Yolonda E. Lawrence, a talented television writer and producer who worked on hit shows like Empire, Riverdale, Bel-Air, and The Good Wife, has died at 56. CAA, her agency, said that the entertainment industry veteran died in Los Angeles on October 10, 2025. No one knows what caused the death.
Brooklyn Roots and The Cosby Show as an Inspiration
Lawrence was raised in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. After going to a taping of The Cosby Show with her mom, she fell in love with writing for TV. This event changed the direction of her whole career. She graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, which is very well-known, in 1991. She then moved to Los Angeles right away to follow her dream of working in show business.
Getting into Hollywood
Lawrence began her career in Hollywood as a production assistant and coordinator on shows like The Crew, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Relativity, and 413 Hope Street. Working as an assistant to Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin was her big break. They were in charge of Chicago Hope and Judging Amy. These people were very helpful in making her writing better.
First Job as a Staff Writer
In 2006, Lawrence got her first job as a staff writer on the CBS drama Shark, which starred James Woods. This was the first step in her career as a writer. After that, she became known for her touching stories in a number of dramas for young adults. Some of these are “Lincoln Heights,” “Reaper,” “Star-Crossed,” “The Nine Lives of Chloe King,” and “Witches of East End.”
Major Network Success
From 2017 to 2018, Lawrence was a writer and supervising producer on The CW’s hit show Riverdale. The story of the show was influenced by her work. She then went to Fox’s Empire, where she became co-executive producer. She worked with Danny Strong and Stacy A. Littlejohn on a possible spinoff about Taraji P. Henson’s character.
Newest Projects
Lawrence’s most recent work includes The First Lady on Showtime, Bel-Air on Peacock, and Sistas on BET, which Tyler Perry made. She did a lot of great work, but she also worked hard to help young Black writers and artists. She helped people who wanted to work in TV.
Storytelling Style and Career Impact
She worked in the field for more than thirty years and became known for her love of stories about growing up. These stories often talked about who you are and how strong you are. One thing that made Lawrence’s work stand out throughout her career was that she could write stories that people could relate to.
Remembering and Survivors
Lawrence’s mother, Barbara Simon, and her siblings, Ayana Simon and Craig Simon, are still alive. There will be a memorial service in Los Angeles later this month. Family, friends, and coworkers will get together to remember her life and the great things she did for TV.
