Byron Bowers

Byron Bowers, born on November 24, 1978, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American comedian, writer, and actor. His early life in Atlanta involved being bussed into predominantly white, affluent schools as part of a district initiative, an experience that cultivated his observational humor and diverse perspective. This unique upbringing laid the foundation for his comedic voice and ultimately led him to pursue a career in entertainment. In 2008, he moved to Los Angeles to dedicate himself to comedy.

Bowers’ career progressed with significant milestones, including winning the Big Sky International Comedy Competition, which led to LA Weekly naming him a “Comedy Act to Watch.” He was also featured as a New Face at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. His television appearances span various networks, including “The Eric Andre Show” on Adult Swim, Comedy Central’s “Adam DeVine’s House Party,” and BET’s “Comic View.” He made his late-night debut on “The Pete Holmes Show” in 2014, followed by appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2015 and later on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” His festival performances include Oddball Comedy Fest, SXSW, Life is Beautiful, Austin City Limits, RIOT, SF Sketchfest, and Blue Whale Comedy Festival.

Beyond stand-up, Bowers has an extensive acting and writing career. He starred as Meldrick in Lena Waithe’s Showtime series “The Chi” and played Percy in the dramatic film “Honey Boy” (2019), which received the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. His filmography also includes roles in “KUSO” (2017), playing Rome in “Concrete Cowboy” (2020) alongside Idris Elba, Maurice in “No Sudden Move” (2021) directed by Steven Soderbergh, and Terry Hughes in “Kimi” (2022), also directed by Steven Soderbergh. In 2022, he released his debut comedy special, “Spiritual N**ga,” on FX/Hulu, showcasing his exploration of themes such as spirituality, mental health, and personal growth. He also served as a writer for projects like “Loiter Squad” and “Lucas Bros Moving Co” and as a consulting producer for “Lady in the Lake” (2024) and “Ten Year Old Tom” (2023).