Directing
Boots Riley
Born 1971-04-01
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Department: Directing
Biography
Raymond Lawrence 'Boots' Riley (born April 1, 1971) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, rapper, and communist activist. He is the lead vocalist of The Coup and Street Sweeper Social Club. He made his feature-film directorial debut with Sorry to Bother You (released July 2018), which he also wrote. In 2023, the streaming series I'm a Virgo premiered on Prime Video, which Riley wrote and directed.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Boots Riley
TV
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The Daily Show
1996
TMDB3.2
Movie
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Sorry to Bother You
2018
TMDB3.4
TV
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Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015
TMDB3.1
Movie
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I Love Boosters
2026
TMDB3.1
Movie
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Fremont
2023
TMDB3.1
TV
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I'm a Virgo
2023
TMDB3.4
TV
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Hollywood Black
2024
TMDB1.5
Movie
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I'm Charlie Walker
2022
TMDB2.5
Movie
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Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
2000
TMDB3.5
Movie
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The Last Critic
2026
TMDB2.5
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (27 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | I Love Boosters | Director | Movie | 2026 |
| I Love Boosters | Writer | Movie | 2026 |
| I Love Boosters | Producer | Movie | 2026 |
 | The Last Critic | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2026 |
 | Hollywood Black | Self | TV Series | 2024 |
 | Fremont | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) | Movie | 2023 |
 | I'm a Virgo | Director | TV Series | 2023 |
| I'm a Virgo | Writer | TV Series | 2023 |
| I'm a Virgo | Executive Producer | TV Series | 2023 |
| I'm a Virgo | Creator | TV Series | 2023 |
 | I'm Charlie Walker | Bartender Ray | Movie | 2022 |
 | When I See Them, I See Us | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2021 |
 | Sorry to Bother You | Director | Movie | 2018 |
| Sorry to Bother You | Original Music Composer | Movie | 2018 |
| Sorry to Bother You | Writer | Movie | 2018 |
 | Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter | Self | TV Series | 2015 |
 | Rope a Dope 2 | Mayor | Movie | 2015 |
 | 99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film | Self | Movie | 2013 |
| First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological Architecture | Self / Appearance | Movie | 2009 | |
 | In Prison My Whole Life | Self | Movie | 2008 |
 | The Coup: The Best Coup DVD Ever | Self | Movie | 2006 |
| The Coup: The Best Coup DVD Ever | Director | Movie | 2006 |
 | Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme | Himself | Movie | 2000 |
 | The Daily Show | Self - Guest | TV Series | 1996 |
 | Aliens in Eritea | Producer | Movie | — |
 | Mr. Burns | Director | Movie | — |
| Mr. Burns | Writer | Movie | — |