Yolonda E. Lawrence, a prolific TV writer and producer whose credits span Empire, Riverdale, The First Lady, Bel-Air and Sistas, died unexpectedly in Los Angeles on Friday. She was 56.
A Brooklyn native and Syracuse University graduate, Lawrence moved to L.A. in the early ’90s and learned the business from the ground up. She started as a production assistant and coordinator on series including The Crew and Fox’s 413 Hope St., then became an assistant to showrunners Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin (Chicago Hope, Judging Amy), who helped nurture her voice as a writer.
Lawrence earned her first staff gig on CBS’ Shark in 2006 and quickly built a varied résumé across broadcast and cable: Lincoln Heights, Reaper, Star-Crossed, The Nine Lives of Chloe King and Witches of East End among them.
In 2017–18, she joined The CW’s Riverdale as a writer and supervising producer before moving to Fox’s Empire, where she rose to co-executive producer. On Empire, shot in and around Chicago, Lawrence became a key creative force behind the scenes. She later collaborated with Danny Strong and Stacy A. Littlejohn on a proposed spinoff centered on Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie Lyon.
Recent work reflected her range and currency: Showtime’s anthology The First Lady, Peacock’s Bel-Air and Tyler Perry’s BET hit Sistas. Across rooms and sets, colleagues describe Lawrence as a steady hand with a sharp story sense, a generous collaborator who could break a knotty character arc by afternoon and still make time to champion emerging voices by day’s end.
Beyond the credits, she was a mentor, particularly to young Black creatives, opening doors and offering the practical guidance that turns opportunity into a career. In an industry that often moves too fast, Lawrence was known for bringing grace, rigor and humanity to every room she entered.
She is survived by her mother, Barbara Simon, and siblings Ayana Simon and Craig Simon. A memorial service is being planned for later this month in Los Angeles.
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