Tyriq Withers Parents: Meet His Mom and Dad

Tyriq Leshon Withers is an American actor known for Him. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in July 1998. His mother, Kimberly Hart-Johnson, cheered every big step. His father, Leon Withers Jr., stayed distant for years. 

This guide introduces Tyriq Withers’ parents. You will also meet his late brother Kionte. You will read about football, Atlanta, and his rise. Every fact comes from public interviews and reports. Anything unconfirmed gets a clear label. Read on for the full family picture.

Quick Bio

Detail	Information
Full Name	Tyriq Leshon Withers
Age	28 (born July 15, 1998)
Birthplace	Jacksonville, Florida
Height	Reportedly 6 ft 5 in
Weight	Not publicly disclosed
Spouse	Not publicly disclosed
Children	Not publicly disclosed
Net Worth	Not publicly disclosed
Profession	Actor and former college football player
Parents	Kimberly Hart-Johnson and Leon Withers Jr.
Siblings	Cayla Withers and the late Kionte Withers
Education	Paxon School for Advanced Studies, Florida State University
Social Handles	Active on Instagram, exact handle not confirmed here

Who Are Tyriq Withers’ Parents?

Tyriq Withers’ parents are Kimberly Hart-Johnson and Leon Withers Jr. They welcomed Tyriq on July 15, 1998, in Jacksonville. He arrived about three years after his brother Kionte. Kionte was born in Brunswick, Maine, in January 1995. The family also includes a sister named Cayla.

Reports describe his father as African American. They describe his mother as European, often English. That blend shaped how Tyriq saw himself. It also shaped the roles he picked later.

Kimberly and Leon later went their separate ways. Tyriq grew up mostly in Jacksonville. In a January 2026 podcast chat, he described a tough childhood. Yet the story is not only about hardship. It also holds love, growth, and slow healing.

Why do fans care so much? Tyriq broke through with Him and Reminders of Him. Viewers wanted to know where he came from. People magazine published a profile of his parents in March 2026. Interest grew again after his Sexiest Man Alive feature. Still, the parents keep their own lives private. Their jobs and daily routines remain unlisted.

Tyriq Withers Family at a Glance

This table lists each family member and what the public record shows.

Family Member	Relationship	Public Detail
Kimberly Hart-Johnson	Mother	Celebrates his career on Instagram
Leon Withers Jr.	Father	Posts support online, bond is improving
Kionte Withers	Older brother	Born January 30, 1995, died in 2021
Cayla Withers	Sister	Few details are public

Who Raised Tyriq Withers?

His mother raised him mainly in Jacksonville, Florida. Several profiles say his parents separated early. That left Kimberly as the steady daily presence. Kionte also stepped in as a guide. Tyriq has called his late brother a father figure. That detail says a lot about their home.

Kimberly Hart-Johnson: The Mother Who Encouraged His Ambitions

Kimberly Hart-Johnson is Tyriq Withers’ mother and his loudest cheerleader. Her influence shows up in small and big ways. Fashion is one clear example. Tyriq credits her for his love of style. Growing up, he never left for school without a coordinated outfit. She made sure of it every morning.

Football is another example. In an October 2025 interview, Tyriq said he played for his mom. His sport was rooted in love and family. That tells you how deep the bond runs.

Her support also shows online. In 2015, Kimberly posted about his high school Honor Society induction. In January 2026, she shared clips from his Reminders of Him promotion. Her message said she was beyond proud. She called him a blessing.

Case study: the coordinated outfit. Picture a Jacksonville morning before school. A mother checks every piece of her son’s look. That habit seems small. Yet it taught Tyriq to treat clothing as a form of self expression. Today he talks openly about fashion and even his dream of owning a Birkin. A childhood routine became an adult passion.

Here is how Kimberly shaped him:

• She pushed him toward polish and pride in his appearance.
• She backed his football path with steady encouragement.
• She celebrated school wins in public.
• She stayed visible during his Hollywood breakthrough.

Public records say little about her career or private life. That silence feels intentional. Respecting it is part of telling this story well.

Leon Withers Jr.: A Complicated Father-Son Relationship

Leon Withers Jr. is Tyriq’s father. Their bond has been complicated. Reports say Leon is African American with family ties to Chicago. Treat the Chicago detail as reported only. He and Kimberly separated while Tyriq was young.

