Desi Lydic

Desi Lydic, born Lani Desmonet Lydic on June 30, 1981, in Louisville, Kentucky, developed an early interest in comedic acting, inspired by Carol Burnett. She began her career in film with an uncredited role in the 2001 parody film ‘Not Another Teen Movie’ and later attended the University of Louisville before moving to Los Angeles to pursue improvisational acting at The Groundlings and Improv Olympic (iO). Her early television credits include appearances in ‘What I Like About You’ (2003), ‘CSI: NY’ (2005), and a notable role in the Spike miniseries ‘Invasion Iowa’ alongside William Shatner. She also featured in film productions, including ‘We Bought a Zoo’ (2011) with Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, and ‘The Babymakers’ (2012) with Olivia Munn, establishing herself in both comedic and dramatic roles.

Lydic gained wider recognition for her portrayal of guidance counselor Valerie Marks in the MTV comedy-drama series ‘Awkward,’ appearing in 73 episodes from 2011 to 2016. A significant turning point in her career occurred in September 2015 when she joined ‘The Daily Show’ as a correspondent. In this role, she combines humor with journalistic responsibility to address critical societal issues. Her work on the show led to the creation of her one-hour special, ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents Desi Lydic: Abroad’ (2019), which explored global gender equality and earned a Writers Guild of America Award nomination. She further produced and wrote ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Remembering RBG – A Nation Ugly Cries with Desi Lydic’ (2020), a tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Lydic has also served as a rotating guest host for ‘The Daily Show’ and is known for the viral series ‘Desi Lydic: Foxsplains,’ which received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performer In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series in 2022.

Her commitment to covering pressing topics such as women’s rights, education, politics, and the economy has positioned her as a sought-after speaker. Lydic has accumulated multiple accolades throughout her career, including three Primetime Emmy wins and several other awards and nominations. Her acting career continues with upcoming projects such as the film ‘Space Cadet’ alongside Emma Roberts and Gabrielle Union. She balances her professional life with her personal life as a mother to one child, born in December 2015, with her husband Gannon Brousseau, whom she married on September 13, 2014.