Lil Rel Howery Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Movies & TV Shows

Lil Rel Howery is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer, celebrated for his breakout role as Rod Williams in Get Out and his work in comedy series like The Carmichael Show and Rel. His sharp wit and relatable humor have made him a prominent figure in Hollywood.

Profile

• Full Name: Milton Howery Jr.
• Stage Name: Lil Rel Howery
• Born: December 17, 1979
• Age: 45 years old
• Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer
• Height: 5 feet 6
• Parents: Milton Howery (father), and Nancy Howery (mother)
• Siblings: Marcus Howery (younger brother, deceased), and Matt Howery (younger brother)
• Spouse: None (previously married to Verina Robinson, 2008–2017) and Dannella Lane
• Children: Brittni Howery (daughter, b. 2009), Judah Howery (son), and Harlem Howery (son, b. 2018)
• Relationship: Engaged
• Net Worth: $2 million to $6 million

Early Life and Education

Milton Howery Jr. was born on December 17, 1979, on Chicago’s West Side to Milton and Nancy Howery. Raised in a vibrant, culturally rich neighborhood, he grew up with two younger brothers, Marcus (deceased) and Matt.

His passion for comedy was ignited at age 11, inspired by Richard Pryor’s autobiography Pryor Convictions and Eddie Murphy’s Delirious. Nicknamed “Lil Rel” for resembling his cousin Darrel during high school basketball, he attended Providence St. Mel School from fifth to ninth grade, then transferred to Crane High School, graduating in 1997.

At Crane, he wrote jokes and a script for a senior talent show, cementing his desire to pursue comedy professionally. His early exposure to Def Comedy Jam and comedians like Martin Lawrence and Louie Anderson shaped his comedic style.

Career

Lil Rel began performing stand-up at 19 at Chicago’s Lion’s Den, becoming a regular and later emcee at Jokes and Notes comedy club. His television debut came in 2007 on Last Comic Standing, followed by appearances on HBO’s P. Diddy Presents: The Bad Boys of Comedy and BET’s Comic View (2001–2002).

He gained early film exposure in Barbershop 2 (2004) and TV spots on Bill Bellamy’s: Who Got Jokes. In 2012, he joined the In Living Color revival on Fox (canceled in 2013) and co-starred in, wrote, and produced Friends of the People on truTV (2014).

His role as Bobby Carmichael in NBC’s The Carmichael Show (2015–2017) alongside Jerrod Carmichael brought wider recognition. The 2017 horror-comedy Get Out, where he played TSA agent Rod Williams, catapulted him to stardom, earning critical acclaim.

He created and starred in the Fox sitcom Rel (2018–2019), loosely based on his life as a divorced father. Notable film roles include Uncle Drew (2018), Bird Box (2018), Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019), Free Guy (2021, as Buddy), Vacation Friends (2021), Deep Water (2022), I Love My Dad (2022), and Vacation Friends 2 (2023).

He voiced characters in The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure (2019, as Virtuous St. Goodberry), and Eureka! (2022, as Rollo), and Craig of the Creek. His stand-up specials include Kevin Hart Presents: Lil Rel: RELevent (2015, Comedy Central), Live in Crenshaw (2019, HBO), and I Said It. Y’all Thinking It (2022, HBO).

In 2025, he stars in One of Them Days with Keke Palmer and Harold and the Purple Crayon. He also appeared in Insecure (2020) and South Side (2019–2022).

Awards and Nominations

• MTV Movie & TV Awards (2017): • Won Best Comedic Performance for Get Out.
• CinemaCon Award (2018): • Won for contributions to comedy.
• NAACP Image Awards: • Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Get Out.
• Gold Derby Awards: • Nominated for ensemble performance in Get Out.
• SDFCS Awards: • Nominated for comedic performance in Get Out.
• Bernie Mac Comedy King of the Year: • Won (year unspecified, industry recognition). Note: Some sources incorrectly attribute a Webby Award to Howery, which belongs to Alan Becker.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @comediangod
• Twitter Handle: @LilRel4
• Facebook: Lil Rel Howery

Personal Life

Lil Rel lives in Los Angeles and has been engaged to Dannella Lane, a talent manager and public speaker, since at least 2022. They share a blended family with his three children and Lane’s four daughters, which he describes as a rewarding experience.

He was previously married to Verina Robinson from November 29, 2008, to 2017, with whom he has two children: Brittni (b. 2009) and Judah. He also has a son, Harlem (b. 2018), with LeChez Davis, an entrepreneur.

A 2019 paternity dispute with Davis, who allegedly misrepresented Harlem’s paternity, led to Howery seeking full custody; the issue was resolved with a paternity test confirming his fatherhood. In 2016, he was arrested for misdemeanor battery after a car accident altercation in Chicago but was found not guilty; the other driver sued for injuries.

Of African-American descent and Christian faith, Howery is inspired by Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. He is involved in community events like Chicago’s National Night Out Against Crime (2009) and supports youth and mental health initiatives. No ongoing controversies surround him.

Filmography

• Barbershop 2 (2004) – Minor role
• I Used to Love Her (2008) – Supporting role
• Get a Job (2010) – Supporting role
• In Living Color (2012) – Ensemble
• Friends of the People (2014) – Ensemble/Writer/Producer
• The Carmichael Show (2015–2017) – Bobby Carmichael
• Get Out (2017) – Rod Williams
• Uncle Drew (2018) – Dax
• Tag (2018) – Reggie
• Bird Box (2018) – Charlie
• Rel (2018–2019) – Rel (also creator/producer)
• Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) – Demetrius
• The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) – Voice role
• Bad Trip (2020) – Bud Malone
• Clouds (2020) – Milton Weaver
• Free Guy (2021) – Buddy
• Vacation Friends (2021) – Marcus
• Deep Water (2022) – Grant
• I Love My Dad (2022) – Jimmy
• Vacation Friends 2 (2023) – Marcus
• Harold and the Purple Crayon (2024) – Supporting role
• One of Them Days (2025) – Supporting role
• Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure (2019) – Virtuous St. Goodberry (voice)
• South Side (2019–2022) – Bishop
• Insecure (2020) – Quentin
• Eureka! (2022) – Rollo (voice)
• Craig of the Creek – Voice role
• Dashing Through the Snow – Santa Claus

Net Worth

Lil Rel Howery’s net worth is estimated at $2 million to $6 million. His income comes from acting (Get Out, Free Guy), stand-up specials (RELevent, Live in Crenshaw), writing, producing (Rel, Friends of the People), and endorsements.