Rick Najera is a multifaceted individual with a career spanning across film, television, theatre, and Broadway, boasting a plethora of credits as a comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, and professional speaker. His early career was influenced by Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, Keenan Ivory Wayans, and comedian Cheech Marin, who served as mentors and role models.
Recognizing the scarcity of roles for himself, Najera took the initiative to write his way into Hollywood, landing his first significant writing gig on In Living Color. He 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, which holds the distinction of being the longest-running and only showcase of its kind for Latinos in America. He penned the holiday film, Nothing Like the Holidays, starring Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, and John Leguizamo, which earned him an Alma Award for best writer.
Najera has received numerous accolades, including two WGA nominations for his writing on MADtv. He has been honored twice as one of the 100 Most Influential Latinos in America, along with several other awards.
In 2013, Najera published his fourth book, Almost White: Forced Confessions of a Latino in Hollywood, which garnered a press tour and five-star reviews on Amazon.com. With over 20 years of experience in directing sketch comedy, Najera is a regular contributor to NPR radio and a professional speaker, having delivered talks at esteemed institutions such as The World Bank, Google, Harvard Law School, Wellesley College, Stanford, CBS, CNN, Al Jazeera, UCLA, and more.
Najera is also the writer of the multi-Emmy-nominated Hulu original series, East Los High, and the producer of the talk show, Latino Thought Makers.
