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Rick Najera

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki



Rick Najera is a Mexican American writer, actor, producer and director. Some of his major credits include creating the Broadway comedy Latinologues, starring Eugenio Derbez, Jamie Camille and Fernando Carrillo.[1] He has been a writer on such TV shows such as MADtv, In Living Color and Culture Clash.[2] Najera penned the comedy film Nothing Like the Holidays[2], which starred Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo and Debra Messing and in turn, the film garnered him the Prestigious ALMA Award for screenwriting in 2009.[3] Honored twice by Hispanic Business Magazine as the 100 Most Influential Latinos in America[4]

Najera was the Vice President of Development at LATV[5] , a bilingual network, and since 2005 has been director of CBS’s Diversity Comedy Showcase.[6]

Early Life[edit]

Najera was born in La Mesa, California, the son of Edward Najera and Mary Najera. His mother was a waitress and father worked for the government, fixing jets and helicopters at North Island Naval Station. He began working and telling stories to overcome his shyness at age eight. Najera went to the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and got into their touring show, playing in and loving the works of Shakespeare at a young age. Since starting at the Old Globe Theatre, Rick has worked at South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, San Diego Repertory Theatre and the La Jolla Playhouse.[7] His first original monologue turned play was called Latins Anonymous[7] , which was inspired by a true story of bullying from childhood. Latins Anonymous went on to many regional theatres and then a development deal at Universal Studios.

He graduated from Grossemont High School, attended a local junior college in San Diego and then went to graduate school at the American Conservatory Theatre[7] in San Francisco to study acting. He graduated from their prestigious MFA program.

Career[edit]

Najera moved to Hollywood after graduating from ACT to begin his acting career. His first movie role was in a low budget film called Red Surf with George Clooney and Gene Simmons.[2] He then went on to act in numerous roles for film and TV like Falcon Crest, Columbo, Little Nikita, The West Wing, A Day Without a Mexican.[2] His career began to develop further when after writing several plays and performing his original works around the country, he was accepted into the Warner Brothers writing program. After learning improv’s golden rule of saying “yes” to every scenario at Second City[7] in Chicago, Rick was then given the opportunity to write for the diversely seminal comedy sketch show called In Living Color, a show that started the careers of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans, as well as Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, and Jennifer Lopez.[2] It was the biggest show of its time in sketch comedy. After In Living Color, Rick continued to work in television writing for such shows as Townsend Television, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and countless pilots for all the major studios in addition to pivotal comedy sketch shows, MADtv and Culture Clash for Fox.[2] MADtv earned Rick two nominations from the Writers Guild of America in the category of comedy/variety series.[8] He created, wrote and starred in his own sketch comedy show, BBQ Bill[2] , which was featured on CBS Innertube, one of the first online comedies for a major network in 2006. His writing/acting credits also include the critically acclaimed award-winning stage works, Latinologues[1] (Broadway), interactive musical comedy Sweet 15 Quinceañera[7] and Diary of a Dad Man which premiered on the Showtime Network in January 2011, directed by Gary Blumsack.[9] As one of the only three Latinos in history to write and star in his own show on Broadway, Najera made his Broadway debut with Latinologues. The show triumphed on Broadway at the historic Helen Hayes Theatre[1] for a four-month run (137 performances with an extension); a historical achievement for a Latino-oriented show. Najera’s show on Broadway was directed by comic legend Cheech Marin.[1] With more than a 15-year history of performances, Latinologues has toured the nation to sold out houses and standing ovations. Latinologues is the longest running and only showcase of its kind for Latinos in America, and Najera has mentored and directed more than 150 actors in the show. Najera has authored numerous plays including, Latins Anonymous[7] , Peculiar People, A Quiet Love, and The Pain of the Macho.[10] Three of his plays are compiled into his book, Pain of the Macho, which is required reading in several universities. He recently published Latinologues.[11] Najera is currently finishing his book set to be published by Hay House under Tavis Smiley[12] banner.

For the last seven years, Rick Najera has been working with Fern Orenstein, the Vice President of Casting at CBS, directing and producing the studio’s Diversity Talent Showcase, arguably the most important showcase in the industry.[6] It has been such a success and given many actors their start in the industry with over sixteen actors receiving recurring roles on hit TV shows working in the industry today.

Recently, Najera executive produced and wrote the TV comedy pilot entitled The B Gate for Jennifer Lopez's company, Nuyorican Productions.[13] As a speaker Najera has spoken at the World Bank in Washington D.C. in addition to Google for the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit.[14]

Social Activism[edit]

Rick Najera has always been involved in social activism for the Latino community in addition to all aspects of diversity-related issues. Hundreds of actors have been mentored by Mr. Najera during his eight years at CBS as well as hundreds of actors in his plays.

In the public education sector, Rick Najera currently helms the advocacy group I AM 38, a public advocacy group in support of California education initiative Prop 38, also known as Our Children, Our Future, a November 2012 ballot measure that hopes to raise over $10 billion in new dedicated funding to help kids succeed in school and in life.

Personal Life[edit]

Rick and Susie Najera have two daughters, Sonora and Kennedy and a son Julian.

Filmography[edit]

Writer

  • 2012 Taco Shop (screenplay) (post-production)
  • 2010 Maria Costa's Macho Men and the Women Who Love Them (writer)
  • 2008 Nothing Like the Holidays (screenplay)
  • 2008 Loco Comedy Jam Volume 1 (video)
  • 2007 [[Ceasar and Chuy\\ (TV series)
  • 2007 The Pain of the Macho (short) (written by)
  • 2007 The Homies Hip Hop Show (TV series)
  • 2006 BBQ Bill (video short)
  • 2003-2005 MADtv (TV series)
  • 1998 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV series)
  • 1993 Townsend Television (TV series)
  • 1992-1993 In Living Color (TV series)

Actor

Producer

  • 2012 Taco Shop (executive producer) (post-production)
  • 2011 Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival (TV series) (executive producer - 1 episode)
  • 2008 Comics Without Borders (TV series) (consulting producer - 9 episodes)
  • 2007 Ceasar and Chuy (TV series) (executive producer - 2007)
  • 2007 The Homies Hip Hop Show (TV series) (executive producer)
  • 2006 BBQ Bill (video short) (executive producer)
  • 1999 Kiki desde Hollywood (TV series) (co-producer)

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Latinologues". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Rick Najera". Internet Movie Data Base. Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Leguizamo, Cruz Win ALMA Awards". CBS News. The Associated Press. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Actor/Writer Rick Najera Makes Nation's Most Influential List". Hispanic Business.com. Hispanic Business, Inc. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "LATV Closes Deal For New Comedic Animated Series". PR Newswire. PR Newswire Association LLC. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Talent Showcases". CBS Diversity. CBS Corporation and CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Churnin, Nancy (7 June 1990). "Not So Anonymous Anymore:..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Awards". Internet Movie Data Base. Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival". Showtime Comedy. Showtime Networks Inc. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Najera, Rick (1997). The Pain of the MacHo and Other Plays. Houston, TX: Arte Publico Press. pp. 1–151. ISBN 9781558851900. Search this book on
  11. ↑ Najera, Rick (2012). Latinologues. Montana: WPR Publishing. pp. 1–202. ISBN 9781889379425. Search this book on
  12. ↑ "Rick Najera Tavis Talks". Tavis Talks. The Smiley Group. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Rick Najera Biography". Celebs 101. onwards. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "Latino Leadership Summit". Hispanic-Net. Hispanic-Net. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

External Links[edit]


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