Nicole Byer

Byer resides in Los Angeles with her rescue dog, Clyde. She previously shared a home with fellow comedian John Milhiser. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as an adult, she has discussed managing the condition alongside a demanding performance schedule.

An outspoken advocate for body positivity, Byer frequently emphasizes self-acceptance and embracing one's current appearance. Regarding her romantic life, she has stated that she does not identify as straight, is open to dating people of any gender, and prefers not to adopt specific labels such as bisexual or queer.

Byer was born and raised in Middletown Township, New Jersey. She experienced significant family tragedy early in life; her mother died while Byer was in high school, and her father died when she was 21. She turned to comedy as an emotional outlet, finding solace in performance and improv.

After moving to New York City in the early 2000s, Byer worked as a waitress at a restaurant and cabaret club. Customers and coworkers frequently noted that her comedic talent far surpassed her serving skills, prompting her to pursue performing arts full-time. She graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy's Certificate Program in Professional Performance and began training in sketch comedy and improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade in June 2008. By 2013, she had expanded her repertoire to include stand-up comedy.

Byer first gained wide television recognition in 2013 as a regular commentator on the MTV series Girl Code. Her comedic presence led to hosting MTV's Are You the One? The Aftermatch Live and appearing as a series regular on the 2016 Fox sketch show Party Over Here, created by Paul Scheer and The Lonely Island. That same year, she created and starred in the scripted comedy series Loosely Exactly Nicole, a show based on her own experiences navigating Hollywood as a Black actress. The series aired on MTV for one season before moving to Facebook Watch for a second.

In 2018, Byer began hosting the Netflix reality bake-off series Nailed It! alongside head judge Jacques Torres. Her role on the show earned her four consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program, making her the first Black woman nominated in that category. She also joined John Cena as a co-host for the reboot of the obstacle-course competition series Wipeout.

Byer is a prominent voice in comedy podcasting. In December 2017, she launched Why Won't You Date Me?, a weekly show where she and guest comedians candidly discuss dating, sex, and single life. In 2019, she teamed up with longtime collaborator Sasheer Zamata to launch Best Friends, exploring friendship dynamics. She also co-hosts Newcomers with Lauren Lapkus, where the pair watch and critique famous film franchises for the first time, and shares hosting duties on 90 Day Bae with Marcy Jarreau and Drag Her with Mano Agapion.

In 2020, Byer published her debut book, #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: The Fat Girl's Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-in-the-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini, combining comedic commentary with over 100 photos of herself in swimwear. Her first full-length stand-up special, Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo), premiered on Netflix in December 2021 and earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.

In addition to hosting and stand-up, Byer has appeared in numerous live-action and animated productions. Her live-action television credits include recurring appearances as Trudy Judy on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as well as roles in The Good Place, 30 Rock, Transparent, Young & Hungry, Home Economics, and Grand Crew.

As a voice actor, Byer has contributed to animated series such as BoJack Horseman, Bob's Burgers, The Simpsons, Tuca & Bertie, Rugrats, Big City Greens, Invincible, and Star Trek: Lower Decks. Her feature film credits include Other People, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Bad Hair, Valley Girl, The American Society of Magical Negroes, and Thelma.