Tyler Lepley is a Philadelphia native who is most known for his role as Benjamin “Benny” Young in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots.

A producer at a boxing gym saw Lepley’s exotic appearance and urged him to audition. In 2013, he was cast in the lead role of Slumber Party Slaughter, an independent horror film.

He followed his agent’s advise and enrolled in acting school to improve his performance. He made his television debut in an episode of the CW’s adolescent drama 90210, and he has also appeared on CBS’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Tyler Lepley’s Parents: Who Are They?

Lepley was born on March 24, 1987, in Philadelphia, and has been raised by his mother and stepfather since he was six years old.

The American actor is of mixed ancestry: his mother is of Italian descent, while his real father is of Jamaican descent. Lepley has admitted to being teased as a child since he was the only black student in his school.

He is his parents’ only kid and is very close to them.

In an interview with Essence, Lepley explained, “I am an only child, so it’s just us three.” “My parents are a combination of my mother, father, brother, and sister. I adore them and would not be where I am now if they weren’t there to support me.”

Lepley developed a passion for sports as a child. His parents encouraged him to participate in a variety of activities as a child, including track, football, basketball, and karate.

But as he grew older, he became more interested in American football, and he even played for Central Bucks High School West of Doylestown’s football team.

As a recruited athlete, he enrolled at Kutztown University on a football scholarship. He was, however, kicked off his football squad in 2007 after getting involved in a scuffle.

Although he was restored at his institution, his football career was gone after disciplinary charges were filed against him.

He traveled to California after finishing his college studies and found work as a personal trainer at Iron Fitness Gym in Santa Monica. It was there that he was noticed by a film producer.

Tyler Lepley’s Therapy Relationship

During his interview with the LA Sentinel, Lepley discussed how he grew as an actor in order to play his role, Benny, in The Haves and the Have Nots.

Lepley’s counseling sessions helped him overcome his fears and gain confidence on and off-screen. He admitted that he isn’t afraid to appear vulnerable in front of the camera or during an interview.

He learned to control his emotions by reading a book or just writing down what he was feeling.

When he doesn’t feel like talking to a professional, he admits that he prefers to have a calm session with his mother, sibling, or even his cat to chat about what’s upsetting him.

What drew Tyler Lepley to the field of therapy?

Lepley’s acting instructor was the one who first introduced him to the benefits of therapy.

He was able to connect with and stay true to his underlying feelings with the support of therapy. He explained, “If you don’t work on your emotions, they can become cold or numb.” “Therapy enables you to work on your emotions so that you may call on them when you need them.”

The actor’s journey to regaining control of his rage is what kept him in treatment. Because of his parents’ Jamaican and Italian backgrounds, he has acquired “a temper” and is prone to “snapping.”

Even though he is “wired to snap,” the P-Valley star stated that counseling has helped him deal with problems.

While there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health in the black community, Tyler admits that treatment has helped him as an actor address his feelings and develop his abilities.