Karen Williams: I Had To Laugh (2026)

In the early 1980s, Karen Williams stormed the San Francisco Bay Area comedy scene, making history as the first openly lesbian Black comedian to center her material specifically on lesbian experiences. Her sharp wit and piercing social commentary set her apart, and as a feminist and LGBTQ+ advocate, she used humor as both a weapon and a balm. Yet behind the rising star was a single mother fighting to support her kids. In 1988, she launched the HaHa Institute, a project rooted in the belief that laughter can heal. Now, award-winning filmmaker Andrea Meyerson captures Williams' journey on screen—from her relentless struggle to crack the male-dominated comedy club world to the resilience and joy that carried her through. The film blends rare archival performance clips with intimate interviews featuring family, peers like Kate Clinton, Marga Gomez, and Diane Amos, and Karen herself, painting a vivid portrait of a groundbreaking and endlessly creative force.