Born the great-grandson of a Pentecostal preacher, David E. Talbert's roots run deep in the business of hope, heart, and inspiration. Having been about that business for 25 years, the acclaimed multi-hyphenate stands tall as one of the highest grossing and most recognizable brands in American theatre. Heralded by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the most prolific theater makers in America," David E. Talbert's heartfelt depictions of life and love, mixed with his ability to infuse comedy in the midst of chaos, have captivated audiences across the country, making Talbert a highly sought-after content creator across all platforms. In 2002, Talbert signed with Simon & Shuster, penning the national bestsellers Baggage Claim and Love on the Dotted Line. The success of both spawned a collaboration with hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg for The Doggy Tale series. In 2008, Talbert made his feature directorial debut with the Sony Pictures comedy First Sunday, starring Ice Cube, Tracy Morgan, and enigmatic comedian Katt Williams - which opened as America's #1 Comedy. In 2013, his second film, Fox Searchlight's Baggage Claim, marked the first time an African American author adapted and directed his own novel. Released in the fall of 2013, the Paula Patton starrer again opened as America's #1 Comedy. In 2015, Talbert's third feature, Universal Pictures' Almost Christmas again took the #1 Comedy spot, quickly becoming the highest grossing and most critically acclaimed film of Talbert's career. Talbert is currently in development on an original half-hour comedy for ABC, produced by LeBron James and Gabrielle Union. This winter will also bring Talbert's highly anticipated fourth feature, the Netflix Original movie El Camino Christmas, written and produced by Hidden Figures helmer Ted Melfi and starring Luke Grimes, Tim Allen, Vincent D'Onofrio, Dax Shepard, and Jessica Alba. David E. Talbert is a graduate of Morgan State University and later attended New York University's accelerated film program. He and his beautiful wife and producing partner Lyn Talbert reside in Southern California with their son Elias.
Friends with Lenny Williams.