Distance followed. Tyriq opened up about it on The Pivot Podcast in January 2026. He said his father was “present, but wasn’t there.” That short line captures the pain. A parent can live nearby yet feel far away.

Time has softened some edges. Leon now posts messages supporting his son. He celebrates the film roles and the milestones. Those posts show a father who wants to be seen cheering.

A warm moment came during the filming of Him. Leon wanted to chat with Marlon Wayans. Tyriq told Complex he FaceTimed his father from set. Wayans played a costar in the film. The call gave Leon a proud moment.

Stage	What Reports Show
Early years	Parents separate, distance grows
Teen years	Tyriq leans on mother and brother
Hollywood rise	Leon posts support online
Set of Him	FaceTime call with Marlon Wayans

What stays private? The exact reasons for the split. The details of their phone calls. Their plans for the future. A fair biography leaves those pages closed.

Tyriq Withers’ Parents and His Mixed Heritage

Tyriq Withers is biracial, with a Black father and a white mother. Reports describe his father as African American. They describe his mother as European, with English roots. This shapes the Tyriq Withers heritage question many fans ask.

His background also helped his career. People reports that his identity helped him land a breakout role. That role came on the series Atlanta. He played a mixed race high school student. The character applied for a scholarship meant for Black students. A review board questioned whether he was Black enough. Tyriq has said the story hit close to home.

Parent	Reported Heritage
Kimberly Hart-Johnson	European, often described as English
Leon Withers Jr.	African American

Case study: the Atlanta episode. Many actors audition for years before a defining part. Tyriq brought lived experience to the screen. That honesty made the scene land. It also put his name in front of casting directors. One episode opened a very big door.

His heritage is not a label to him. It is a lens. He moves through the world carrying both sides of his family. That perspective now informs the stories he picks.

The Role His Parents Played in His Football Journey

His parents backed his football path, especially his mother. Yet football was not his first sport. Tyriq played soccer for much of his childhood. He later said burnout hit in his junior year of high school. The coach cut him from the soccer team. In his own words, he tried football partly out of spite.

The choice worked. He played football at Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville. His skills earned him a spot at Florida State. He joined the Seminoles as a walk on wide receiver. He suited up in 2016 and 2017. Then he walked away from the team.

Why did he leave? He has said fear and pressure weighed on him. He also described grief tied to the sport. Later, he said he could have kept playing. He chose a different path.

Family sat beneath all of it. His mother was the reason he chased the sport. His brother Kionte inspired him from the start. Their belief gave him the courage to try. It also gave him the courage to quit.

Here is what football taught him:

• Discipline that carried into acting preparation.
• Comfort with high pressure and public eyes.
• Respect for teamwork on a crowded set.
• Proof that a risky leap can pay off.

This is the heart of the Tyriq Withers football career story. It was short, but it mattered.

Kionte Withers: The Older Brother Who Shaped His Life

Kionte Withers was Tyriq’s older brother and a guiding force. He was born on January 30, 1995, in Brunswick, Maine. He died in a car crash in 2021. Public sources do not list the exact date in a reliable way.

Tyriq has spoken about Kionte with deep love. He called his brother a father figure. That phrase explains Kionte’s role. Their father was often absent. Kionte filled part of that gap.

Grief now runs through Tyriq’s interviews. A 2026 profile linked his rise to overcoming that loss. Fans also notice the emotional weight in his performances. Treat that link as an interpretation, not a confirmed fact.

Tyriq says his brother keeps inspiring him. Years later, he still looks up to him. That kind of bond does not fade with time. It becomes a quiet motor for his ambition.

If you are asking what happened to Kionte Withers, the answer is simple. He died in 2021 after a car crash. Respect and kindness are the best response.

How Tyriq Withers’ Parents Support His Acting Career Today

Both parents publicly champion his acting career. Kimberly leads with warmth and frequent posts. Leon has joined in with public messages of his own. Neither one needs to say much. Their pride shows through small acts.

Here are the main ways they show up:

• Kimberly: shares his promo clips and writes proud captions.
• Leon: posts support and celebrates his film roles.
• Both: stay mostly private while still cheering loudly.

A strong example came in early 2026. Reminders of Him was heading to theaters. Kimberly posted clips from the promotion. Her note was short and heartfelt. Fans flooded the comments with love.

His Sexiest Man Alive feature in People also touched on family. He talked about fashion, romance, and fatherhood dreams. His mother’s early influence came up again. That shows how present she remains in his mind.

