Boots Riley

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

The Daily Show

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

Hollywood Black

The Last Critic

Fremont

I'm Charlie Walker

In Prison My Whole Life

99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film

All Movies (10)

• The Last Critic2026
• Fremont2023 · as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
• I'm Charlie Walker2022 · as Bartender Ray
• When I See Them, I See Us2021
• Rope a Dope 22015 · as Mayor
• 99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film2013 · as Self
• First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological Architecture2009
• In Prison My Whole Life2008 · as Self
• The Coup: The Best Coup DVD Ever2006 · as Self
• Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme2000 · as Himself

All TV Shows (3)

• Hollywood Black2024 · as Self
• Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter2015 · as Self
• The Daily Show1996 · as Self - Guest