Retta

Comedian • Actress

Birth Name: Marietta Sirleaf

Birth Date: April 12, 1970

Age: 55 years old

Birth Place: Newark, 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

Actor Guest Producer Director Writer Music All Credits

Murder by the Book

Actor

Show

2023

Retta

Comedian • Actress

Birth Name: Marietta Sirleaf

Birth Date: April 12, 1970

Age: 55 years old

Birth Place: Newark, New Jersey

Credits

Scariest House in AmericaStream

ElsbethStream

The Greatest HitsStream

Murder by the Book

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary SingalongStream

Hit ManStream

매드 지니어스

The Jennifer Hudson ShowStream

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

Ugliest House in America: Ugly in Paradise

The Boys Presents: DiabolicalStream

Ugliest House in AmericaStream

Ugliest House in AmericaStream

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Get Organized With The Home EditStream

Home Movie: The Princess Bride

A Parks and Recreation Special

The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation

DuncanvilleStream

A Little Late With Lilly Singh

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Access Daily

Jerry O'

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Good BoysStream

Today 3rd Hour

Busy Tonight

Caroline & Friends

Red Nose Day

The Jess Cagle Interview

Good GirlsStream

Access Live

STEVE on Watch

DuckTalesStream

Carpool Karaoke: The SeriesStream

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Father FiguresStream

The LEGO NINJAGO Movie

Where's the Money

Harry

The $100,000 PyramidStream

Match GameStream

To Tell the TruthStream

Red Nose Day

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Operator

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Red Nose Day

Versus

Girlfriends' Guide to DivorceStream

Celebrity Name Game

The Meredith Vieira Show

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Muffin Top: A Love Story

Sex Ed

The Pete Holmes Show

The Arsenio Hall Show

Bethenny

The Real

Hollywood Game Night

Drunk HistoryStream

TrueBlood: Live From the Set

Anderson Live

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The Chew

ConanStream

The Talk

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Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Parks and RecreationStream

Parks and RecreationStream