Who are Cord Jefferson’s Parents? Meet Mother Susan M. Haas & Father Wilson C. “Jeff” Jefferson Jr.
Cord Jefferson is a name that has been making waves in the entertainment industry for his brilliant work as a writer and director. He has won an Emmy Award for his contribution to the HBO series Watchmen, and has also written for acclaimed shows like Master of None, The Good Place, and Station Eleven. He recently made his feature directorial debut with the satirical film American Fiction, based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett.
But who are the people behind this talented and successful artist? In this article, we will introduce you to Cord Jefferson’s parents, Susan M. Haas and Wilson C. “Jeff” Jefferson Jr., and explore how they influenced his life and career.
A Diverse and Loving Family
Cord Jefferson was born in January 1982 to a white mother, Susan M. Haas, and a black father, Wilson C. “Jeff” Jefferson Jr. His parents met and fell in love in Tucson, Arizona, where they faced racism and discrimination from Susan’s family, who disowned her for marrying a black man. Despite the challenges, they raised Cord and his two older siblings in a loving and supportive environment.
Cord grew up in a mostly Latino neighborhood, where he was one of the few black students in his school. He developed an interest in sociology and journalism, and looked for ways to make sense of the world and his identity. He attended the College of William & Mary in Virginia, following his father’s footsteps, who graduated from law school there.
Cord Jefferson’s Family – Father and Mother
| Name | Occupation | Birth Year | Birth Place | Education | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cord Jefferson | Writer, Director | 1982 | Tucson, Arizona | College of William & Mary | Emmy Award for Watchmen, Pushcart Prize nomination for The Front House |
| Susan M. Haas | Comic Book Artist | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Wilson C. “Jeff” Jefferson Jr. | Lawyer, Vietnam War Veteran | N/A | N/A | College of William & Mary Law School | N/A |
A Kidney Transplant and a Cancer Battle
Cord Jefferson’s parents divorced when he was 14, but they remained close and involved in his life. In 2008, Cord donated one of his kidneys to his father, who was living in Saudi Arabia and needed a transplant. The experience brought them closer together, and Cord wrote about it in an essay for The Root.
Sadly, Cord’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2013, and he moved back to Tucson to take care of her. He balanced his writing career with his caregiving duties, and felt guilty for not being able to do more. He also struggled with his own health issues, such as atrial fibrillation, which he also wrote about in an essay for Esquire.
Cord’s mother passed away in 2016, after a courageous battle with the disease. He honored her memory by creating the Susan M. Haas Fellowship, which helps unemployed or underemployed journalists break into television writing.
A Tribute to His Parents in Watchmen
One of Cord Jefferson’s most acclaimed works is the Watchmen episode “This Extraordinary Being”, which he co-wrote with Damon Lindelof. The episode explores the origin story of Hooded Justice, the first superhero in the Watchmen universe, who is revealed to be a black man named Will Reeves.
The episode draws inspiration from Cord’s parents and their experiences. For instance, the opening scene shows Will as a young boy watching a movie about Bass Reeves, a real-life black marshal who was also his grandfather. This mirrors Cord’s own discovery of his ancestor, who was also a black marshal in Arizona.
Another scene shows Will being attacked by a group of white supremacists, who try to lynch him and leave him for dead. This is based on a true story that Cord’s father told him, about how he was nearly lynched by a group of white men when he was a teenager.
The episode also pays tribute to Cord’s mother, who was a fan of superhero comics and introduced him to the genre. In the episode, Will’s wife June is a comic book artist who helps him create his Hooded Justice persona.
The episode received critical acclaim and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie. Cord dedicated the award to his parents, saying, “I’m so deeply, deeply proud of them, and I hope that they’re proud of me.”
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A Bright Future Ahead
Jefferson has proven himself to be a versatile and talented writer and director, who can tackle various genres and themes with skill and sensitivity. He has also shown his commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, through his own work and his fellowship program.
He is currently working on several projects, such as the adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel The Underground Railroad for Amazon, and the reboot of Battlestar Galactica for Peacock. He is also developing his own original series for Warner Bros. Television.
Cord Jefferson is a rising star in Hollywood, and he has his parents to thank for his success. They gave him the love, support, and inspiration he needed to pursue his dreams and make his mark on the world.
