---
name: "Lil Rel Howery"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/lil-rel-howery"
fi1m_id: "lil-rel-howery"
imdb_id: "nm2577076"
tmdb_id: 1488961
wikidata_id: "Q21067271"
roles: ["Actor","Producer","Director"]
born: "17 December 1979"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-23T21:15:43.167344+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Lil Rel Howery

## Identity

Lil Rel Howery

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lil-rel-howery
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** lil-rel-howery
- **IMDb ID:** nm2577076
- **TMDB ID:** 1488961
- **Wikidata ID:** Q21067271
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Rel_Howery, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21067271, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2577076/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1488961

Actor and producer. Born 17 December 1979 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Producer, Director
- **Born:** 17 December 1979, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 2016–present
- **Also known as:** Milton Howery, Milton "Lil Rel" Howery, 릴렐 호워리, Lil Rel, Ліл Рел Говерлі, لیل رل هاوری
- **Frequently works with:** [Daniel Kaluuya](https://film.one/person/daniel-kaluuya.md), Sean King O'Grady
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 74 (3), 2020s 76 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 73 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Horror 2, Mystery 2, Thriller 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $593m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Rel_Howery, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21067271, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2577076/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1488961

## Coming up

- *God with Us* (2026-11-13), as Gabe
- *Animal Friends* (2027-01-21)

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Get Out*](https://film.one/film/get-out.md) (89), [*Free Guy*](https://film.one/film/free-guy.md) (67)
- **Peacock:** [*Poker Face*](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md) (82)
- **Netflix:** [*Bird Box*](https://film.one/film/bird-box.md) (53)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Lil Rel Howery

> Lil Rel Howery makes a worried friend sound like someone we might actually know. We rate his conversational timing, especially in *Get Out*, but his easy company cannot make up for thin material.

Howery's lines often sound as though he has just thought of them while talking to a friend. In *Get Out* (2017), he plays Rod Williams, the protagonist's quick-thinking best friend and a TSA agent, and makes that friendship feel credible. We laughed with relief because his common sense gives us a break from the film's frightening encounters without making the danger seem trivial. His stand-up rhythms help, but the important thing is that Rod remains a person rather than an excuse to stop for a joke.

The earlier television work includes Bobby Carmichael in *The Carmichael Show* (2015–2017), and his comic partnership with Jerrod Carmichael. *Get Out* was the film breakthrough, followed by *Rel* (2018–2019), the sitcom he co-created and starred in. Subsequent supporting work includes Buddy alongside Ryan Reynolds in *Free Guy* (2021). The recurring best-friend casting makes sense, although it risks treating an actor who can make scripted dialogue sound spontaneous as someone hired merely to keep the lead company.

Jordan Peele gets particular value from Howery because *Get Out* needs its jokes to work alongside fear. The film has some supporting performances that push too hard, but Howery's grounded delivery helps the humour stay within the story. He makes an ordinary person's reactions worth attending to, a useful skill when the surrounding film is making every awkward encounter count. We would rather see that timing tested against difficult situations than supplied with another character whose only purpose is to be agreeable.

He also plays Taffy in *Poker Face* (2023), a warm, funny crime series led by Natasha Lyonne. Its humour and enjoyment of catching a killer make it a sensible home for an actor who can provide levity without disrupting the story. That ease has limits: *I Said It. Y’all Thinking It.* (2022) leans on likeability where the stand-up material needs tightening. Start with *Get Out*, where being good company is only part of the job.

## Biography

Milton "Lil Rel" Howery Jr. (born 17 December 1979) is an American stand-up comedian and actor from Chicago, Illinois.

He began his career in stand-up comedy before gaining wider recognition for his role as Robert Carmichael in the NBC sitcom *The Carmichael Show* (2015–2017). Howery received the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Comedic Performance for his portrayal of Rod Williams in the film *Get Out* (2017).

His other credits include appearances in *Bird Box* (2018), *Free Guy* (2021) and the series *Poker Face* (2023), in which he played Taffy Boyle.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Poker Face* (2023), Fi1m 82, as Taffy — [page](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md)
- *Free Guy* (2021), Fi1m 67, as Buddy — [page](https://film.one/film/free-guy.md)
- *Judas and the Black Messiah* (2021), Fi1m 80, as Wayne — [page](https://film.one/film/judas-and-the-black-messiah.md)
- *Bird Box* (2018), Fi1m 53, as Charlie — [page](https://film.one/film/bird-box.md)
- *Get Out* (2017), Fi1m 89, as Rod Williams — [page](https://film.one/film/get-out.md)
- *Insecure* (2016), Fi1m 81, as Quentin — [page](https://film.one/tv/insecure.md)

