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Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams

9 movies on Netflix

Biography

Tyler James Williams is an American actor and rapper who started performing at age 4. He grew up in Yonkers, New York, and his first screen work included Sesame Street and the voice of Bobby on Little Bill. He rose to fame in 2005 as the title character of Everybody Hates Chris, which ran until 2009 and brought him a Young Artist Award. Later he played Cyrus DeBarge in the Disney Channel movie Let It Shine (2012) and Lionel Higgins in Dear White People (2014), and he had a recurring part on The Walking Dead. His other films include Detroit (2017) and The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021). In 2021 he took the role of Gregory Eddie in the sitcom Abbott Elementary, earning a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and four Emmy nominations.

34years old

Turns 35 on October 9in 360 days

Born October 9, 1992Westchester County
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 9
Career span: 18 years2006 to 2024

Genres

Comedy56%, 5 films
Drama56%, 5 films
Family22%, 2 films
History22%, 2 films
Music22%, 2 films

First and latest

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First role
Williams started acting when he was 4. He voiced Bobby in Little Bill in 2000, taking over from Devon Malik Beckford, and played a character named Tyler on Sesame Street from 2000 to 2005.

Tyler James Williams movies on Netflix

Amber Alert2024IMDb rating 6.1as Shane
The United States vs. Billie Holiday2021IMDb rating 6.3as Lester 'Prez' Young
The Argument2020IMDb rating 4.8as Paul
The Wedding Year2019IMDb rating 5.6as Jake
Detroit2017IMDb rating 7.3as Leon
Dear White People2014IMDb rating 6.1as Lionel Higgins
Peeples2013IMDb rating 5.4as Simon Peeples
Let It Shine2012IMDb rating 6.4as Cyrus
Unaccompanied Minors2006IMDb rating 5.4as Charlie Goldfinch

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Dear White People2014 Comedy, Dramaas Lionel Higgins
IMDb rating 6.127K votes
Detroit2017 Crime, Drama, History, Thrilleras Leon
IMDb rating 7.359K votes
Unaccompanied Minors2006as Charlie Goldfinch
IMDb rating 5.413K votes
Amber Alert2024as Shane
IMDb rating 6.18.9K votes
Let It Shine2012as Cyrus
IMDb rating 6.45.4K votes
The Wedding Year2019as Jake
IMDb rating 5.64.0K votes
Peeples2013as Simon Peeples
IMDb rating 5.45.3K votes
The United States vs. Billie Holiday2021as Lester 'Prez' Young
IMDb rating 6.316K votes

Worked with

Tyler James Williams shares two films with Malcolm Barrett, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Malcolm Barrett

Algee Smith

Keith David

David Koechner

Anthony Mackie

Dennis Haysbert

Kathryn BigelowDirector, 1 film Justin SimienDirector, 1 film

Lee DanielsDirector, 1 film

Films together

Malcolm Barrett2 films together, 2013 to 2014
Malcolm Barrett's page
- Dear White People2014IMDb rating 6.1Williams as Lionel HigginsBarrett as Helmut West
- Peeples2013IMDb rating 5.4Williams as Simon PeeplesBarrett as Chris Walker
Algee Smith2 films together, 2012 to 2017
Algee Smith's page
- Detroit2017IMDb rating 7.3Williams as LeonSmith as Larry Reed
- Let It Shine2012IMDb rating 6.4Williams as CyrusSmith as Da Boss
Keith David1 film together, 2019
Keith David's page
- The Wedding Year2019IMDb rating 5.6Williams as JakeDavid as Preston
David Koechner1 film together, 2006
David Koechner's page
- Unaccompanied Minors2006IMDb rating 5.4Williams as Charlie GoldfinchKoechner as Ernie
Anthony Mackie1 film together, 2017
Anthony Mackie's page
- Detroit2017IMDb rating 7.3Williams as LeonMackie as Greene
Dennis Haysbert1 film together, 2014
Dennis Haysbert's page
- Dear White People2014IMDb rating 6.1Williams as Lionel HigginsHaysbert as Dean Fairbanks
Kathryn BigelowDirector, 1 film, 2017
All films by Kathryn Bigelow
- Detroit2017IMDb rating 7.3Williams as Leon
Justin SimienDirector, 1 film, 2014
All films by Justin Simien
- Dear White People2014IMDb rating 6.1Williams as Lionel Higgins
Lee DanielsDirector, 1 film, 2021
All films by Lee Daniels
- The United States vs. Billie Holiday2021IMDb rating 6.3Williams as Lester 'Prez' Young

Awards

One award and honor, one of them major.

Tyler James Williams's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Golden Globes
2023	Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Abbott Elementary	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.