Skip to content
MovieCove
Michael Colyar

Michael Colyar

Actor, also producer and writer · Born February 9, 1957 (69) · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Michael Colyar (Michael K. Colyar) – American actor, comedian, and author, born 9 February 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project on Chicago's South Side. He gained national attention in 1990 by winning the $100,000 Grand Prize Comedy championship on Star Search (donating $50,000 to homeless charities in Los Angeles), then spent nine years performing on the Venice Beach boardwalk, where he was nicknamed "The King of Venice Beach" and later had his shoe prints and handprints embedded in cement by the city of Venice. His most notable film roles include Showboat in House Party 3 (1994), the Apollo Announcer in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), a part in Poetic Justice (1993), Williams in Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993), Morris the Barber in Norbit (2007), and Buford (voice) in The Princess and the Frog (2009, Disney). On television he is best known for Mr. Whitaker in Martin (1995–1997), Milky Ray in Homeboys in Outer Space (1996), Leonard in Barbershop (2005), Reverend Hubbard in black-ish (2015), and Willie Turner in The Rich and the Ruthless (2017–2021). He is also the author of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The White House, I Knocked on The Door and a Brother Answered (2012).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 9, 1957 (69)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 47 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are Michael Colyar's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Self
20%
Power
18%
Society
17%
Ideas
10%
Morality
5%
Survival
1%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 4

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
5
Warm
4
Tense
5
Melancholic
2
Hopeful
3
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michael Colyar's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Colyar's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

47 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Too Many Christmases (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Myron

  • So Fly Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Myron

  • Outlaw Johnny Black(2023)

    as Barker

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Shutdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Pops

  • Boosters LA(2022)

    as X Boss

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Holiday Heartbreak(2020)

    Producer · as Mike McCoy

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Rent Due (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Landlord Pete

  • It's a Date (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Everett Reese

  • The Rich & the Ruthless(2017)

    Show as Willie Turner

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Black-ish(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Hubbard

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Patterns of Attraction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Uncle Benny

  • A Christmas Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Grady

  • Chocolate Sundaes Presents: Live on Sunset Strip!: Vol. 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Church: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Brother Johnson

  • The Princess and the Frog(2009)

    as Buford (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Longshots(2008)

    as Ennis

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Uncle P(2007)

    as Bus Driver

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Norbit(2007)

    as Morris the Barber

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Who Made the Potatoe Salad?(2006)

    as Old Man #1 in Park

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Clean Up Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Uncle Scott

  • A Get2Gether (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dad

  • The Beat(2003)

    as Chi-Barnes

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Barbershop(2005)

    Show 4 episodes · as Leonard

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Roscoe's House of Chicken n Waffles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Man Getting Out of Car(uncredited)

  • Out on Parole(2004)

    as Ward

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • If Love Hadn't Left Me Lonely (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Andre

  • Family Reunion: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • The Bernie Mac Show(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Man

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • The Parkers(1999)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • A Luv Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as George Winston

  • The Hughleys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Booker T.

  • High Freakquency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Homeboys in Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Milky Ray

  • House Party 3(1994)

    as Showboat

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Jugular Wine: A Vampire Odyssey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Bouncer

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Lou Friedman

  • Poetic Justice(1993)

    as Panhandler

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • What's Love Got to Do with It(1993)

    as Apollo Announcer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Hot Shots! Part Deux(1993)

    as Williams

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Martin(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mr. Whitaker

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Zapped Again!(1990)

    as Sheldon

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Blown Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Photographer

  • The Closer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Hustler

  • One Night Stand(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Writer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Necessity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Photographer

  • Johnny Be Good(1988)

    as Recruiter Mike

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Shuffle(1987)

    as Body Guard #3

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 46 titles from 1987 to 2024; peak year 1993.

Highest rated

Who Made the Potatoe Salad? (2006)

Midcredits 34th

Most popular right now

One Night Stand (1989)

Film career

19872024

Peak 1993 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting46 of 46: 45 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score39thProducing1 of 46: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s4 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s14 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 10 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Michael Colyar's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 34th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 27th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 24 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive6
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Boosters LA (2022)

98th percentile spread · 59% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

Midcredits 92nd · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 28/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 50, detractors 15. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Michael Colyar work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Colyar's MovieCove titles; Chrystale Wilson shares the most, 2.