Lavell Maurice Crawford (born November 11, 1968)[1] is an American comedian and actor, known for playing Huell Babineaux in Breaking Bad (2011–2013) and its spin-off Better Call Saul (2017–2022). He also played the role of Gus Patch in the Netflix original film The Ridiculous 6 (2015).[2] The album version of his 2021 Comedy Vaccine special was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.[3]
| Lavell Crawford | |
|---|---|
 Crawford in April 2008 | |
| Birth name | Lavell Maurice Crawford |
| Born | November 11, 1968 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Medium |
|
| Alma mater | Missouri Western State College |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Website | comedianlavellcrawford |
Early life
Crawford was born in St. Louis, Missouri,[4] and grew up in nearby Pagedale.[5] He has two sisters, Elonda and Erica.[6] He struggled with his weight in childhood and experienced a near-drowning at age ten.[7] Crawford graduated from Pattonville High School in 1986 before attending Missouri Western State College, where he studied computer science.[6][7]
Career
Crawford began performing standup comedy professionally in 1990.[6] He frequently performed on BET's ComicView during the 1990s. He was a contestant on NBC's Last Comic Standing in 2007, where in the two-hour season finale he lost to Jon Reep. In 2011 at the Roberts Orpheum Theatre in St. Louis, he recorded Lavell Crawford: Can a Brother Get Some Love.
Crawford portrayed Saul Goodman's iconic bodyguard Huell Babineaux in the crime drama series Breaking Bad and its spinoff, Better Call Saul, from 2011 to 2022.[8] He also played Babineaux in Huell's Rules, a non-canonical comedy short set after the events of Breaking Bad.[9] Crawford has also appeared in comedic roles in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Tosh.0, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, and Aqua TV Show Show.
Personal life
Crawford's weight peaked in March 2016 at approximately 500 pounds (230 kg). After gastric sleeve surgery, his weight dropped to 298 pounds (135 kg) by August 2017.[10]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Beverly Hood | Lil Bit | |
| 2004 | Out on Parole | Little Bit | Video |
| Baby's Momma Drama | |||
| 2005 | Friends and Lovers | Bobby | Video |
| 2010 | Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed | Willie | Video |
| 2012 | Who's Watching the Kids | Jojo | |
| What Goes Around Comes Around | Pete the Postman | Video | |
| Trading Up: Behind the Green Door | Barry Harris | Short | |
| 2013 | Je'Caryous Johnson's Marriage Material | Bishop Luther Lance Love Jones | |
| Huell's Rules | Huell Babineaux | Video Short | |
| Sperm Boat | Smokestack | Television film | |
| 2014 | 4Play | Tiko | |
| For Love or Money | Big Daddy | ||
| 2015 | American Ultra | Big Harold | |
| The Ridiculous 6 | Gus Patch | ||
| 2016 | Meet the Blacks | Parole Officer | |
| Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates | Keith | ||
| Boo! A Madea Halloween | Prisoner #1 | ||
| 2018 | Compton's Finest | Bubbles | |
| 2019 | Love Is Not Enough | Brother Winters | |
| 2020 | Hubie Halloween | Farmer Dave | |
| 2021 | On the Count of Three | Donny | |
| 2022 | Home Team | Gus | |
| Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm | Street Tough | Video |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | It's Showtime at the Apollo | Himself | Episode: "Episode #4.1" |
| 1992–2004 | ComicView | Himself | 4 episodes |
| 1995 | Def Comedy Jam | Himself | Episode: "Episode #5.8" |
| 1998 | Motown Live | Himself | Episode: "Episode #1.6" |
| 2000 | The Jamie Foxx Show | Partygoer | Episode: "Partner fo' Life" |
| 2003–2006 | Laffapalooza | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Premium Blend | Himself | Episode: "Comedy Central's Premium Blend" |
| Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge | Himself | Episode: "Episode #2.4" | |
| 2005 | The Tom Joyner Show | Himself | Episode: "Episode #1.10" |
| 2007 | Last Comic Standing | Himself | Season 5 |
| 2008 | Comedy Central Presents | Himself | Episode: "Lavell Crawford" |
| Reality Bites Back | Himself | TV series | |
| 2009 | My Parents, My Sister and Me | Laverne Martin | Episodes: "Home Alone: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2011 | Workaholics | Strip Club DJ | Episode: "Dry Guys" |
| 2011–2013 | Breaking Bad | Huell Babineaux | Recurring cast: season 4, 5b; Guest: season 5a |
| 2013 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Landslide | Episode: "The Gang Broke Dee" |
| Squidbillies | Judge Jammer | Voice, episode: "Stop. Jammertime!" | |
| The Crazy Ones | Marvin | Episode: "Models Love Magic" | |
| 2013–2015 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Unbelievable Ron, Chimp Alien | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Super Fun Night | Antwan | Episode: "Lil' Big Kim" |
| Biatches | Additional Voices | Voice | |
| 2015 | Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell | Psyklone | Voice, episode: "Psyklone and the Thin Twins" |
| 2016–2017 | Legends of Chamberlain Heights | LaDante | Voice, main cast |
| 2017 | New Girl | Trevlo | Episode: "Operation: Bobcat" |
| 2017–2022 | Better Call Saul | Huell Babineaux | Guest: season 3, recurring cast: season 4–6 |
References
External links
