Leonard Earl Howze facts for kids

Leonard Earl Howze (born April 26, 1977) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in many movies and TV shows. You might recognize him as "Dinka" from the popular Barbershop movies. He has also appeared in TV shows like Kevin Can Wait and movies such as Antwone Fisher and The Lone Ranger.

Becoming an Actor

Leonard Earl Howze was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 26, 1977. He went to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. After high school, he studied at the State University of New York at Purchase. There, he earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts. This degree helped him start his acting journey.

His first big acting job was in the 2002 movie Barbershop. In this film, he played a character named Dinka. Dinka was a friendly immigrant who worked at the barbershop. He tried to impress his co-worker, Terri, played by the singer and actress Eve.

Key Roles in Movies and TV

After Barbershop, Leonard Earl Howze kept getting roles in many films and television shows. In the 2010s, he appeared in movies like A Thousand Words with Eddie Murphy. He also played Homer in the 2013 movie The Lone Ranger.

He also had many smaller roles on TV. He appeared in episodes of popular shows like NCIS and Shameless. From 2016 to 2018, he had a main role in the TV sitcom Kevin Can Wait. In this show, he played Tyrone 'Goody' Goodman for 48 episodes.

Leonard Earl Howze has been acting for over 20 years. He believes his success comes from his strong faith and good timing.

Life Outside Acting

When Leonard Earl Howze is not busy acting, he enjoys several hobbies. He likes playing basketball, bowling, and golf. He often spends his time in New York when he is not filming movies or TV shows.

Selected Film and Television Appearances

Leonard Earl Howze has been in many films and TV shows. Here are some of his most well-known roles:

Movies

• Barbershop (2002) as Dinka
• Antwone Fisher (2002) as Pork Chop
• Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) as Dinka
• The Ringer (2005) as Mark
• A Thousand Words (2012) as Orderly
• The Lone Ranger (2013) as Homer
• True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016) as Michael Cleveland

Television Shows

• My Name Is Earl (2006) as George Toolhurst
• Memphis Beat (2010–2011) as Detective Reginald Greenback (main cast)
• NCIS (2011) as Security Guard Wilson
• Shameless (2011) as Frank's Co-worker
• Kevin Can Wait (2016–2018) as Tyrone 'Goody' Goodman (main cast)
• The Upshaws (2021–present) as Davis (recurring cast)