RJ Cyler
Cyler in 2016
Born
Ronald Cyler II

(1995-03-21) March 21, 1995
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active2013–present

Ronald "RJ" Cyler II (born March 21, 1995) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), Power Rangers (2017), The Harder They Fall (2021), and Emergency (2022) as well as the Showtime series I'm Dying Up Here (2017–2018) and Scream: Resurrection (2019).

Early life

Cyler was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, the youngest of three children of Katina, a cook, and Ronald Cyler, a truck driver. His parents, who were working but struggling, sold what they had to move from Florida to California in 2013. They were homeless until shortly before Cyler was cast in his role in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.[1] Cyler finished high school in California.[1]

Career

In 2013, Cyler appeared in the short film Second Chances.[2] In 2015, Cyler got his biggest acting break when he co-starred in the film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, based on the book of the same name by Jesse Andrews. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2015.[3] Shortly after the premiere, Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired distribution rights for the film[4] and released it on June 12, 2015.[1] In 2016, Cyler appeared in the HBO series Vice Principals.

Cyler played autistic blue ranger Billy Cranston in Lionsgate Films' 2017 reboot of the Power Rangers.[5][6][1]

Cyler part of the ensemble of I'm Dying Up Here, a Showtime drama executive-produced by Jim Carrey, which ran from 2017 to 2018.[7] In 2018, he co-starred in the drama film White Boy Rick, directed by Yann Demange, about Richard Wershe Jr.[8][9]

On September 13, 2017, it was announced that Cyler joined as a series regular in the third season of the VH1 slasher television series Scream. He starred in the lead role of Deion Elliot.[10] The season premiered on July 8, 2019.[11]

In 2018, Cyler starred as Dan in the Netflix comedy-drama film, Sierra Burgess Is a Loser.[12] On November 13, 2018, Cyler was cast in a recurring role on the second season of the CW series Black Lightning.[13]

In January 2019, Cyler was reportedly cast in the DC Universe horror series, Swamp Thing.[14]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Second Chances R. J. Short film
2015 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Earl Jackson Nominated — San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated — Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer
2017 Power Rangers Billy Cranston / Blue Ranger
War Machine Technical Sergeant Andy Moon
Everything, Everything Vinny
2018 White Boy Rick Rudell Curry
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser Dan
2021 R#J Benvolio
The Harder They Fall James Beckwourth
2022 Emergency Sean
Freedom's Path[15][16] Kitch
2023 The Book of Clarence Elijah

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Vice Principals Luke Brown 3 episodes
2017–2018 I'm Dying Up Here Adam Proteau Main role
2018 Black Lightning Todd Green Recurring role
2019 Scream: Resurrection Deion Elliot / Marcus Elliot Main role; 6 episodes (as Deion Elliot)
Episode: "The Man Behind the Mask" (as Marcus Elliot)
Swamp Thing Jones Recurring role
2022–present Rap Sh!t Lamont Main role

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Category Result Ref.
2017 Power Rangers Teen Choice Awards Choice Scene Stealer Nominated[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Barnard, Linda (June 8, 2015). "How 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' star RJ Cyler went from homeless to Hollywood - Toronto Star". The Toronto Star.
  2. ↑ "Movie Facts: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl – Static Multimedia".
  3. ↑ "'Me And Earl And The Dying Girl': MovieMantz Review".
  4. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 27, 2015). "We Called It: 'Me And Earl And The Dying Girl' Sells To Fox Searchlight & Indian Paintbrush – Sundance Update".
  5. ↑ McNary, Dave (October 23, 2015). "'Power Rangers': 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl's' R.J. Cyler to Play Black Ranger". Varitey.
  6. ↑ Jayson, Jay (October 30, 2015). "Saban Confirms Power Rangers Will Use Names Of Original Characters". Comicbook.com.
  7. ↑ Chavez, Danette (January 9, 2017). "Showtime announces premiere dates for I'm Dying Up Here and Guerrilla". The A.V. Club.
  8. ↑ McNary, Dave (March 24, 2017). "Power Ranger R.J. Cyler Joins 'White Boy Rick' Cast". Variety. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 9, 2017). "Sony Release Date Changes: 'White Boy Rick' Takes Over 'Bad Boys 3' MLK Slot, 'Goosebumps 2' Moves To Fall 2018 & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  10. ↑ Petski, Denise (September 13, 2017). "'Scream': Keke Palmer, RJ Cyler, Jessica Sula, More Round Out Season 3 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  11. ↑ Samhan, Jamie (June 24, 2019). "'Scream' Reboot Gets Trailer With Cameo From Paris Jackson". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  12. ↑ Bergado, Gabe (September 13, 2018). ""Sierra Burgess Is a Loser" Star RJ Cyler on Catfishing, His Perfect Rom-Com Soundtrack, and Working with Shannon Purser". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  13. ↑ Petski, Denise (November 13, 2018). "'Black Lightning' Casts RJ Cyler; Antonio Jaramillo Joins 'SEAL Team'". Deadline. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  14. ↑ Atkinson, John (January 17, 2019). "DC's Swamp Thing Reportedly Casts Power Rangers Star RJ Cyler". Screenrant. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  15. ↑ Grobar, Matt (March 17, 2022). "'Freedom's Path' Teaser: First Look At Civil War Drama Starring Gerran Howell, RJ Cyler & Ewen Bremner". Deadline. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  16. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (October 14, 2019). "'Freedom's Path': Ewen Bremner, RJ Cyler & Gerran Howell Lead American Civil War Movie Now Underway". Deadline. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Teen Choice 2017 Award Nominees Include A Few Duds". Screen Rant. June 19, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
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