Tyler James Williams (born October 9, 1992) is an American actor. He began his career as a child actor, making several appearances on Saturday Night Live, Little Bill, and Sesame Street.[2] Williams later rose to prominence for playing the role of Chris Rock on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (2005–09). Following this, he starred as songwriter Cyrus DeBarge in the Disney Channel original movie Let It Shine (2012), and Noah on AMC horror television series The Walking Dead (2014–15).
Tyler James Williams | |
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![]() Williams at the 2012 Hollywood Premiere of Disney Channel's Let It Shine. | |
Born | (1992-10-09) October 9, 1992 (age 30) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1996–present |
Relatives | Tyrel Jackson Williams (brother) Tylen Jacob Williams (brother) |
He currently stars as Gregory Eddie on the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which he has received critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nomination.
Additionally, Williams has also appeared in films such as Detroit (2017) and The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021).
Williams was born in Westchester County, New York, and grew up in Yonkers, New York.[3] His mother, Angela Williams, is a counselor, and his father, Le’Roy Williams, is a teacher and retired police sergeant.[3][4] Williams has two younger brothers; Tyrel Jackson Williams (b. 1997) and Tylen Jacob Williams (b. 2001). Both his younger brothers are also actors; Tyrel starred on the Disney XD series Lab Rats as Leo Dooley and Tylen starred on the Nick at Nite sitcom Instant Mom as James Phillips. Williams also appeared on Lab Rats, portraying his brother's character's future self and Instant Mom as his younger brother's family cousin Jamal.[5]
Williams began his acting career at age 4.[6] He later starred in Little Bill as the voice of Bobby, briefly replacing Devon Malik Beckford in 2000, and played himself (or an eponymous character, "Tyler") on the PBS series Sesame Street from 2000 to 2005. He rose to fame in September 2005 by playing the title character in the hit series Everybody Hates Chris,[7] which finished in May 2009. He won a Young Artist Award in 2007 for his work on the show. He was also a guest star in Two for the Money, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the show Hi-Jinks.[citation needed] In late 2009, Williams appeared in the second season of True Jackson, VP as True's love interest Justin "Lil' Shakespeare" Weber in the two-part episode "Flirting with Fame."[8]
In 2012, Williams got the role of Owen in the series Go On.[9] He also played the lead role of Cyrus DeBarge in the Disney Channel original movie Let It Shine[10] alongside Coco Jones, Trevor Jackson, and Brandon Mychal Smith. Williams was also featured on nine songs on the film's soundtrack, showing off his rapping skills. The movie premiered on June 15, 2012, and his songs "Don't Run Away," "Me and You," "Guardian Angel," "Let It Shine" and "Moment of Truth" all received airplay on Radio Disney.[11] The videos were also played frequently on the Disney Channel. Williams also guest starred in the Disney XD series Lab Rats as a future version of the character played by his younger brother Tyrel Jackson Williams.[12]
In 2014, Williams starred in Justin Simien's independent film Dear White People as Lionel Higgins,[13] and was cast as the recurring character Noah on the television series The Walking Dead.[14][15] In 2016, Williams played Russ "Monty" Montgomery in the Criminal Minds spin-off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.[16][17] In 2017, Williams was diagnosed with Crohn's disease after experiencing symptoms for three years. Since his diagnosis, he has undergone treatment, including multiple surgeries.[18] In 2019, Williams was cast as Jake in the movie The Wedding Year, teen romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Sarah Hyland, Jenna Dewan, Matt Shively, and Anna Camp.[19]
In 2020, Williams played the role of Paul in The Argument.[20] In 2021, began playing the role of Gregory Eddie in the ABC Mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary.[21] At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, Williams earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role.[22]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2005 | Two for the Money | Guest at Party | Uncredited |
2006 | The Ant Bully | Blue Teammate #1 (voice) | |
Unaccompanied Minors | Charlie Goldfinch | ||
2013 | Tyler Perry Presents Peeples | Simon Peeples | |
2014 | Dear White People | Lionel Higgins | |
2017 | Detroit | Leon | |
2019 | The Wedding Year | Jake Riddick | |
2020 | The Argument | Paul | |
2021 | The United States vs. Billie Holiday | Lester 'Prez' Young |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999–2003 | Saturday Night Live | Jack Black's adopted son / Young Boy / Entari Shakunte | Episodes: "Heather Graham/Marc Anthony", "John Goodman/Neil Young" and "Jack Black/John Mayer" |
2000 | Sesame Street | Tyler | 10 episodes |
2000–2002 | Little Bill | Bobby | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
2004 | Judge Mooney | Melvin | |
2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Kyle McGovern | Episode: "Parts" |
2005–2009 | Everybody Hates Chris | Chris | Lead role; 88 episodes[23] |
2009 | The Cleaner | Kenji Simon | Episode: "Last American Casualty" |
True Jackson, VP | Justin | Episodes: "Flirting with Fame" and "Little Shakespeare" | |
2010 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Firestorm / Jason Rusch (voice) | Episodes: "A Bat Divided!", "The Siege of Starro!: Part 1" and "Darkseid Descending!" |
Our Show | Television film | ||
2011 | House | Landon | Episode: "Carrot or Stick" |
2012 | Lab Rats | Future Leo | Episode: "Back from the Future" |
Let It Shine | Cyrus DeBarge / Truth | Television film | |
2012–2013 | Go On | Owen Lewis | Series regular |
2014 | Key & Peele | Jaleel White | Episode: "Family Matters" |
2014–2015 | The Walking Dead | Noah | Recurring role; season 5 |
2015 | Criminal Minds | Russ "Monty" Montgomery | Episode: "Beyond Borders" |
Ballers | Water boy | Episode: "Raise Up" | |
Instant Mom | Jamal | Episode: "Jamal in the Family" | |
Comedy Bang! Bang! | Temptation | Episode: "Brie Larson Wears a Billowy Long-Sleeve Shirt and White Saddle Shoes" | |
2016 | RePlay | Nate | Main role; Web series |
2016–2017 | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Russ "Monty" Montgomery | Main role |
2018 | Dear White People | Carson Rhodes | Episodes: "Volume 2: Chapter IV" and "Volume 2: Chapter V" |
2019 | Whiskey Cavalier | Edgar Standish | Main role |
A Black Lady Sketch Show | Rome | Episode: "Where Are My Background Singers?" | |
2021–present | Abbott Elementary | Gregory Eddie | Main Role |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Best Breakthrough Performance | Dear White People | Won |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Abbott Elementary | Nominated |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Everybody Hates Chris | Nominated |
2007 | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Won[24] | |
2008 | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
2009 | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
2010 | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
2018 | Outstanding Independent Motion Picture | Detroit | Won |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | Nominated |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Choice Actor: Comedy | Everybody Hates Chris | Nominated |
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Leading Young Actor (Comedy or Drama) | Everybody Hates Chris | Nominated |
2008 | Best Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young Actor | Won | |
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