Lee Johnson is a half-Korean, half-Caucasian ex-cellist turned writer from Honolulu, Hawai’i, who often surprises people with her very generic, very male, very NFL-star-sounding name... because she is none of those things. Lee is the only child of an unconventional, artistic family, which meant she got way more attention than she ever wanted, especially when she was butchering Bach on the cello. That failed musical journey became a defining rift with her parents, and an early lesson in identity, ambition, and the art of letting go. Although becoming Yo Yo Lee wasn’t in the cards, listening to movie soundtracks inspired her to become a writer, and music leaves a lasting mark on every story she tells. It was the catalyst for channeling her insecurities into telling stories and using humor as a form of self-acceptance. Influenced by her island upbringing, she uses satire and a touch of the supernatural to explore the absurdity of everyday life, focusing on universal themes that bring people together while honoring their unique identities. Lee’s heartfelt comedies dig into the messiness of identity, home, and belonging, often through the lens of dysfunctional families, offbeat friendships, and second coming-of-age crises. 

When Lee’s not writing, she can be found on the tennis courts hating on pickleball, trying to fulfill her School of Rock dreams by playing “the cellooo” in a rock band, or learning how to speak Korean via K-Pop songs.

• 2025 Co-Wrote/Produced Spam’d Short Film in Honolulu, Hawai’i

• 2024 ‘Ohina Labs Fellow & Winner of the Judge’s Award for Spam’d

• 2024 Disney Entertainment Television Writing Program finalist

• 2023 Paramount Writers Mentoring Program finalist

• In 2022, co-wrote and produced the finale of ABC’s Queens, a hip-hop drama starring Brandy Norwood and Eve, in collaboration with creator and showrunner Zahir McGhee (Harlem’s Kitchen, Scandal)

• Assistant Prop Master & On Set Prop Assistant on:

• Netflix’s Everything Sucks (2018)

• HBO’s Here and Now (2018)

• NBC’s Grimm (2014-2018)

• Credits her Art Department experience for honing her skills in crafting compelling visual stories

Career Highlights & Credentials