Diallo Riddle


Diallo Riddle is an American writer, producer, actor, showrunner, and DJ. He received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on the Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, co-starred in the NBC sitcom Marlon, and has been the co-creator of several different television series.

Early life

Riddle was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the sixth son of artist and curator John Riddle Jr and Carmen Riddle. He attended Benjamin Elijah Mays High School. He attended and graduated from Harvard University.

Career

After attending Harvard University, Riddle first started a sketch comedy group called Cleos Apartment with writing partner Bashir Salahuddin whose members included Robin Thede, Thomas Fraser, Wyatt Cenac, Nika Williams and Nefetari Spencer. That stage show was picked up online by AOL and HBO for a new show called The Message which ran for a full year, 2007.
He also served as a writer first on Comedy Central’s Chocolate News, then as a writer for the television show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon starting in 2008, where he was also a performer. Riddle also co-wrote Slow Jam The News with Barack Obama.
In 2013, Riddle filmed an HBO pilot for a show called The Reporters. Riddle then received a recurring role for the HBO show Silicon Valley. In 2015, HBO ordered a series written by and starring Riddle named Brothers in Atlanta. However, the order was canceled in early 2016.
In 2017, Riddle became a series regular on the network sitcom Marlon, as Stevie, the best friend of Marlon Wayans’ title character.
In 2017, Comedy Central then picked up a new comedy series written by and starring Riddle entitled South Side. That year Riddle was also cast in a recurring role on the drama series Rise. Riddle is also a writer on the TBS series The Last O.G., starring Tracy Morgan. In the film industry, Riddle was involved in the music for the movie Baby Driver. He was also a writer for the television specials Taraji and Terrence’s White Hot Holidays and The Maya Rudolph Show.
On May 3, 2018, it was announced that IFC has picked up to series Sherman's Showcase, a scripted musical variety sketch comedy show which Riddle wrote with his writing partner Bashir Salahuddin. The series is produced by John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co. and is set to air in 2019.
On September 4, 2019, Comedy Central and WBEZ Chicago launched , a groundbreaking podcast collaboration between a public media organization and a cable television partner that celebrates the real-life people and places that inspired the hit scripted comedy series. The 10 episode podcast series is hosted by both Riddle and Salahuddin.

Awards and nominations

In 2011, Riddle was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series through his work on Late Night. He was also nominated for a Writers Guild Award. In 2016 he received an additional nomination from the Writers Guild in the category of Comedy/Variety - Sketch Series for his work on Maya & Marty.