Samaria Johnson, famously known as Sam Jay, is a well-known American multi-hyphenate in the entertainment industry. She has garnered a large following for stand-up comedy shows such as Donna’s Daughter and 3 in the Morning.
Moreover, she has gained international recognition for her work as a writer on the comedy show “Saturday Night Live” and for her roles in various television series, including Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021), Bust Down (2022), and Shrill (2020).
Sam Jay Bio Details
Full name: Samaria Johnson
Famous as: Sam Jay
Gender: Female
Date of birth: January 13, 1982
Age: 42 years old (2024)
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: African-American
Sexual orientation: Lesbian
Marital status: In a relationship
Partner’s name: Yanis Monet
Profession: Comedian, Writer, and Actor
Early Life
Born Samaria Johnson on January 13, 1982, in Atlanta, Sam Jay spent her childhood in the Dorchester area of Boston. She pursued a degree in communications but eventually dropped out due to lack of interest.
Career
While working as a music manager, Sam stumbled upon her love for standup comedy and made her debut in 2012. From there, she started performing at nearby comedy clubs and quickly gained recognition as a talented comedian thanks to her well-received performances.
Sam became increasingly well-known as a comedian and eventually joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” as their first black lesbian writer.
In addition, she has gained recognition for her various other comedy projects such as Black Jeopardy, Take My Wife, Donna’s Daughter, 3 in the Morning, and more.
In 2015, Sam started her acting journey with a minor role in Amanda Seales’s comedy-drama show called “Get Your Life”. However, it was her portrayal of Andrea in the 2018 comedy series “Nobodies” created by Hugh Davidson, Larry Dorf, and Rachel Ramras that catapulted her to international recognition as an actress.
In addition to the aforementioned, Sam has also been involved in various TV shows and web series such as Pause with Sam Jay (2022), Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021), Bust Down (2022), Crank Yankers (2021), Heads Will Roll (2020), Shrill (2020), Broad City (2019), and Take My Wife (2016), among others.
Sam has also produced a variety of comedic shows and television series, such as Donald Glover Presents (2019), That Damn Michael Che (2021), Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning (2020), Kenan (2021), and more.
Personal Life
Sam Jay‘s comedy career has been filled with many humorous moments. However, her partner, interior designer Yanise Monét, understands her sense of humor the best after being together for over 16 years.
As they share their love story from their bright and airy New York City apartment, it’s clear that the couple has a special comedic connection that has developed over time.
Sam and Monét were introduced to each other by mutual acquaintances in Atlanta more than ten years ago. Jay remembers briefly meeting them at a club, but their friend’s car broke down in front of Monét’s house later that evening. “I was digging her,” Jay remembers.
Net Worth
Based on reports from the media, Sam Jay’s current wealth is estimated to be in the range of 6-8 million USD. A major portion of her earnings comes from her involvement in acting, films, television shows, comedy performances, tours, live concerts, and other entrepreneurial pursuits.
