A newly appointed interim executive director, David P White, lost his wife, Susan Watanabe, to cancer in 2018.
Susan Watanabe, the wife of David White, passed away on August 26, 2018, at the age of 49 after battling brain cancer.
She is survived by David P White and their daughter, Sophia, who was just 9 years old when she passed away.
Susan married David White in 2000 and had built a sound, tight-knit family of three, including their daughter Sophia.
They were married for almost two decades, and their loved ones described Susan as the heart of their family. She always read with Sophia or shared joyful moments with David.
According to the actors’ union, which announced her demise, she was known for her fundraising works and support for new authors, young professionals, and community groups.
Susan was laid to rest on Saturday, September 15, 2025, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills.
In April 2017, Susan’s friends created Susan’s Circle to honor her incredible spirit. The organization, partnered with the Liberty Hill Foundation, supports leaders who inspire others to serve their communities.
After her passing, her family asked for donations to Susan’s Circle.
Susan Watanabe Was a Social Activist and Television Writer!
Born on October 20, 1968, in Chicago, Susan attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and later studied at the University of Illinois.
She earned a graduate degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
Susan worked as a social worker before finding her way into television writing, where she contributed to popular shows like Girlfriends and One on One in the early 2000s.
Her words brought stories to life and connected with audiences across the country; however, it wasn’t her true calling, as Susan’s heart was in activism.
Susan was a fierce supporter of progressive causes, raising money for new authors, young professionals, and community groups.
She even served as president of two neighborhood associations in Los Angeles, where she and David lived.
David P White Has a Diverse Career Journey in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Legal Practice!
Speaking of his career trajectory, David White has served as the CEO of 3CG Ventures since September 2022.
Likewise, White worked remotely from Los Angeles, California, at Ulu Ventures as a strategic advisor from September 2021 until August 2025.
He led at SAG-AFTRA as national executive director and chief negotiator for over a decade from 2009 to June 2021.
Apart from his career in leadership roles, David White has also dived into entrepreneurship.
David White co-founded Entertainment Strategies Group, LLC in 2006 and served as its CEO for three years, focusing on strategies for the entertainment industry.
For four years, he provided legal advice to the Screen Actors Guild in Los Angeles from 2002 to 2006.
Stanford Law School graduate, David White, began his legal career at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, working as an associate from 2000 to 2002.
Early in his career, White led Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Inc. (Y.O.U.) as an executive director from 1993 to 1997.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- David White became the interim executive director, replacing Lloyd Howell Jr, who resigned on July 17, 2025, after serving as the NFLPA’s executive director for just over two years.
- He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy & Economics from the University of Oxford.
