RJ Cyler
Birthdate: Mar 21, 1995
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
RJ Cyler (birthname: Ronald “RJ” Cyler II) is an admired actor who has made a mark in American indie cinema, starting with his acclaimed feature debut as Earl in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and with Jesse Andrews adapting his novel of the same title, with the cast of Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, Molly Shannon, Jon Bernthal, and Connie Britton, and premiering at the Sundance film festival where it won the grand jury prize and audience prize (U.S. Dramatic) before a Fox Searchlight release.
Cyler was cast in his first big-budget Hollywood movie in the third Power Rangers movie, Power Rangers (2017), with Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, Bill Hader, Bryan Cranston, and Elizabeth Banks, but losing money for Lionsgate with a $142.5 million return. After small roles in the Brad Pitt-starring War Machine (2017) and the indie movie, Everything, Everything (2017), Cyler won a significant supporting role in the Yann Demange-directed true crime drama, White Boy Rick (2018), starring Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt, Bel Powley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Tyree Henry, Rory Cochrane, Jonathan Majors, Eddie Marsan, Bruce Dern, and Piper Laurie, and which premiered at the Telluride film festival.
After appearing in the Netflix-streaming teen comedy-drama, Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (2018), RJ Cyler played Benvolio in a modern Romeo and Juliet version, R#J (2021), co-written and directed by Carey Williams, produced by Timur Bekmambetov, and premiering at the Sundance film festival. Cyler joined filmmaker Jeymes Samuel for his wild west movie, The Harder They Fall (2021), starring Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, and Danielle Deadwyler, and premiering at the London film festival. Cyler had his first starring role when reuniting with director Williams for the Amazon Prime Video-streaming Emergency (2022), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the Waldo Salt screenwriting award.
RJ Cyler went from co-starring in and producing writer-director Brett Smith’s little-seen indie historical drama, Freedom’s Path (2022), to reuniting with filmmaker Samuel for his biggest role to date as Elijah opposite Stanfield in the Biblical comedy-drama, The Book of Clarence (2024), starring Stanfield, Omar Sy, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Michael Ward, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Nicholas Pinnock, and premiering at the London film festival before a TriStar Pictures release.
Cyler shifted to a more contemporary setting for his next project, co-starring opposite Beau Knapp and Margaret Cho in director-writer-editor Daniel J. Strehlau’s Brooklyn-set drama, Brooklyn (date to be announced),
Personal Details
RJ Cyler was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, by parents Ronald Cyler (truck driver) and Katina Cyler (cook). Cyler has two older brothers. After Cyler was invited to a Los Angeles acting camp, his parents decided to move their family from Florida to Los Angeles in 2013. Returning to Jacksonville, Cyler’s family became homeless leading up to his casting in his first feature role in Me and Earl and The Dying Girl. Cyler subsequently graduated from his Los Angeles high school. Cyler’s height is 6’ 1”.
Filmography
actor
Previous (4)
- 2024 | The Book of ClarenceasElijah
The Book of Clarence
Struggling to find a better life, Clarence is captivated by the power of the rising Messiah and soon risks everything to carve a path to a divine existence.
- 2021 | The Harder They Fall
The Harder They Fall
When an outlaw discovers his enemy is being released from prison, he reunites his gang to seek revenge in this Western. Drama Western.
- 2018 | White Boy RickasRudell 'Boo' Curry
White Boy Rick
The story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.
- 2017 | Power RangersasBilly (Blue Ranger)
Power Rangers
When Earth is on the verge of an alien invasion, five teenagers, who are infused with superhuman abilities, must harness their newfound powers to battle this threat - as the Power Rangers.
Some Facts About RJ Cyler
Homeless: RJ Cyler has noted that experiencing homelessness with his family in Jacksonville, Florida, “showed me humility, and it made me grateful for everything that came to me.”
Chef Mom: Cyler’s mother, Katina, is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles.
