Kelly Lynne D'Angelo is a Tuscarora Native American screenwriter, musical artist, cartoonist, and activist.
Early years From an early age, D'Angelo developed an interest in literature. Around the age of 13, she committed herself to writing, starting with stage plays in middle school and continuing to explore this form of writing throughout high school. While studying at Syracuse University, she also wrote sketch comedy, a pursuit she began in high school. Further, she had completed two musicals, several television pilots, and a feature film by the time she graduated from Syracuse.
Career In 2020, she signed a letter as a member of the Committee of Native American and Indigenous Writers of the Writers Guild of America West, openly asking Hollywood to encourage the representation of Native/Indigenous people in film and in television series and programs.
In 2022, she was involved in a controversy within the comic book industry after criticizing the character Matoaka, introduced by writer Jason Aaron in King Conan n°3, inspired by the historical figure of Pocahontas. In the story, Matoaka replicates stereotypical roles associated with Native/Indigenous people, wears an outfit that exposes all of her body, and maintains a relationship with a white man, which can be understood as a comparison with the story of Pocahontas. Eventually, the complaints of D'Angelo and other social media users led Aaron to publish a statement apologizing and donate the money obtained by writing that number.
On August 19, 2024, Disney-owned publisher Marvel Comics announced the publication of the first comic written by D'Angelo. The comic, entitled Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds, stars the Mohawk superheroine Kahhori, which was originally introduced in the Disney+ webseries What If...?. The comic was published on November 6, 2024, in celebration of the National Month of American Indigenous Heritage. The title was also collaborated on by Native/Indigenous creators Ryan Littles, Arihhonni David, David Cutler and Jim Terry, as well as a cover by Afua Richardson.
As a musical artist, she has served as co-creator of the musical Starry, centered on Holland-living brothers Theo and Vincent Van Gogh.
Filmography
As a screenwriter YearTitleNotes2017My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Choose Your Own Ending2 episodes2018Littlest Pet Shop: A World of Our Own2 episodesFuture Proof1 episode2019Final Space13 episodesMao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart5 episodes2021Miracle Workers1 episode2021-2022Tig n' Seek2 episodes2022The Chicken Squad2 episodesSpirit Rangers4 episodes2022-2023My Little Pony: Make Your Mark4 episodes 2023The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj2 episodes
As an actress
Cinema YearTitleRoleNotas2012Community Service: The MoviePsychiatric NurseFilm
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2018-2019Vampire: The Masquerade: L.A. by NightDiane2 episodes 2021Rutherford FallsKim1 episode2022The Dungeon RunHandsome1 episodeThe Dungeon Run: Fortune & FateHandsome1 episode
Works
Lore of Lurue (2021, short story) Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds (2024, Marvel Comics)
Awards and recognitions
2019: Writer of the Year at the annual LA Skins Fest gala 2021: Included in the list "Top 100 accounts to follow on Twitter in 2021" of BroadwayWorld
Personal life D'Angelo is a two-spirit person and belongs to the Tuscarora tribe. She goes by the personal pronouns: she/her and they/them. She also has some Italian ancestry.
External links
Personal website
References