Lavell Crawford

Lavell Maurice Crawford (born November 11, 1968 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American comedian and actor best known for his memorable portrayal of Huell Babineaux, the towering bodyguard in the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad and its spin‑off Better Call Saul. Growing up in the nearby suburb of Pagedale, Crawford faced a challenging childhood marked by weight struggles and a near‑drowning incident at age ten, experiences that later fueled his self‑deprecating humor on stage. After graduating from Pattonville High School in 1986, he pursued computer science at Missouri Western State College before pivoting to comedy, beginning his professional stand‑up career in 1990 and quickly becoming a staple on BET’s ComicView throughout the 1990s. His breakthrough on television came with a 2007 appearance on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, where he reached the finale before being bested by Jon Reep. Crawford’s film credits include the Netflix parody The Ridiculous 6 (2015) and a series of acclaimed stand‑up specials, such as Can a Brother Get Some Love? (2011) and The Comedy Vaccine (2021), the latter earning a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. Known for his larger‑than‑life persona, he publicly documented a dramatic weight loss after gastric‑sleeve surgery, dropping from a peak of roughly 500 lb in 2016 to 298 lb by 2017. Beyond his signature roles, Crawford has made guest appearances on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Tosh.0, and The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, solidifying his reputation as a versatile performer who blends gritty storytelling with infectious humor. His ongoing contributions to comedy and television continue to resonate with audiences, making him a distinctive voice in contemporary American entertainment.