‘Riverdale’ and ‘Empire’ Writer-Producer Passes Away at 56

Yolonda E. Lawrence, the acclaimed television writer and producer behind hits like “Empire” and “Riverdale,” has died at the age of 56.

According to family statements reported by multiple outlets, Lawrence passed away unexpectedly in Los Angeles on Friday. No cause of death has been disclosed.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Lawrence discovered her love for television after attending a taping of “The Cosby Show.”

She pursued that passion academically, earning a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1991. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles determined to break into the TV industry. She began her career as a production assistant and coordinator before eventually joining writers’ rooms.

Lawrence’s first staff writing position came in 2006 on the CBS legal drama “Shark.” She then worked on several young adult dramas, including “Lincoln Heights,” “Reaper,” “Star-Crossed,” and “Witches of East End.” Later, she joined the hit CW series “Riverdale” as a writer and supervising producer from 2017 to 2018.

Her career reached new heights when she became a writer and executive producer on “Empire” for two seasons.

During that time, she was also involved in developing a potential spinoff featuring stars like Taraji P. Henson, Danny Strong, and Stacy A. Littlejohn. More recently, she contributed to shows such as “The First Lady,” “Bel-Air,” and “Sistas.”

Lawrence is survived by her mother, Barbara Simon, and her siblings, Ayana Simon and Craig Simon. The family is planning a memorial service in Los Angeles later this month.

Her work has left a lasting mark on television, blending compelling storytelling with strong character-driven drama. Lawrence’s career shows the impact a dedicated writer and producer can have across multiple generations of TV audiences.

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