‘Insecure’ Turns 5! Here’s What the Cast Is Up to Now - Black Therapy Today
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‘Insecure’ Turns 5! Here’s What the Cast Is Up to Now

‘Insecure’ Turns 5! Here’s What the Cast Is Up to Now

As hard as it may be to believe, 2026 marks the five-year anniversary of Issa Rae’s iconic show, “Insecure.” The show–which centered around the life and times of Issa Dee, her crew of friends, and the ups and downs of living, loving and working in Los Angeles–became a cultural staple and helped usher back “appointment television,” especially where millennials were concerned.

Across the shows five seasons, “Insecure” secured multiple Emmy, Critics Choice and NAACP Image award nominations and a handful of wins; prompted multiple internet memes and GIFs; and served a template for what modern-day, successful shows about a group of friends existing looked like.

So in honor of the show and it’s undeniable legacy that we thought we’d check in to see exactly what the cast is up to now and the successes they’ve garnered in the time since “Insecure” went off the air. Keep reading to find out more!

Issa Rae- “Issa Dee”

MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 09: Actress and producer Issa Rae attends HBO Max’s “Seen & Heard Part 2” screening during Martha’s Vineyard African American 23rd Film Festival at Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center on August 09, 2025 in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

To say Issa Rae’s Hollywood career has continuously been in an upswing since “Insecure” ended in 2021 would arguably be putting it lightly. She’s been in numerous films since the show said goodbye like the Oscar-winning “American Fiction,” “Barbie” (where she played the president), “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” She also produced the popular 2025 comedy, “One of Them Days” starring SZA and Keke Palmer. Outside of Hollywood, Rae has leaned more into her entrepreneurial side by launching her own brand of (delicious) prosecco, Viarae and in 2024, her first fine dining restaurant, Somerville.

Yvonne Orji- “Molly Carter”

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: Yvonne Orji attends the 85th Annual Peabody Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on June 01, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

The same year “Insecure” came to an end was the same year that Yvonne Orji released her memoir” Bamboozled by Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams” and starred in “Vacation Friends” starring opposite Lil Rel Howery and John Cena. Two years later, she combatted a Juneteenth killer in the hilarious movie, “The Blackening,” secured a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television, and filmed the sequel, “Vacation Friends 2.” In 2025, she landed a gig as the host for Netflix’s “Pop the Balloon” live dating series and made her directorial debut with the short film “Jamaal: A Day in the Life of a Black Man With No Additional Trauma.”

Natasha Rothwell- “Kelli Prenny”

Natasha Rothwell attends the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO Original Series “The White Lotus” Season 3 at Paramount Theatre on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

First things first–let us just say that we wanted a second season of Natasha Rothwell’s 2024 Hulu show, “How to Die Alone!” We were robbed, OK?! Anyway, thankfully, things are still looking up for her as she’s been in some pretty cool projects since then like “The White Lotus” and overall since “Insecure” ended, like the Timothy Chalamet-led film, “Wonka” in 2023 and the animated film “Wish.”

Amanda Seales- “Tiffany DuBois”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: Amanda Seales attends the Inaugural Global South Renaissance Gala hosted by Slow Factory at Universalist Church on September 21, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

2025 Root 100 honoree Amanda Seales, who portrayed the bougie but funny Tiffany DuBois, has spent much her time post-“Insecure” speaking truth to power through her podcast “Small Doses with Amanda Seales” and her eponymous show. And while she may have had a few viral moments thanks to her 2024 interview with Shannon Sharpe and that Jubilee video where she debated against 20 conservatives–it’s been a minute since we’ve seen her on-camera. But 2026 might change that and she could be back on our screens in no time. Only time will tell.

Jay Ellis- “Lawrence Walker”

Jay Ellis at the “All Her Fault” New York Premiere held at the SVA Theater on November 03, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Adela Loconte/Variety via Getty Images)

Similar to Rae, Jay Ellis (a.k.a. Lawrence) has also been on a consistent run since “Insecure.” Whether its starring in major movies like “Top Gun: Maverick” or “Freaky Tales” or binge-worthy shows like “Running Point” and “All Her Fault”–there’s no debating that Ellis has been booked and busy! Somehow, he’s also released a memoir, had a baby, and completed an off-Broadway play Duke & Roya. (Wow, all of this and we don’t have any Woot-Woots on our phone, go figure). Anyways, keep it up, Jay!

Christina Elmore- “Condola Hayes”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 07: Christina Elmore attends the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on March 07, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

While being an actress and playing the woman who arguably broke up Issa and Lawrence’s reconciliation–otherwise known as Condola (not to be confused with Condolezza/Condolences/Contraception/Crayola)–was fun for Christina Elmore, we can bet that she’s having a lot of fun as a mommy to her third child. She welcomed her daughter in 2024, which was the same year the HBO show “The Girl on the Bus” came out.

Sarunas Jackson- “Dro Peña”

PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 26: Sarunas J. Jackson at The Vulture Spot at Sundance Film Festival at The Vulture Spot on January 26, 2025 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Vox Media)

While we still have some outstanding questions about the true nature of Dro (played by Sarunas Jackson) and Candace’s marriage, we can truly say that Jackson took on the role effortlessly. That’s probably why he was able secure a longstanding gig on Freeform’s “Good Trouble” and later in Apple TV’s 2025 hit show, “Presumed Innocent,” starring alongside acting heavy-hitters like Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga.

