Lil Rel Howery

Milton "Lil Rel" Howery Jr. (born December 17, 1979) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is known for playing Robert Carmichael in NBC's television comedy series The Carmichael Show (2015–2017) and Rod Williams in the horror film Get Out. He starred in the short-lived TV series Rel (2018–2019), which he created and co-produced.

Early life Milton Howery Jr. grew up on the West Side of Chicago, the son of Nancy and Milton. He attended Providence St. Mel School from fifth grade to ninth. He transferred to Crane High School. At Crane, Howery wrote jokes and created a script in a senior talent show, after which he decided to pursue comedy professionally.

Career Howery began performing comedy in Chicago. He made his television debut in January 2007 on the reality television competition Last Comic Standing. The same year, he was on P. Diddy Presents: The Bad Boys of Comedy on HBO. In 2009, he was part of America's National Night Out Against Crime in Chicago.

In 2012, Howery and five other comedians starred in Fox's revival of the 1990s sketch program In Living Color. The show was canceled in 2013. Howery went on to work as a writer, producer, and one of the regular cast members of the truTV sketch comedy series Friends of the People. In 2015, he began co-starring as Bobby Carmichael on the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show alongside the show's creator, Jerrod Carmichael.

In early 2016, Netflix added Howery's first exclusive solo stand-up special, Kevin Hart Presents: Lil Rel: , for streaming in the United States.

Howery won the 2017 "Best Comedic Performance" MTV Movie & TV Award for his performance in Jordan Peele's satirical horror film Get Out.

On May 10, 2018, Fox picked up Rel, a sitcom starring Howery in the lead role and Jerrod Carmichael and Mike Scully serving as executive producers. Howery said the show is loosely based on his own life, including being a divorced father. The series premiered September 9, 2018.

Howery starred alongside Ryan Reynolds in the comedy film Free Guy. He played Buddy, a security guard.

From 2019 to 2022, Howery played the character Bishop on the HBO Max sitcom South Side.

In 2019, HBO released Howery's second stand-up special, Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw. His third special, I said it. Y'all thinking it. was filmed in his hometown of Chicago and released in 2022. He starred in several films from 2022 to 2023 such as I Love My Dad, Deep Water, and Vacation Friends 2. In 2024, he would have a role in the film adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon, playing Harold's friend Moose.

Personal life Howery married Verina Robinson on November 24, 2008. They have two children. The couple divorced in 2017.

In June 2016, Howery was a passenger in a vehicle that struck another car in University Village, Chicago. The driver in the other car argued with Howery and called 911, claiming that Howery had punched him in the face. The driver of the car in which Howery was riding drove away without him. The driver sued Howery for injuries suffered during the fight.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2017 Get Out Rod Williams 2018 Tag Reggie Uncle Drew Dax Winslow Bird Box Charlie 2019 Brittany Runs a Marathon Demetrius Good Boys Lucas' Dad The Angry Birds Movie 2 Alex (voice) 2020 The Photograph Kyle Clouds Milton Weaver Home Jayden Also executive producer 2021 Judas and the Black Messiah Wayne Tom & Jerry Tom's shoulder devil and angel (voice) Bad Trip Bud Malone Fatherhood Jordan Space Jam: A New Legacy Himself (Game Announcer) Cameo Free Guy Buddy Vacation Friends Marcus Parker National Champions Coach Ronnie Dunn 2022 I Love My Dad Jimmy Spin Me Round Paul Deep Water Grant Luck Marv (voice) Bromates Jonesie 2023 The Out-Laws Tyree Vacation Friends 2 Marcus Parker We Grown Now Jason Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Sam Stringer (voice) The Mill Joe Dashing Through the Snow Nick Good Burger 2 Cecil McNevin 2024 Reunion Ray Also producer Harold and the Purple Crayon Moose Also voice 2025 One of Them Days The Buyer Dog Man Chief (voice) Too Good Michael Short film; post-production Code 3 Mike Also executive producer Haunted Heist TBA Also director and producer Unexpected Christmas Richard 2026 F*ck Valentine's Day Steve 2027 Animal Friends TBA Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2014 Friends of the People Various Writer, producer, cast 2015 Kevin Hart Presents: Lil Rel: RELevent Himself Standup special 2015–17 The Carmichael Show Bobby Carmichael Starring role2016 Acting Out Himself2017 Insecure Quentin 5 episodes Drop the MicHimself Episode: "Nicole Scherzinger vs. Lil Rel Howery / Charlie Puth vs. Backstreet Boys" 2018 Lip Sync Battle Episode: "Lil Rel Howery vs. Naya Rivera" 2018–19 Rel Rel Main role2018 The Comedy Central Roast Himself Episode: "Bruce Willis" The Bobby Brown Story Brian Irvine 2 episodes2019 Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Virtuous St. Goodberry (voice) Episode: "The Eye of Pincosta" The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Chuckles (voice) Episode: "If You Can't Beat 'em, Totem! or It's Raining Gems!" South Side Bishop 3 episodes Sherman's Showcase Himself Episode: “The Ladies of Showcase”A Black Lady Sketch ShowFake ManagerEpisode: "Born at Night, But Not Last Night" Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw Himself Standup special 2019–2025 Craig of the Creek Darnell (voice) 3 episodes 2020 The Chi Zeke Remnick 2 episodes 2021 Nailed It! Himself Episode: "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Cake" Small Fortune Host Also executive producer 2022 Eureka! Rollo (voice) Main roleI said it. Y'all thinking it.HimselfStandup specialWe Baby BearsUncle Orion Episode: "Uncle Orion"2023Poker FaceTaffy BoyleEpisode: "The Stall"HarlemFreddie WilsonEpisode: "As Assist from the Sidelines"2025The StudioHimselfEpisode: "Casting" Win or Lose James (voice) 3 episodes2026 Diarra from Detroit"Film School"Episode: "Michigan Jones and the Brightmoor Adventure"