Salli Richardson

Inspired by director Ava DuVernay, Salli transitioned from acting to directing, beginning with two episodes of "Queen Sugar." Her directing portfolio includes Hulu's "Reprisal," Apple's "SEE," Netflix's "Dear White People," "The Punisher," "Altered Carbon," Starz' "American Gods," Showtime's "The Chi," and ABC's "Scandal." Her work on "Luke Cage" earned her an NAACP Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, and she was nominated for a Hugo Award for Amazon's "Wheel of Time."

Salli's partnership with HBO has been particularly notable. She made history with her 2024 Emmy nomination for Best Director in a Drama Series for "Winning Time: The Rise and Fall of the Lakers Dynasty," becoming the first Black woman nominated in this category in the Emmys' forty-eight-year history. She also received a second nomination as an executive producer for season two of "The Gilded Age" for Best Drama. Additionally, she has two Gracie Award nominations. She is set to direct and executive produce the HBO series "Task," created by Brad Ingelsby, starring Mark Ruffalo, premiering in 2025. She will also return to direct the final two episodes of the third season of "The Gilded Age," also premiering in 2025. Having directed half of the first season of that series and served as an executive producer for all three seasons, her contributions have been significant. When not working, the Chicago native enjoys golfing with her husband, actor/activist Dondre Whitfield, and their two children. She resides in Los Angeles, California.