Justin Simien
Justin Simien (born May 7, 1983) is an American filmmaker, actor, and author. His first feature film, Dear White People, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.[1] It was later adapted into the Netflix series of the same name (2017–2021). Simien has also been named to Variety's 2013 "10 Directors to Watch" list.[2]
Justin Simien
Film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, author
Rick Proctor (m. 2022)
U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent
Early life[edit]
Simien was born on May 7, 1983, in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Anna Simien. He was raised Catholic and his father died while Justin was young.[3][4] Raised in the metro area, he attended the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After graduation he studied film at Chapman University in California. Simien worked a number of jobs in Los Angeles prior to directing his first feature film, including social media manager at Sony Television, publicity assistant at Focus Features, and publicity coordinator at Paramount Pictures.[5]
Personal life[edit]
At the 2014 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Dear White People, Simien publicly announced he is gay.[7][8]
On Celebrity Family Feud season 9, episode 3, portrait photographer/comedian Rick Proctor was identified as Simien’s husband.