Retta

Retta Headshot

Comedian • Actress

Birth Date: July 12, 1978

Age: 45 years old

Birth Place: New Jersey

Inspired by the likes of Roseanne, Drew Carey and Tim Allen, Retta began her career as a stand-up-comedienne before making the leap to television, eventually becoming a permanent fixture on critical darling "Parks and Recreation" (NBC 2009-15) as sassy Benz-loving dating expert Donna Meagle. Born Marietta Sirleaf in New Jersey, Retta initially considered becoming an opera singer before studying for a sociology degree at Duke University, NC. Taking a year out before medical school, she worked as a contract chemist for GlaxoSmithKline but after realizing that medicine wasn't her calling, soon moved to Los Angeles to pursue a comedy career instead. In 1997, Retta made her on-screen debut as a hostess in teen sitcom "Moesha" (UPN 1996-2001) and first started earning money as a stand-up on the college circuit a year later. After winning Comedy Central's Laugh Riots Stand-Up Competition, she performed at Montreal's Just For Laughs festival, and ventured into the film world with minor roles as office manager Bruna in bawdy comedy "Slackers" (2002) and Sad Eyed Sadie in the cameo-filled "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" (2003). Following small parts in TV movie "Complex" (2005) and eponymous sitcoms "Freddie" (ABC 2005-06) and "Rodney" (ABC 2004-06), Retta returned to the big screen as an evidence room cop in twisty legal thriller "Fracture" (2007), became the penultimate notch on Simon Baker's bedpost in the dark sci-fi comedy "Sex and Death 101" (2007) and appeared as a receptionist in South Korean action fantasy "Dragon Wars: D War" (2007). While in 2008, she guested as a hardware store clerk in "It's Always Sunny Philadelphia" (FX, 2005-) and added to her filmography with bit-parts in interconnecting drama "Reservations" (2008), Ice Cube vehicle "First Sunday" (2008) and rom-com "Kissing Cousins" (2008). But she achieved her big break a year later when she was cast as no-nonsense office manager Donna Meagle in the award-winning "Parks and Recreation" (NBC 2009-15), regularly stealing scenes from her more high-profile co-stars with just a single perfectly-delivered one-liner. As Retta's visibility in the show gradually began to increase, she also became an in-demand talk show guest and was invited to host the 3rd Critics TV Choice Awards. While after showing up in an episode of "Kroll Show" (Comedy Central, 2013-15), she appeared as Leah in body image rom-com "Muffin Top: A Love Story" (2014) and Sydney in indie comedy "Sex Ed" (2014).

Credits

ElsbethStream

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Margo Clarke
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The Greatest Hits

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Murder by the Book

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Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary SingalongStream

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Hit Man

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매드 지니어스

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Ugliest House in America: Ugly in Paradise

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The Boys Presents: DiabolicalStream

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2022

Ugliest House in AmericaStream

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The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

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Get Organized With The Home EditStream

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Home Movie: The Princess Bride

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Mom
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A Parks and Recreation Special

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Donna Meagle
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The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation

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DuncanvilleStream

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A Little Late With Lilly Singh

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Good BoysStream

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Lucas' Mom
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Busy Tonight

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Caroline & Friends

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Ruby Hill
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Carpool Karaoke: The SeriesStream

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Live with Kelly and Ryan

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Annie
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The LEGO NINJAGO Movie

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Where's the Money

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To Tell the TruthStream

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Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

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Operator

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The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

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Red Nose Day

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Versus

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Girlfriends' Guide to DivorceStream

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Barbara
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Celebrity Name Game

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The Meredith Vieira Show

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Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

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Muffin Top: A Love Story

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Leah
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Sex Ed

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Sydney
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2014

The Pete Holmes Show

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The Arsenio Hall Show

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Bethenny

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The Real

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Hollywood Game Night

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Drunk HistoryStream

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TrueBlood: Live From the Set

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Anderson Live

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Larry King NowStream

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The Chew

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The Talk

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Funny or Die Presents

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Black Woman
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Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

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Parks and RecreationStream

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Donna Meagle
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2009
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Parks and RecreationStream

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Donna Meagle
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2009
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Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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The Wendy Williams Show

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Kissing Cousins

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Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

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Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen

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Rachael Ray ShowStream

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Fashion Police

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Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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Comedy Central PresentsStream

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News aboutRetta

'Parks and Recreation' cast and crew members on the SAG-AFTRA picket line

‘Parks and Recreation’ Cast Members Reunite on SAG-AFTRA Picket Line

Schoolhouse Rock! celebrates 50 year anniversary on ABC

‘Schoolhouse Rock’ 50th Anniversary Special: What Did You Think?