## Complete filmography (78)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Animal Friends* (2027), Actor
- *God with Us* (2026), as Gabe
- *Haunted Heist* (2026), as Ron · Director, Producer — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/haunted-heist.md)
- *F Valentine's Day* (2026), as Steve
- *Unexpected Christmas* (2025), as Richard · Executive Producer — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/unexpected-christmas.md)
- *Code 3* (2025), as Mike · Executive Producer
- *Lil Rel Howery: Rel Talk* (2025), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Too Good* (2025), as Michael
- *The Class Reunion* (2025), as Principal Eli Washington
- *The Studio* (2025), series, as Lil Rel Howery — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-studio.md)
- *Win or Lose* (2025), series, as James (voice)
- *Dog Man* (2025), as Chief (voice)
- *One of Them Days* (2025), as The Buyer
- *Harold and the Purple Crayon* (2024), as Moose
- *Reunion* (2024), as Ray Hammond
- *We Grown Now* (2024), as Jason
- *Good Times* (2024), series, as Gabriel / Pigeon #2 (voice), Gabriel (voice), Skoochie (voice)
- *A Hip Hop Story* (2024), as Big Greg
- *Good Burger 2* (2023), as Cecil McNevin
- *Dashing Through the Snow* (2023), as Nick
- *The Mill* (2023), as Joe · Producer
- *PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie* (2023), as Sam Stinger (voice)
- *Vacation Friends 2* (2023), as Marcus
- *The Out-Laws* (2023), as Tyree
- *Poker Face* (2023), series, as Taffy — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md)
- *Lil Rel Howery: I Said It. Y'all Thinking It.* (2022), Writer, Executive Producer
- *Bromates* (2022), as Jonesie
- *Spin Me Round* (2022), as Paul
- *Luck* (2022), as Marvin (voice)
- *I Love My Dad* (2022), as Jimmy
- *Eureka!* (2022), series, as Rollo (voice)
- *Deep Water* (2022), as Grant
- *We Baby Bears* (2022), series, as Uncle Orion / Game Voice (voice), Uncle Orion (voice)
- *National Champions* (2021), as Coach Dunn
- *Harlem* (2021), series, as Freddie Wilson
- *Vacation Friends* (2021), as Marcus
- *Free Guy* (2021), as Buddy — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/free-guy.md)
- *Home* (2021), as Jayden
- *Space Jam: A New Legacy* (2021), as Game Announcer
- *Fatherhood* (2021), as Jordan
- *Bad Trip* (2021), as Bud Malone
- *Judas and the Black Messiah* (2021), as Wayne — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/judas-and-the-black-messiah.md)
- *Tom & Jerry* (2021), as Angel / Devil Tom (voice)
- *Clouds* (2020), as Mr. Weaver
- *Woke* (2020), series, as BPFR T-Shirt (voice)
- *Royalties* (2020), series, as Dwayne D
- *The Photograph* (2020), as Kyle
- *Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw* (2019), Executive Producer, Writer
- *Brittany Runs a Marathon* (2019), as Demetrius
- *Good Boys* (2019), as Lucas' Dad
- *The Angry Birds Movie 2* (2019), as Alex (voice)
- *A Black Lady Sketch Show* (2019), series, as Fake Manager
- *Sherman's Showcase* (2019), series, Actor
- *Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History* (2019), Actor
- *Bird Box* (2018), as Charlie — Fi1m 53, [page](https://film.one/film/bird-box.md)
- *Rel* (2018), series, as Rel · Executive Producer, Story
- *The Bobby Brown Story* (2018), series, as Brian Irvine
- *Uncle Drew* (2018), as Dax Winslow
- *Tag* (2018), as Reggie
- *The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle* (2018), series, as Chuckles (voice)
- *Craig of the Creek* (2018), series, as Darnell (voice), Darnell / Teen #1 (voice)
- *The Chi* (2018), series, as Zeke Remnick
- *Do You Want to See a Dead Body?* (2017), series, Actor
- *Moonlight* (2017), as Joey
- *Get Out* (2017), as Rod Williams — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/get-out.md)
- *Mad Families* (2017), as Ron Ron
- *Insecure* (2016), series, as Quentin — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/insecure.md)
- *Lil Rel Howery: RELevent* (2015), Writer
- *The Carmichael Show* (2015), series, as Bobby Carmichael
- *Friends of the People* (2014), series, as Various
- *Lucas Bros. Moving Co.* (2013), series, as The Champ, Bell, Sub Zero
- *Get a Job* (2010), as Terry
- *The Bench*, Actor
- *Maybe We Should*, as Kevin
- *The Come Up*, Actor
- *Black Stallions*, Actor
- *Peaking*, Actor
- *The Things We Hide*, as Logan

## Gallery

- ![Lil Rel Howery](https://film.one/media/person/295/gallery-2d201b530c91.jpg) Lil Rel Howery — theerin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Lil_Rel.jpg/1280px-Lil_Rel.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of Get Out, Free Guy, Tom & Jerry, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Space Jam: A New Legacy and much more. NYC Jan '18. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/295/gallery-e996492dd961.jpg) Star of Get Out, Free Guy, Tom & Jerry, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Space Jam: A New Legacy and much more. NYC Jan '18. (2018) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Lil_Rel_Howery_%2825770126828%29.jpg/1280px-Lil_Rel_Howery_%2825770126828%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of Get Out, Free Guy, Tom & Jerry, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Space Jam: A New Legacy and much more. NYC Jan '18. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/295/gallery-13a71ee7efbf.jpg) Star of Get Out, Free Guy, Tom & Jerry, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Space Jam: A New Legacy and much more. NYC Jan '18. (2018) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Lil_Rel_Howery_%2825770126828%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Lil_Rel_Howery_%2825770126828%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lil Rel Howery](https://film.one/media/person/295/gallery-7d89916b987e.jpg) Lil Rel Howery — Image via TMDB
- ![Lil Rel Howery](https://film.one/media/person/295/gallery-065bd34337f4.jpg) Lil Rel Howery — Image via TMDB
- ![Lil Rel Howery](https://film.one/media/person/295/gallery-703c93c07188.jpg) Lil Rel Howery — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/lil-rel-howery