Jean Elie- “Ahmal Dee”

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Jean Elie attends the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award ceremony during the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on February 08, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Life has been pretty good for Jean Elie, who hilariously played Issa’s gay little brother. In addition to co-creating AllBlk’s popular show “Send Help” alongside Mike Gauyo, he’s also in the process of crowdfunding for a new vertical series “Living Practical.” For just $10 as part of his Patreon subscription, people can receive a producer credit on the show and a share in 30 percent of the revenue the show generates. In between all of that, he also starred in the 2023 film “Another Happy Day” and served as a creative consultant on the forthcoming Disney+ show, “Wonder Man,” starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. On a personal front, Elie married the love of his life and welcomed their first child in July 2025.

Kendrick Sampson- “Nathan Campbell”

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 06: Kendrick Sampson attends the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 06, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kendrick Sampson (a.k.a. Lyft Bae) may not have gotten the happy ended some fans wanted at the end of “Insecure,” but things have definitely looked up for him in the year’s since the show’s ending. In addition to starring in a cute, Prime Video romcom, “Something From Tiffanys,” he’s also set to star as Quincy Jones in the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, which hits theaters April 2026. His activism is also still going strong through both his organization BLD PWR and his personal social media presence.

Y’lan Noel- “Daniel King”

Y’lan Noel at the “Lady in the Lake” New York premiere held at the Museum of Arts and Design on July 11, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty Images)

If you were looking to keep up with fine-ass Daniel, played by Y’lan Noel on social media since “Insecure” said goodbye in 2021–you’d have better luck trying to find a needle in a haystack as Noel doesn’t post like that. Instead, you’re going to have to be intentional about catching his onscreen work such as the 2024 Apple TV period drama series, “Lady in the Lake,” the satirical thriller film “A Lot of Nothing,” or have a keen ear to pick out some of his voice acting like he did in “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.”

Wade Allain-Marcus- “Derek DuBois”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 02: Wade Allain-Marcus attends the Los Angeles premiere of “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” at The Grove on April 02, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

Things have been somewhat quiet when it comes to Wade Allain-Marcus–that is, if you don’t count his film remake of “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” which came out in 2024. The film had a theatrical release before finding a home on BET+. If television is more your speed, then check him out in the British, psychological thriller “Eric” on Netflix.

Leonard Robinson- “Taurean Jackson”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 23: Leonard Robinson attends the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations Presents Improv Panel at The Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists on January 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA)

Though comedic actor Leonard Robinson, who played Molly’s coworker-turned-hubby Taurean, took about an eight month break from doing comedy due to the sad death of his father in 2024, he’s since returned to comedy clubs, performing hilarious sets and connecting with fans and others through good laughs and a good time. You can currently catch him putting on or acting in productions at the Groundlings Theater in LA, if you’re in Southern California. If TV is more your speed, then check him out in the “Mythic Quest” spinoff “Side Quest,” which aired in March 2025 on Apple TV.

Tristen J. Winger- “Thug Yoda”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: Tristen J. Winger attends HBO’s Final Season Premiere Of “Insecure” on October 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/FilmMagic)

You can thank Tristen J. Winger’s character Thug Yoda for making it almost second-nature to pronounce all words beginning with a “c” with a “b” instead (ex: Blorox bleach instead of Chlorox bleach, bare bears instead of Care Bears, you get the picture.) But outside of hilariously changing the cultural lexicon, Winger has also had more time in front of the camera since “Insecure’s” ending thanks to the short-lived CBS comedy, “So Help Me Todd.” He’s also done some voice acting on Adult Swim’s “Oh My God… Yes!”

Neil Brown Jr. – “Chad Kerr”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 02: Neil Brown Jr. attends the Los Angeles premiere of “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” at The Grove on April 02, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

We think we can all agree that there was no other person who could’ve perfectly played Chad like Neil Brown Jr. did. Thankfully, his comedic talents and overall acting prowess helped him secure roles in other projects like “Seal Team,”(which aired for seven seasons, ending in October 2024), “The Equalizer,” “The Walking Dead, “and more. In April 2025, Brown Jr. was announced as one of the cast members for the upcoming “Martin” spinoff on BET+, “Varnell Hill.”

Alexander Hodge- “Andrew Tan”

Alexander Hodge at the premiere of “Easter Sunday” held at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 2, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images)

Though we’re ultimately happy Molly got her happy ending in the end, we still need justice for AsianBae, a.k.a. Andre Tan who was played by Alexander Hodge because he was a good dude! Regardless, it looks as if life has been good to Hodge in real life as he’s been able to secure roles in multiple television and film projects since “Insecure” went off the air, including: “Gross Pointe Garden Society” (2025), “Joy Ride” (2023), “She Taught Love” (2024), “Which Brings Me to You” (2023), and more.

Leon Thomas- “Neighbor Bae”

Leon Thomas III at the iHeartRadio 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2025 Presented by Capital One held at Intuit Dome on December 05, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Billboard via Getty Images)

While some Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” fans may have immediately recognized Leon Thomas as Neighbor Bae in “Insecure,” others got their first glimpse at an artist who would soon go from being in the background as a pretty successful singer-songwriter for other big name stars to Grammy-nominated music artist himself years later. Though he may have temporarily put down his acting bag, he picked up his music bag and went full-speed ahead thanks to the release of his 2024 album “Mutt and the subsequent “Mutt: Deluxe” in 2025– of which earned him six nominations at the 2026 Grammys. He’s also set to go on tour with Bruno Mars later in the year.