Retta
Acting
1978-07-12 · Newark, New Jersey, USA
Marietta Sirleaf, better known simply as Retta, is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is mainly known for her starring role as Donna Meagle on NBC's Parks and Recreation. She has appeared in several films and television shows, and has performed stand-up on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. Retta is from New Jersey, and graduated from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She started working in the pharmaceutical research field before moving to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in comedy.Retta started performing stand-up comedy in 1996, although she said she did not start "earning money" until 1998, when she started touring on the college circuit. Retta said she used to get "really nauseated" before a performance, but that the feeling passed with experience.Retta has said her stand-up material tends to be slightly embellished stories from her regular everyday life, family, and friends. She has also made jokes about her obesity. Retta has stated she would give up stand-up comedy for a full-time acting career if possible: "I'm not married to stand-up, just because it's a road thing. It's very lonely with all the traveling.
Filmography
Bad Day
2026 · Movie
TheatersThat Friend
2026 · Movie
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
2025 · Series
Scariest House in America
2024 · Series
The Real Bros of Simi Valley: The Movie
2024 · Movie
Hit Man
2024 · Movie
The Greatest Hits
2024 · Movie
Elsbeth
2024 · Series
80 for Brady
2023 · Movie
Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong
2023 · Movie
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022 · Series
The Boys Presents: Diabolical
2022 · Series
Ugliest House in America
2022 · Series
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
2021 · Series
Get Organized with The Home Edit
2020 · Series
Home Movie: The Princess Bride
2020 · Series
The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation
2020 · Movie
A Parks and Recreation Special
2020 · Movie
Duncanville
2020 · Series
The Morning Show
2019 · Series
A Little Late with Lilly Singh
2019 · Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · Series
Good Boys
2019 · Movie
Where's Waldo?
2019 · Series
A Legendary Christmas with John & Chrissy
2018 · Movie
Good Girls
2018 · Series
Father Figures
2017 · Movie
Where's the Money
2017 · Movie
Big Mouth
2017 · Series
The Lego Ninjago Movie
2017 · Movie
DuckTales
2017 · Series
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
2017 · Series
Band Aid
2017 · Movie
To the Bone
2017 · Movie
Operator
2016 · Movie
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
2016 · Movie
Other People
2016 · Movie
The $100,000 Pyramid
2016 · Series
Match Game
2016 · Series
To Tell the Truth
2016 · Series
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
2015 · Movie
Come Simi
2015 · Movie
Rebel on Ice
2015 · Movie
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce
2014 · Series
Sex Ed
2014 · Movie
Muffin Top: A Love Story
2014 · Movie
Celebrity Name Game
2014 · Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · Series
Hollywood Game Night
2013 · Series
Drunk History
2013 · Series
Key & Peele
2012 · Series
Critics' Choice Television Awards
2011 · Series
Bubble Guppies
2011 · Series
Bob's Burgers
2011 · Series
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Series
Parks and Recreation
2009 · Series
Kissing Cousins
2008 · Movie
First Sunday
2008 · Movie
Dragon Wars: D-War
2007 · Movie
Sex and Death 101
2007 · Movie
Fracture
2007 · Movie
Lipshitz Saves the World
2007 · Series
Freddie
2005 · Series
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2005 · Series
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
2003 · Movie
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Series
Slackers
2002 · Movie
Comedy Central Presents
1998 · Series
Moesha
1996 · Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988 · Series