- Rick Najera is a comedian and award-winning actor-writer-director-producer, professional speaker and host with credits in film, television, theatre and Broadway. Early in his career, Najera was inspired and mentored by Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, Keenan Ivory Wayans and comedian Cheech Marin. Realizing there were few roles for him to play, he took matters into his own hands and started writing his way into Hollywood, and landed his first big writing gig on In Living Color. Rick Najera is one of only three Latinos in the history of Broadway to write and star in his own show. Najera made his Broadway debut in 2005 at the Helen Hayes Theatre with his award-winning sketch comedy show, Latinologues (TM), the longest running and only showcase of its kind for Latinos in America. Najera penned the holiday film, Nothing Like the Holidays starring Debra Messing, Alfred Molina and John Leguizamo, which won him an Alma Award for best writer. He was also honored with two WGA nominations for his writing on MADtv. Najera has been honored twice as 100 Most Influential Latinos in America along with several other awards. Rick Najera's fourth book was released in 2013, Almost White: Forced Confessions of a Latino in Hollywood garnering a press tour and five-star reviews on Amazon.com. Rick Najera has directed sketch comedy for more than 20 years. He is a regular contributor to NPR radio and is also a professional speaker (The World Bank, Google, Harvard Law School, Wellesley College, Stanford, CBS, CNN, Al Jazeera, UCLA and more). He is the writer of the multi-Emmy nominated Hulu original series, East Los High and producer of talk show, Latino Thought Makers.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Rick Najera
- Rick Najera is a comedian and nationally acclaimed speaker, award-winning screenwriter-performer-director and author with credits in film, television, theatre, Broadway and new media. Rick Najera is a key influencer with an expansive portfolio of talent.
Currently he is a writer and guest star on hulu's Emmy-nominated original series, East Los High and also directs the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase (in his 11th consecutive year.) Najera recently filmed a television pilot, Color Correct News addressing current news and issues. Najera also developed and hosts the Latino Thought Makers Series (in its third season) for Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, interviewing top industry leaders and community heroes in the industry such as Edward James Olmos, Esai Morales and dozens more.
Najera, a thought maker himself, is a national speaker addressing topics through comedy such as diversity, entertainment, media, politics and more and has spoken at the most prestigious corporations, universities and organizations in America including Google, Harvard, Stanford, The World Bank, CNN, Al Jazeera, CBS, UCLA, NAHREP among others. He also is was also just signed by Latino Rebels, an influential news site and digital network, to develop and create original programming including a new web comedy sketch series.
Rick Najera has directed the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase for the last 11 consecutive years. Najera directs and oversees the show in its entirety, from mentoring the actors, teaching writing and stage performance and presents the most important showcase of talent in the industry. Under his tutelage, more than 65 actors from the showcase have been cast as series regulars or leads in popular television shows including Saturday Night Live (SNL) and The Daily Show and hundreds have gone on to successful careers in the entertainment industry.
Najera's fourth book, Almost White: Forced Confessions of a Latino in Hollywood, has garnered national attention and critical acclaim. In his memoir, Najera explores what it means to be Latino within the ever-changing backdrop of life as a Hollywood creative and offers an insider's view through an ironic yet comedic lens, from in front of the camera to behind. Almost White was awarded Most Inspirational Non-Fiction Book.
A screenwriter by trade, Najera co-wrote the feature film Nothing Like the Holidays starring Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo and Luis Guzman, which won him a prestigious Alma Award. His writing/acting credits also include the nationally acclaimed stage play, Latinologues(TM) on Broadway, and was one of only three Latinos to ever write and star in their own play on Broadway.
He has also written for groundbreaking television comedies such as MAD TV and In Living Color, and currently the Emmy-nominated show on Hulu, East Los High.
Najera has been nominated for two WGA awards for Best Writing for a Comedy/Variety Television Series for his writing on Fox's MAD TV.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Rick Najera
- Latinologues
- He and his wife are the proud parents of three children they are raising in the heart of Los Angeles.
- Najera was honored to perform stand up comedy to U.S. and British troops serving in the military on a trip to the Far East with Armed Forces Entertainment.
- Najera made his Broadway debut in 2005 with his award-winning sketch comedy show, Latinologues(TM) and was directed by comic legend Cheech Marin. The show triumphed on Broadway at the historic Helen Hayes Theatre on W. 44th Street for a four-month run, 137 performances with an extension, a historical achievement for a Latino oriented show. With more than a 15 year history of performances, Latinologues toured the nation to sold-out houses and standing ovations. It is the longest running and only showcase of its kind for Latinos in America.
- Early in his career he was inspired and mentored by Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, Keenen Ivory Wayans and comedian Cheech Marin. Realizing there were few roles for him to play, he took matters into his own hands and started writing his way into Hollywood.
- An artist must create as he must breathe. Without one or the other, he has neither life nor soul.
- Latinos are the solution, not the problem.
- In the end, perhaps it will be the power of the people and art, not politicians and politics that will redefine the Latino American dream.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content