Lea DeLaria

Lea DeLaria (born May 23, 1958) is an American comedian, actress, and jazz singer. She gained recognition as the first openly gay comic to appear on American television, with her 1993 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. DeLaria is best known for her portrayal of inmate Carrie 'Big Boo' Black on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019). Her work on Broadway includes notable performances in the revival of The Rocky Horror Show in 2000 and POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive in 2022. Born in Belleville, Illinois, she attended St. Mary's Elementary School and draws inspiration from her Catholic upbringing in her performances.