Justin Simien

Biography

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. 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.

Directed

1. Haunted Mansion (2023) — Director
2. Dear White People (2014) — Director
3. Dear White People (2017) — Director
4. Bad Hair (2021) — Director
5. Hollywood Black (2024) — Director

Also appeared in

1. The Colbert Report (2005) — Self
2. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2012) — Self - Guest Judge
3. Bad Hair (2021) — Reggie Watson
4. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) — Self - Guest
5. The Boulet Brothers' Dragula (2016) — Self - Guest Judge
6. Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) — Self
7. Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror (2022) — Self
8. The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans (2022) — Self - Guest Judge
9. Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television (2025) — Self
10. After Trek (2017)
11. Hollywood Black (2024) — Self
12. Stay for the Q&A (2026) — Victor Zigler, CVS (Cinematographer)