Yolonda E. Lawrence, a veteran television writer and producer who worked on such series as Empire, Riverdale, Bel-Air and The Good Wife among many others, has died. She was 56.
Her agency CAA confirmed that Lawrence died unexpectedly on October 10 in Los Angeles but did not provide a cause.
Born and raised in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood, Lawrence discovered her passion for television writing after attending a taping of The Cosby Show with her mother.
Shortly after graduation from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1991, Lawrence moved to Los Angeles, where she began her career as a production assistant and coordinator in shows including The Crew, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Relativity and 413 Hope Street.
Her big break came when she began assisting showrunners Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin (Chicago Hope, Judging Amy, The Education of Max Bickford). Under their mentorship, she learned the art and discipline of crafting stories that connect deeply with audiences — a lesson she carried throughout her career.
In 2006, Lawrence landed her first staff writing job on the James Woods-led CBS drama Shark. Over the years, she became known for her heartfelt writing on numerous young-adult dramas, including Lincoln Heights, Reaper, Star-Crossed, Witches of East End and The Nine Lives of Chloe King. Her love for coming-of-age stories — especially those centered on identity and resilience — became a hallmark of her work.
Lawrence joined Empire in its fifth season in 2019, serving as co-executive producer for two seasons before being tapped to co-develop a spinoff starring Taraji P. Henson, alongside Danny Strong and Stacy A. Littlejohn, which ultimately did not move forward. She later worked as consulting producer on Showtime’s The First Lady and as co-executive producer on Peacock’s Bel-Air and most recently BET’s Sistas.
Throughout her career, Lawrence was known not only for her creative excellence and sharp wit but also for her generosity of spirit. A dedicated mentor to many, especially young Black creatives, she was deeply committed to helping others find their place in the industry.
Lawrence is survived by her mother, Barbara Simon, and siblings Ayana Simon and Craig Simon. A memorial service in Los Angeles is being planned for later this month.
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