Dea Lawrence is a multifaceted individual who has made a significant impact in both the entertainment industry and the business world. As a prominent business executive, she currently serves as the Chief Operating and Marketing Officer of Variety, the renowned entertainment industry publication.
In addition to her role at Variety, Dea has also had a successful career as an executive producer, having worked on several TV specials with A&E Networks. Her most recent achievement was winning a Daytime Emmy in December 2023 as the Executive Producer of A&E's "Power of Women Changemakers" television special.
Dea's creative endeavors extend beyond television, as she has also launched a new podcast for Variety, "Variety Confidential, Sex, Money, Murder in Hollywood." She conceptualized and executive produced this podcast, which explores the intriguing stories and scandals of Hollywood.
Before transitioning to business and television, Dea began her career as a theatre actor in New York City. She performed in various off-Broadway, Broadway national tours, and regional theaters. Her theatre experience eventually led her to Los Angeles, where she met her husband, award-winning actor and filmmaker Michael Zelniker.
Dea and actress Saratoga Ballantine collaborated on a comedy act called "White House Chicks," which led to the creation of the documentary film "Troupers." This film explores the lives of actors over 80 in Hollywood and is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Tubi.
Throughout her career, Dea has been committed to giving back to her community. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the advisory board of Exceptional Minds, and a board member of Hollywood in Pixels.
