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Zainab Johnson

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Zainab Johnson
Zainab Johnson performing standup at Soul Joel's in Pottstown, PA on January 27, 2024
Born
Harlem, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Comedian, actress
Known forLast Comic Standing, Upload

Zainab Johnson is a Yemeni-American comedian and actress. She is best known as a semi-finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing. Johnson is a series regular on Amazon's Upload.[1]

Life

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Johnson was born and raised in Harlem, New York, one of thirteen children of a devout Muslim family.[2] She received her bachelor's degree in mathematics with the intention of becoming a teacher.[2][3]

Johnson later moved to Los Angeles to become an actress.[4] She took a job as a production assistant for comedy shows and began to cultivate an interest in comedy.[4] She gained wider visibility when she appeared on season 8 of Last Comic Standing.[4] Johnson advanced as a semi-finalist.[5]

Career

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Johnson performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2018

In 2016, Johnson appeared on the HBO special All Def Comedy.[6] In 2017, it was announced that a project created and starring Johnson was in development via Wanda Sykes' production company at ABC.[5] That year, she co-starred in the web series Avant-Guardians, opposite series creator Alesia Etinoff.[7]

She was named to Variety's 10 Comics to Watch for 2019.[8]

Johnson co-hosts the Netflix series 100 Humans.[9] She also has a recurring role in the 2020 Amazon series, Upload.[1][10]

Johnson's comedy special entitled Hijabs Off was released as an Amazon Original program on October 20, 2023.

References

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  1. ^ a b Sippell, Margeaux (October 11, 2018). "TV Roundup: Sanaa Lathan Joins 'Twilight Zone' Reboot at CBS All Access". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Friedrich, Adam (February 26, 2019). "Getting Honest With Comedian Zainab Johnson". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. ^ "Zainab Johnson on Women in Comedy and Her Upcoming Sitcom". That's Online. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "For Zainab Johnson, convincing people she's Peter Pan, not Rufio, is taking time". Los Angeles Times. July 20, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "ABC Puts Into Development a Comedy About a Muslim Model, from Zainab Johnson & Wanda Sykes". shadowandact.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Petski, Denise (October 14, 2016). "Russell Simmons' 'All Def Comedy' Stand-Up Special Set On HBO". Deadline. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "'Avant-Guardian' Is The Woke Web Series You Need To Watch". bust.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  8. ^ "Variety Announces 10 Comics to Watch for 2019". Variety. June 13, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "'100 Humans' On Netflix Is A Great Show To Virtually Watch With Your Friends". Bustle. March 23, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (February 20, 2020). "'Upload': Kevin Bigley, Allegra Edwards & Zainab Johnson To Star In Amazon Series; Three More Cast". Deadline. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
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