Tyler James Williams
Tyler James Williams (born October 9, 1992) is an American actor and rapper best known for playing the title character on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, songwriter Cyrus DeBarge in the Disney Channel movie Let It Shine and Noah on AMC's The Walking Dead. He also had a supporting role on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Tyler James Williams | |
|---|---|
 Williams at the 2012 Hollywood Premiere of Disney Channel's Let It Shine. | |
| Born | October 9, 1992 |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1996–present |
Early life
Williams was born in Westchester County, New York and grew up in Yonkers, New York.[2] His mother, Angela Williams, is a singer and songwriter, and his father, Le’Roy Williams, is a police sergeant.[2][3] Williams has two younger brothers; Tyrel Jackson Williams (b. 1997) and Tylen Jacob Williams (b. 2001). His younger brothers are both 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 had also appeared on Lab Rats, portraying his brother's character's future self and Instant Mom as his younger brother's family cousin Jamal.[4]
Career
Williams began his acting career at age four.[5] 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 children's show 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,[6] which finished in May 2009. He won a Young Artist Award in 2007 for his work on the show. He has also been a guest star in Two for the Money, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the show Hi-Jinks. 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".[7]
In 2012, Williams got the role of Owen in the series Go On. He also played the lead role of Cyrus DeBarge in the Disney Channel Original Movie Let It Shine[8] 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.[9] 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 his little brother Tyrel Jackson Williams played.[10]
In 2014, Williams starred in Justin Simien's 2014 independent film Dear White People as Lionel Higgins.[11]
In 2014, Williams was cast as the recurring character Noah on the television series The Walking Dead.[12][13]
In 2016, Williams played Russ "Monty" Montgomery in the Criminal Minds spin-off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.[14][15]
In 2017, Williams was diagnosed with Crohn's disease after experiencing symptoms for 3 years. He underwent treatment including multiple surgeries for the disease.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Two for the Money | Guest at Party | Uncredited |
| 2006 | The Ant Bully | Blue Teammate #1 | Voice |
| 2006 | 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 |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2005 | Sesame Street | Himself | Various episodes |
| 2000–2002 | Little Bill | Bobby | 6 episodes |
| 2003 | Saturday Night Live | Jack Black's adopted son / Young Boy / Entari Shakunte |
|
| 2004 | Judge Mooney | Melvin | |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Kyle McGovern | "Parts" (Season 6, Episode 22) |
| 2005–2009 | Everybody Hates Chris | Chris | Lead role (88 episodes) |
| 2009 | The Cleaner | Kenji Simon | "Last American Casualty" (Season 2, Episode 2) |
| 2009 | True Jackson, VP | Justin | "Flirting with Fame" (Season 2, Episode 2) |
| 2010 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Firestorm / Jason Rusch | Voice only
|
| 2010 | Our Show | Television film | |
| 2011 | House | Landon | "Carrot or Stick" (Season 7, Episode 10) |
| 2012 | Lab Rats | Future Leo | "Back from the Future" (Season 1, Episode 11) |
| 2012 | Let It Shine | Cyrus DeBarge / Truth | Television film |
| 2012–2013 | Go On | Owen | Series regular; 19 episodes |
| 2014 | Key & Peele | Jaleel White | "Slap-Ass: In Recovery" (Season 4, Episode 4) |
| 2014–2015, 2016 | The Walking Dead | Noah | Season 5 (Recurring role; 10 episodes), Season 7 (Archive footage; 1 episode) |
| 2015 | Criminal Minds | Russ "Monty" Montgomery | "Beyond Borders" (Season 10, Episode 19) |
| 2015 | Ballers | Water boy | "Raise Up" (Season 1, Episode 2) |
| 2015 | Instant Mom | Jamal | (Season 3, Episode 12) |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Temptation | Episode: "Brie Larson Wears a Billowy Long-Sleeve Shirt and White Saddle Shoes" (Season 4, Episode 23) |
| 2016–2017 | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Russ "Monty" Montgomery | Main Role |
| 2018 | Dear White People | Carson Rhodes | Recurring Role |
| 2019 | Whiskey Cavalier | Edgar Standish | Main Role |
| 2019 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Rome | Episode: "Where Are My Background Singers?" |
Awards and nominations
Black Reel Awards
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Best Breakthrough Performance | Dear White People | Won |
NAACP Image Award
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Everybody Hates Chris | Nominated |
| 2007 | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Won | |
| 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 |
Teen Choice Awards
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Choice Actor: Comedy | Everybody Hates Chris | Nominated |
Young Artist Awards
| 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 | Nominated | |
Discography
- Let It Shine Soundtrack (2012)
- Me, My Brother, And A Mic (2015)
References
- "Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
- Tyler James Williams filmreference.com
- Tyler James Williams Biography. Tvguide.com. Retrieved on 2012-06-18.
- "Tyler James Williams Bio". Kidz World. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- "Tyler James Williams: star of Everybody Hates Chris". Ebony. January 1, 2006. Retrieved September 8, 2012. – via Questia Online Library (subscription required)
- "Everybody Hates Chris". teacher.scholastic.com. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- J-14 Magazine (May 6, 2013). "Natasha Bedingfield and Tyler James Williams Guest Star in New True Jackson, VP Movie!". J-14. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- "Tyler James Williams Reveals His Musical Talents In Disney's 'Let It Shine'". HuffPost. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- Walt Disney Records (May 22, 2012). "Walt Disney Records' Let It Shine Soundtrack Boasts Songs By Coco Jones, Tyler James Williams And Other Stars From The Disney Channel Original Movie". PR News Wire. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- jaej (September 6, 2017). "6 Fantastic Facts About Actor and Hip Hop Recording Artist, Tyler Williams". On the Black List. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ""Dear White People" Actor Tyler James Williams Talks To BOSSIP About Race & Sexuality". bossip.com. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- Lesley Goldberg. "'Walking Dead' Adds 'Go On' Alum in New Mystery Role". The Hollywood Reporter.
- "'Walking Dead's' Latest Fatality: Savage Death Will "Rock" Glenn". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- "'Criminal Minds' Episode 10.19 Photos: Meet the FBI's International Unit". www.buddytv.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- Andreeva, Nellie. "Tyler James Williams Cast In 'Criminal Minds' Spinoff". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
External links
Authority control  |
|
|---|