For rising actor Tyriq Withers, the road to Hollywood almost ended before it began. The breakout star of the new horror film HIM, produced by Jordan Peele, directed by Justin Tipping, and co-starring Marlon Wayans, revealed in a recent GQ interview that he nearly quit acting altogether after a devastating personal loss.
On April 30, 2021, Withers received the call that shattered his world: his older brother, Kionte, had been killed in a car accident. “I’d experienced grief before, but not like this,” he said. “It was just like, Fuck, take me instead. My brother had a son. He was a beautiful father, so soft and sensitive to my nephew. And what am I doing?”
The actor admits he came dangerously close to walking away from his career to return home and help raise his nephew. “My partner at the time asked me, ‘What would Kionte want?’ And I came to the conclusion that the best way to serve my family is to continue on this path of chasing my dreams,” Withers explained. “That gave me purpose. I started looking for him in every script.”
That renewed sense of purpose is felt deeply in HIM, a genre-bending horror film that blurs the lines between sports thriller and psychological nightmare. Withers plays a rising quarterback, paired opposite Wayans as a legendary player navigating the darker side of ambition, legacy, and sacrifice.
The chemistry between the two actors is central to the film’s power. Wayans brings the gravitas of a seasoned star, while Withers channels raw energy and vulnerability, embodying a character who mirrors his own struggles with pressure, grief, and identity. Their dynamic is at once tense, magnetic, and layered with unspoken truths.
Withers first caught audiences’ attention in the 2021 reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer, showcasing his ability to hold his own in a classic horror franchise reimagined for a new generation.
His turn in HIM has only elevated that profile, positioning him as a serious talent to watch. And the momentum isn’t slowing down. Withers is set to star in the 2026 adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel Reminders of Him, a project that will introduce him to an even broader audience.
With Peele producing and Tipping directing, HIM allowed Withers to showcase his range in a genre that thrives on intensity and emotion. The result is a performance that critics are already calling a standout, one that positions him as a name to watch in Hollywood.
Withers may have once considered quitting, but his performances in I Know What You Did Last Summer, HIM, and his upcoming role in Reminders of Him prove he’s only getting started.
Check out our review of HIM.
