All About Tyriq Withers’ Parents, Kimberly Hart-Johnson and Leon Withers

Makena GeraFri, March 13, 2026 at 1:15 PM UTC

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Tyriq Withers on March 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California ; Tyriq Withers with his mom Kimberly Hart-Johnson at a red carpet event for 'Reminders of Him' in March 2026Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty; Tyriq Withers/Instagram -

Kimberly Hart-Johnson and Leon Withers welcomed their second son together, Tyriq Withers, in July 1998

After Kimberly and Leon separated, she raised Tyriq and his older brother, Kionte, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Tyriq's mom has always encouraged his artistic ambitions and Tyriq's dad supports his career as well

Tyriq Withers’ mom, Kimberly Hart-Johnson, inspired him to pursue his different passions.

Kimberly and Leon Withers welcomed their older son, Kionte Withers, in January 1995, followed by Tyriq in July 1998. After Kimberly and Leon separated, she raised Tyriq and Kionte in Jacksonville, Fla., where the Reminders of Him star enjoyed making home videos.

Tyriq went on to attend Florida State, where he joined the Seminoles football team. His pursuit of athletics “was always rooted in love and family, and who I was doing it for was my mom,” he told Moviefone in an October 2025 interview.

After graduation, Tyriq moved to Atlanta in 2020 to focus on his acting career. His racial identity as the son of a White mother and Black father helped him land his first big role on Donald Glover’s show Atlanta, in which he played a mixed-race high school student applying for a Black scholarship — something that hit close to home.

Tyriq has said that his identity and upbringing has informed not only his career but the way he lives his life.

“My dad’s a Black American from Chicago, and my mom’s white from Maine ... I grew up in the Black experience, so I identify as a Black man, but I never want to take up space and say that my experience is just as difficult because [of] the way I look,” he said on the Higher Learning podcast in September 2025. “I walk through the world with privilege.”

Here's what to know about Tyriq Withers’ parents, Kimberly Hart-Johnson and Leon Withers.

They welcomed Tyriq in July 1998

Tyriq Withers on October 30, 2025 in Savannah, GeorgiaCredit: Cindy Ord/Getty

Kimberly and Leon started their family with the birth of their first child together, Kionte, on Jan. 30, 1995, in Brunswick, Maine. Three years later, they celebrated Tyriq's arrival on July 15, 1998, in Jacksonville.

Kimberly and Leon later went their separate ways. Speaking on The Pivot Podcast in January 2026, Tyriq shared that he had a “tough childhood” and his father was “present, but wasn’t there.”

“We had a specific, hard relationship with our pops,” Tyriq said on the audio show, referring to himself and his brother.

According to Leon’s Facebook, he has at least two other children from a different relationship.

Tyriq's mom supported his artistic and athletic pursuits early in life

Tyriq Withers with his mom Kimberly Hart-Johnson at a red carpet event for 'Reminders of Him' in March 2026Credit: Tyriq Withers/Instagram

Growing up, Kim supported Tyriq’s athletic accomplishments, while also encouraging his acting ambitions.

In middle school, Tyriq and Kionte made Vines and YouTube videos together, the actor told GQ in September 2025. After Kimberly noticed Tyriq's artistic talents, she took him to casting calls with agents, he recalled to Empire Magazine in July 2025.

Tyriq was also a competitive athlete, playing soccer throughout his childhood before transitioning to football in high school, according to Interview magazine. In college, he joined the football team as a walk-on at Florida State before leaving to pursue acting.

“I have a weird relationship with sports,” he told the outlet in July 2025. “I had to come to terms with ‘Who am I doing it for?’ I didn’t enjoy it like I thought I did. I was just trying to make my mom proud.”

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Tyriq's relationship with his dad has gotten better over time

In recent years, it appears that Tryriq and Leon’s relationship has strengthened, as Leon shares posts supporting his son on social media.

While Tyriq was filming the movie Him, he Facetimed his father on set because Leon wanted to chat with his costar, comedian Marlon Wayans, Tyriq told Complex in August 2025.

Kimberly and Leon carry on Kionte's memory

Tyriq Withers' mom Kimberly and brother KionteCredit: Tyriq Withers/Instagram

Kionte died at age 26 in a car accident on April 30, 2021, leaving behind his fiancé and son, according to his obituary.

Tyriq told GQ that he almost quit acting to move home and help raise his nephew, but decided that it’s not what Kionte would have wanted.

“I came to the conclusion that the best way to serve my family is to continue on this path of chasing my dreams,” he said. “That gave me purpose. I started looking for him in every script.”

Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, Tyriq shared that his late sibling continues to inspire him, years after looking up to him as a father figure.

“No matter what I’m doing in life, I search for him,” Tyriq said. “When you have an older brother, that’s your first bully, your first superhero, he teaches you how to do everything.”In January 2026, Kimberly posted a tribute to Kionte on Facebook nearly five years after his death.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t talk to you or tell you how much I love you. It never gets any better living without you here, it gets harder every day,” she wrote. “Mom loves you and misses you with everything in my soul.”

Leon also shared a tribute to Kionte in January 2025. Alongside a photo of Kionte and his son, Royce, Leon wished Kionte a “happy heavenly birthday” and wrote, “It doesn't get any easier but I will keep your memory alive."

They support Tyriq's acting career

Tyriq Withers on February 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaCredit: Paras Griffin/Getty

Both of Tyriq’s parents champion his accomplishments in his career.

Despite their difficult relationship in Tyiq’s youth, Leon has posted on social media supporting his son and his work.

For Tyriq’s birthday in July 2025, Leon posted a message on Facebook, wishing a happy birthday to his “man man.”

“Enjoy your day, remember to make a difference in whatever you do because you’ve got the power to change the world,” he wrote. “You’re blessed and still always make a positive influence, it’s your time, continue to shine.”

Kimberly does the same, from posting on Instagram to celebrate Tyriq’s high school Honor Society induction in 2015 to sharing clips from his Reminders of Him promo in January 2026 with the message “Beyond Proud! You are truly a blessing 💞.”

In September 2025, Tyriq also brought his mom to the premiere of Him, as fans shared a video of Tyriq and Kimberly dancing together at the afterparty. The actor later invited her to a red carpet event for Reminders of Him in March 2026.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”