clarke | season 2 episode 20 "Ramen Holiday" |
Works and publications
- {{cite book|last1=Retta|title=So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know|date=2018|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1-250-10934-7|oclc=1001333805}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Retta}}
- {{IMDb name|0802876|Retta}}
- {{TV Guide person |3000393467}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|celebrity/retta}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Actresses from Newark, New Jersey
Category:African-American female comedians
Category:American film actresses
Category:American people of Liberian descent
Category:American stand-up comedians
Category:American television actresses
Category:American women comedians
Category:Matawan Regional High School alumni
Category:Duke University Trinity College of Arts and Sciences alumni
Category:21st-century African-American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:20th-century African-American people
Category:20th-century African-American women
Category:Comedians from Newark, New Jersey
Category:Comedians from Middlesex County, New Jersey
Category:Comedians from Monmouth County, New Jersey
Category:Actors from Edison, New Jersey