Retta, whose real name is Marietta Sirleaf, was born on April 12, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey. She is an American stand-up comedian and actress, best known for her roles in NBC’s Parks and Recreation and Good Girls.
She grew up in New Jersey, specifically in Edison and Cliffwood Beach. After graduating from Matawan Regional High School in 1988, Retta attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where she studied sociology and was pre-med.
Retta was raised in the New Apostolic Church and discovered her talent for making people laugh in the church’s youth group. Her comedic skills gained recognition when she won a TV comedy contest, with support from members of the New Apostolic Church worldwide.
After working as a chemist, Retta pursued her passion for comedy. She performed stand-up at Charlie Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh, North Carolina, before moving to Los Angeles. She started her stand-up career in 1996, officially earning money from it in 1998.
Retta has opened for comedians like Shirley Hemphill and Bobby Collins and appeared on various TV shows, including Parks and Recreation. She became a regular cast member on Parks and Recreation from its third season. In 2018, she co-starred in the NBC series Good Girls.
Besides her acting career, Retta hosted the Critics’ Choice Television Awards in 2013 and appeared on Hollywood Game Night in 2014. She also narrated an audiobook for Welcome to Night Vale in 2015 and participated in Bravo’s Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce.
In 2018, Retta published a book, “So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know,” which includes essays about her weight loss journey and experiences in Hollywood.
In 2022, Retta signed a talent holding deal with NBCUniversal and hosted HGTV’s Ugliest House in America seasons 1, 2, and 3.
In her personal life, Retta dated a man from Georgia who gave her the nickname “Retta” because it sounded like her real name, Marietta. She is a niece by marriage of former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Retta is a fan of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and presented awards at the NHL award ceremonies in Las Vegas in 2014 and 2015.