Lavell Maurice Crawford (born November 11, 1968) 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). 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.
Early life Lavell Maurice Crawford was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 11, 1968, and grew up in nearby Pagedale. Crawford has two sisters, Elonda and Erica. He struggled with his weight in childhood and experienced a near-drowning at age ten. Crawford graduated from Pattonville High School in 1986 before attending Missouri Western State College, where he studied computer science.
Career
Crawford began performing standup comedy professionally in 1990. 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 bodyguard Huell Babineaux in the crime drama series Breaking Bad and its spinoff, Better Call Saul, from 2011 to 2022. He also played Babineaux in Huell's Rules, a non-canonical comedy short set after the events of Breaking Bad. 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 . After gastric sleeve surgery, his weight dropped to by August 2017.
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 Dan 2021 On the Count of Three Donny2021Horror Noire Samuel 2022 Home TeamGus Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm Street Tough Video2025FreakWillShort2025Happy Gilmore 2Slim Peterson
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 Fanboy & Chum Chum Mr. Hank Mufflin Season 1 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 Funny or Die Huell Babineaux Web series, Episode: Huell's Rules 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
Stand-up specials Can a Brother Get Some Love? (2011) Home for the Holidays (2017) New Look Same Comedy (2019) The Comedy Vaccine (2021) Thee Lavell Crawford (2023)
References
External links