Jason Biggs, Fortune Feimster, Fozzie Bear, and Ne-Yo for 'Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong'
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‘Schoolhouse Rock!’: Get a First Look at ABC’s Star-Studded 50th Anniversary Singalong (PHOTOS)

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Retta-Led ‘Murder by the Book’ Mystery Drama Pilot Ordered at NBC

Ryan Seacrest in 'Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong'

‘Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong’ Heads to ABC With Host Ryan Seacrest

Good Girls Season 4, Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman, Retta

‘Good Girls’: Retta Says One Person ‘Ruined’ Show’s Chances of a Return (VIDEO)

Good Girls - Mae Whitman, Christina Hendricks, and Retta

‘Good Girls’: Mae Whitman, Christina Hendricks & Retta Reunite (PHOTO)

Retta in Ugliest House in America
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‘Ugliest House in America’ Host Retta on Exploring Atrocious Abodes Across the U.S.

Retta - Good Girls - Season 4

‘Good Girls’ Star Retta Sets Next Gig With HGTV’s ‘Ugliest House in America’

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‘Good Girls’: 5 Big Questions We Still Need Answered

Good Girls season 4 christina hendricks retta mae whitman
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‘Good Girls’: Fans React to the Shocking Series Finale

Mae Whitman, Retta, Christina Hendricks in Good Girls - Season 4

‘Good Girls’ Officially Canceled After 4 Seasons at NBC

Good girls Season 3 cast

‘Good Girls’ Renewed for Season 4 at NBC After Shortened Third Season

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‘Hollywood Game Night’: Nick Jonas, Kristen Bell & Kenan Thompson Play ‘I Love A Charade’ (VIDEO)

Good Girls, Season 3 - Christina Hendricks as Beth and Manny Montana as Rio
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‘Good Girls’ Bosses on Beth & Rio’s Status, Season 3’s Early End & Hopes for the Future

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21 Best ‘Parks and Rec’ Easter Eggs From the Reunion (PHOTOS)

A Parks and Recreation Special cast photo
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The ‘Parks and Rec’ Special Hits a Heavenly Note in Sweet Reunion (RECAP)

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NBC to Air ‘The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation’ Ahead of Cast Reunion Special

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7 ‘Parks and Recreation’ Guest Stars We’d Like to See in the Reunion

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‘Parks and Recreation’ Cast Reuniting for Scripted Special Benefiting Charity

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The Ladies Hit a Roadblock in ‘Powerful’ Episode of ‘Good Girls’ (VIDEO)

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‘Good Girls’: Where Season 2 Left Off & Where Season 3 Could Pick Up

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‘Good Girls’ Cast on ‘No More Workin’ for the Man’ in Season 3 (VIDEO)

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The ‘Parks and Recreation’ Cast in Their First Season vs. Their Last (PHOTOS)

Retta in Good Girls - Season 2
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‘It’s a Tough Go for Them’: Retta on Ruby & Stan’s Status in ‘Good Girls’ Season 2

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A ‘Good Girls’ Season 1 Refresher to Catch You Up Before Season 2

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First Look: The ‘Good Girls’ Are Back in New Season 2 Poster (PHOTO)

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My TV Obsessions: ‘Good Girls’ Star Retta Reveals Who Her Dream Costar Is

Retta as Ruby, Christina Hendricks as Beth, Mae Whitman as Annie on NBC's 'Good Girls'

Roush Review: ‘Good Girls’ Go Bad, Global Crime in ‘McMafia,’ Perils of ‘Living Biblically’

Mae Whitman, Retta, and Christina Hendricks star in Good Girls
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The ‘Good Girls’ Cast on the Show’s Timely Message of Female Empowerment

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‘Good Girls’ Gone Awesome! Cast Comes Clean About Crime & Lost Pants (VIDEO)

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These ‘Good Girls’ Are Taking Their Power Back

Retta as Ruby, Christina Hendricks as Beth, Mae Whitman as Annie on NBC's 'Good Girls'

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Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce
Exclusive

‘Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce’: Abby Makes a Trip to the OBGYN Extremely Uncomfortable (VIDEO)

Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce - Retta as Barbara and Lisa Edelstein as Abby

‘Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce’: Abby and Babs Have ‘Differing Opinions’ in Season 4