Yassir Lester | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 22, 1984 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor, writer |
| Years active | 2011–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]
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]
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]
In 2024, Lester directed, produced and wrote the sports comedy film The Gutter.
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | TakePart Live | 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 | Key & Peele | 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 | The Carmichael Show | — | Story editor and writer |
| 2016–2017 | Girls | Declan | 2 episodes; also story editor and staff writer |
| 2016–2017 | @midnight | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Making History | Chris Parrish | Main role |
| 2017 | The Mindy Project | David | Episode: "Jeremy & Anna's Meryl Streep Costume Party" |
| 2018 | Champions | Shabaz | 8 episodes |
| 2018 | Comedy Knockout | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy | Himself | Christmas special |
| 2019–2021 | Black Monday | Yassir X | Main role; also writer, story editor, and co-executive producer |
| 2019 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Quentin Chase | Episode: "The Tattler" |
| 2020 | #blackAF | Director | Episode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"; also producer |
| 2020 | United We Fall | Yassir | Episode: "The Weekend" |
| 2020 | The George Lucas Talk Show | Himself | Episode: "May the AR Be LI$$ You" |
| 2020–2022 | Duncanville | Yangzi (voice) | Series regular |
| 2021 | Black-ish | Jamal | Episode: "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 | Lucas | Episode: "James" |
| 2024 | Sausage Party: Foodtopia | Iced Tea (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2025 | Ghosts | Garrett | Episode: "Viking Wedding" |
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Bet | Ed McDoogle | |
| 2022 | Clerks III | RST Customer | |
| 2024 | The Gutter | — | Writer, director, and executive producer |
| Year | Title | Role | 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" |