Yassir Lester

Last updated
Yassir Lester
Born (1984-06-22) June 22, 1984 (age 40)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupation(s)Comedian, actor, writer
Years active2011–present
Known for Making History , Black Monday , Armor Wars
Spouse
Chelsea Devantez
​
(m. 2022)​

Yassir Lester (born June 22, 1984) [1] 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 . [2] [3]

Contents

Early life

Lester was born in Miami, Florida. As a child, his family relocated to Marietta, Georgia. [1] His mother is African-American and his father is Palestinian. [4] He aspired to be a stand-up comedian from a young age, and moved to Los Angeles at 21 to pursue a comedy career. [1] He met Jerrod Carmichael soon after arriving and they remain close friends.

Career

In 2016, Lester simultaneously worked on the writing staff of both The Carmichael Show and Girls . [5] 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. [6]

He was a cast member on the series Champions in 2018, which was cancelled after one season. [7] [8] From 2019 to 2021 he appeared as a Muslim Wall Street trader, also named Yassir, in the Showtime series Black Monday. [3]

In August 2021, Lester joined as screenwriter and executive producer on the upcoming superhero film Armor Wars , set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. [9]

Lester regularly performs stand-up comedy. [10]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNote
2013 TakePart Live Himself6 episodes
2014My Super-Overactive ImaginationThe Epic ExEpisode: "Showcase Showdown Part 2"
2014Between the Sheets with Josh MacugaHimselfEpisode: "Guest: Yassir Lester"
2014After the PartyStrangerEpisode: "Garage Sale"
2014 Key & Peele Laron's Friend #2Episode: "Concussion Quarterback"
2014Snack OffHimself / Judge10 episodes
2014Chelsea Peretti: One of the GreatsHimselfNetflix special
2016 Netflix Presents: The Characters Male StudentEpisode: "Kate Berlant"
2016 The Carmichael Show —Story editor and writer
2016–2017 Girls Declan2 episodes; also story editor and staff writer
2016–2017 @midnight Himself5 episodes
2017 Making History Chris ParrishMain role
2017 The Mindy Project DavidEpisode: "Jeremy & Anna's Meryl Streep Costume Party"
2018 Champions Shabaz8 episodes
2018 Comedy Knockout Himself2 episodes
2018 A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy HimselfChristmas special
2019–2021 Black Monday Yassir XMain role; also writer, story editor, and co-executive producer
2019 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Quentin ChaseEpisode: "The Tattler"
2020 #blackAF DirectorEpisode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"; also producer
2020 United We Fall YassirEpisode: "The Weekend"
2020 The George Lucas Talk Show HimselfEpisode: "May the AR Be LI$$ You"
2020–2022 Duncanville Yangzi (voice)Series regular
2021 Black-ish JamalEpisode: "Things Done Changed"
2021 Ten Year Old Tom (voice)Episode: "The Bassoon Incident/Ice Cream Money"; also writer and co-executive producer
2022 Single Drunk Female LucasEpisode: "James"
2024 Sausage Party: Foodtopia (voice)4 episodes

Film

YearTitleRoleNote
2016 The Bet Ed McDoogle
2022 Clerks III RST Customer
2024 The Gutter —Writer, director, and executive producer

Web

YearTitleRoleNote
2011The Late Night Fix with Yassir LesterHimselfMain role, also writer and executive producer
2021Storytime with Seth RogenHimselfPodcast; Episode: "Ugly Joke"

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Episode 22: A Dude Named Hot Sauce (with Yassir Lester) | Another Round". WNYC. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  2. ↑ Petski, Denise (2016-03-17). "Yassir Lester Joins Fox Pilot 'Making History'; Daniel Bonjour In The CW's 'Frequency'". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  3. 1 2 Menta, Anna (2019-01-09). "Don Cheadle Is Back in the World of Money and '80s Fashion on Showtime's 'Black Monday'". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  4. ↑ "Comedy Bang! Bang!" (Podcast). Earwolf. 2020-07-27.
  5. ↑ "From 'Girls' to Time Travel: How Yassir Lester Went Back in Time for 'Making History'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  6. ↑ "Yassir Lester of 'Making History' Is Having His Flamin' Hots Moment". Observer. 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  7. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2018-06-30). "'Champions' Canceled By NBC After One Season, May Explore Future Elsewhere". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  8. ↑ "'Champions': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  9. ↑ Kroll, Justin (2021-08-20). "Marvel's 'Armor Wars' Starring Don Cheadle Taps Yassir Lester As Head Writer Of Disney+ Series". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  10. ↑ "Get a Life and Catch Chris Elliott and Adam Resnick This Week in New York". www.villagevoice.com. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
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