Yassir Lester
{{short description|Comedian, actor, and writer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Yassir Lester
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|6|22}}
| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = Comedian, actor, writer
| years_active = 2011–present
| known_for = Making History, Black Monday, Armor Wars
| spouse = {{Marriage|Chelsea Devantez|2022}}
| notable_works =
}}
Yassir Lester (born June 22, 1984){{Cite web|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/episode-22-a-dude-named-hot-sauce/|title=Episode 22: A Dude Named Hot Sauce (with Yassir Lester) {{!}} Another Round|website=WNYC|language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}} is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor. He was on the writing staff for The Carmichael Show and Girls. He is best known for his role as Chris in Making History, and a role as a stockbroker, also named Yassir, in the 2019 Showtime series Black Monday.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/yassir-lester-cast-making-history-fox-pilot-daniel-bonjour-the-cw-frequency-1201722308/|title=Yassir Lester Joins Fox Pilot 'Making History'; Daniel Bonjour In The CW's 'Frequency'|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2016-03-17|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/don-cheadle-black-monday-showtime-series-regina-hall-1284335|title=Don Cheadle Is Back in the World of Money and '80s Fashion on Showtime's 'Black Monday'|first=Anna|last= Menta|date=2019-01-09|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}}
Early life
Lester was born in Miami, Florida. As a child, his family relocated to Marietta, Georgia. His mother is African-American and his father is Palestinian.{{cite podcast |url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/you-get-it/ |title=Comedy Bang! Bang! |publisher=Earwolf |date=2020-07-27 }}
He aspired to be a stand-up comedian from a young age, and moved to Los Angeles at 21 to pursue a comedy career.
Career
In 2016, Lester simultaneously worked on the writing staff of both The Carmichael Show and Girls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/girls-time-travel-how-yassir-lester-went-back-time-making-history-981549|title=From 'Girls' to Time Travel: How Yassir Lester Went Back in Time for 'Making History'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2 March 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}} He took a break to film Making History, which ran on Fox for one season. He stated that he never intended to act, and had moved to Hollywood to work in TV production and as a stand-up comedian. His friend Adam Pally, who was already attached to star, encouraged him to audition.{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2017/03/yassir-lester-interview-making-history/|title=Yassir Lester of 'Making History' Is Having His Flamin' Hots Moment|date=2017-03-07|website=Observer|language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}}
He was a cast member on the series Champions in 2018, which was cancelled after one season.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/champions-canceled-nbc-one-season-shopped-1202381964/ |title='Champions' Canceled By NBC After One Season, May Explore Future Elsewhere |last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2018-06-30|website=Deadline|access-date=2019-01-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/champions-review-1093174|title='Champions': TV Review|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=8 March 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}} From 2019 to 2021 he appeared as a Muslim Wall Street trader, also named Yassir, in the Showtime series Black Monday.
In August 2021, Lester joined as screenwriter and executive producer on the upcoming superhero film Armor Wars, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/marvels-armory-war-yassir-lester-1234818795/ |title=Marvel's 'Armor Wars' Starring Don Cheadle Taps Yassir Lester As Head Writer Of Disney+ Series |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2021-08-20 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=2021-08-20}}
Lester regularly performs stand-up comedy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2015/08/12/get-a-life-and-catch-chris-elliott-and-adam-resnick-this-week-in-new-york/|title=Get a Life and Catch Chris Elliott and Adam Resnick This Week in New York|website=www.villagevoice.com|date=12 August 2015 |access-date=2019-01-12}}
In 2024, Lester directed, produced and wrote the sports comedy film The Gutter.
Filmography
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | class="unsortable" | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013
| Himself | 6 episodes | |||
| 2014
| My Super-Overactive Imagination | The Epic Ex | Episode: "Showcase Showdown Part 2" | |||
| 2014
| Between the Sheets with Josh Macuga | Himself | Episode: "Guest: Yassir Lester" | |||
| 2014
| After the Party | Stranger | Episode: "Garage Sale" | |||
| 2014
| Laron's Friend #2 | Episode: "Concussion Quarterback" | |||
| 2014
| Snack Off | Himself / Judge | 10 episodes | |||
| 2014
| Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats | Himself | Netflix special | |||
| 2016
| Netflix Presents: The Characters | Male Student | Episode: "Kate Berlant" | |||
| 2016
| {{N/A}} | Story editor and writer | |||
| 2016–2017
| Girls | Declan | 2 episodes; also story editor and staff writer | |||
| 2016–2017
| Himself | 5 episodes | |||
| 2017
| Chris Parrish | Main role | |||
| 2017
| David | Episode: "Jeremy & Anna's Meryl Streep Costume Party" | |||
| 2018
| Shabaz | 8 episodes | |||
| 2018
| Himself | 2 episodes | |||
| 2018
| A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy | Himself | Christmas special | |||
| 2019–2021
| Yassir X | Main role; also writer, story editor, and co-executive producer | |||
| 2019
| Quentin Chase | Episode: "The Tattler" | |||
| 2020
| #blackAF |Director |Episode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"; also producer | |||
| 2020
|Yassir |Episode: "The Weekend" | |||
| 2020
| Himself | Episode: "May the AR Be LI$$ You" | |||
| 2020–2022
| Yangzi (voice) | Series regular | |||
| 2021
|Jamal |Episode: "Things Done Changed" | |||
| 2021
|(voice) |Episode: "The Bassoon Incident/Ice Cream Money"; also writer and co-executive producer | |||
| 2022
|Lucas |Episode: "James" | |||
| 2024
| Iced Tea (voice) | 4 episodes |
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | class="unsortable" | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016
| The Bet | Ed McDoogle | | |||
| 2022
| RST Customer | | |||
| 2024
| {{N/A}} | Writer, director, and executive producer |
=Web=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | class="unsortable" | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011
| The Late Night Fix with Yassir Lester | Himself | Main role, also writer and executive producer | |||
| 2021
| Storytime with Seth Rogen | Himself | Podcast; Episode: "Ugly Joke" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2849922}}
- [https://twitter.com/Yassir_Lester Official Twitter]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Yassir}}
Category:African-American stand-up comedians
Category:American stand-up comedians
Category:People from Marietta, Georgia
Category:African-American male actors
Category:American people of Palestinian descent
Category:American comedians of Middle Eastern descent
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:20th-century African-American people
Category:Comedians from Georgia (U.S. state)