For young actors, the lesson is clear. Hollywood is hard. A supportive home makes it easier. Tyriq has both a loud fan base and quiet backers. That mix keeps him grounded.

Tyriq Withers’ Education and Move to Atlanta

Tyriq Withers studied at Paxon School for Advanced Studies and Florida State University. He finished high school around 2016. Then he enrolled at Florida State. He earned degrees in business and marketing. Wikipedia lists the graduation as May 2020. Another site lists 2022. Treat the exact year as reportedly 2020.

At Florida State, he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He also found acting by accident. His first stage experience came from a play. The school’s Black Student Union staged it. He loved the preparation process. He compared it to summer camp.

Year	Milestone
2016	Graduates high school, joins Florida State football
2017	Leaves the football team
2020	Reportedly earns his degree, moves to Atlanta
2022	Appears in the TV series Atlanta

In 2020, he moved to Atlanta. The pandemic had just begun. The timing felt risky. Yet he trusted the plan. He bought acting lessons and kept showing up. He describes his early confidence as a bit delusional. That bold energy opened doors.

His parents’ influence still matters here. A mother who taught pride in presentation helped him audition well. A brother who inspired him gave him courage.

Tyriq Withers’ Acting Career and Rise to Fame

Tyriq Withers rose from small TV parts to leading roles in major films. His early credits include Legacies, Tell Me Lies, and The Game. Then came the Atlanta episode. It showed his range and gave him a signature moment.

His film breakthrough followed. He appeared in I Know What You Did Last Summer in 2025. He then starred as Cameron Cade in the thriller Him. Marlon Wayans played his costar. The film linked football pressure with horror. Tyriq’s own history made the role feel real.

In 2026, he played Ledger Ward in Reminders of Him. Awards buzz followed. The NAACP Image Awards nominated him for outstanding actor in a motion picture. They also nominated him for breakthrough performance.

Year	Title	Role
2022	Atlanta (episode)	Aaron
2025	Him	Cameron Cade
2026	Reminders of Him	Ledger Ward
Upcoming	Family Secrets	Details limited
Upcoming	Love Love	Opposite Isabel May

His acting career is still young. Yet the pace is fast. Few actors move from a first lesson to leading man in six years. Tyriq did exactly that.

Social Media Presence and Audience Engagement

Tyriq Withers is active on Instagram and shares family moments there. He has posted photos with his mother and his late brother. Those posts show a man who honors his roots. They also invite fans into a softer side of his life.

His audience responds to honesty. Posts about grief and growth earn warm replies. Fashion photos spark lively talk. Behind the scenes clips draw excitement before film releases.

Here is why his presence works:

• He mixes style content with real emotion.
• He credits family often.
• He shares career wins without bragging.
• He keeps his private life mostly private.

Fans can follow his official pages for updates. Always confirm accounts before trusting a handle. Fake pages are common for popular actors.

Fast Facts 

• His full name is Tyriq Leshon Withers.
• He was born July 15, 1998, in Jacksonville.
• His mother is Kimberly Hart-Johnson.
• His father is Leon Withers Jr.
• His late brother Kionte died in 2021.
• He has a sister named Cayla.
• He walked on at Florida State football.
• He moved to Atlanta in 2020.
• He starred in Him and Reminders of Him.
• He earned two NAACP Image Award nominations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are Tyriq Withers’ parents? 

They are Kimberly Hart-Johnson and Leon Withers Jr.

What is Tyriq Withers’ mother’s name? 

His mother is Kimberly Hart-Johnson.

Who is Leon Withers Jr.? 

He is Tyriq’s father. Reports describe him as African American.

Did Tyriq Withers’ parents separate? 

Yes. Reports say they went their separate ways while Tyriq was young.

Who raised Tyriq Withers? 

His mother raised him mainly in Jacksonville, Florida.

How many siblings does Tyriq Withers have? 

Public reports list a sister named Cayla and a late brother named Kionte.

Conclusion

Tyriq Withers parents gave him two very different lessons. Kimberly Hart-Johnson gave steady love and daily support. Leon Withers Jr. offered a harder story that is softening. Kionte’s memory adds a deep layer of meaning. 

Together, these people shaped a young man with focus and heart. His football days taught him discipline. His acting career lets him share that story. The next chapter looks bright. Family sits at the center of his journey. Keep watching his work for signs of home.