Tyrel Jackson Williams
Tyrel Jackson Williams, also known under the stage name theMetroNorth, is an American actor, rapper, singer and record producer. He starred as Leo Dooley in the Disney XD series Lab Rats. Williams also co-starred in the 2014 Disney XD television film Pants on Fire. From 2017 to 2020, he co-starred in the comedy series Brockmire.
In 2019, Williams founded the hip-hop collective Grouptherapy, alongside fellow child actors Jadagrace, Coy Stewart, and Elijah Johnson. In 2024, Williams announced his departure from the group.
Early and personal life
Williams was born in Westchester County, New York on March 16, 1997.His mother, Angela Williams, is a counselor, and his father, Le'Roy Williams, is a teacher and retired police sergeant. Both have worked as musicians.
Williams has two siblings, both of whom are also actors; Tyler James Williams and Tylen Jacob Williams. Like his older brother, he suffers from Crohn's disease. In 2023, he and Tylen came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Career
Williams had roles in the feature films The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie in 2005, and Failure to Launch in 2006. He has also appeared in national commercials for companies such as Target, Verizon, McDonald's, Chex Mix and General Mills. Williams appeared in two episodes of the television series Everybody Hates Chris starting in 2005, as a younger version of Chris who was played by his older brother Tyler James Williams.In 2011, Williams was cast in the Disney XD series Lab Rats which premiered in 2012, playing the main role of Leo who stumbles upon the existence of the titular bionic heroes. He had a starring role in the 2014 Disney XD television film Pants on Fire. He was also a singing actor for Tyrone in the Nickelodeon animated television series The Backyardigans.
In 2016, Williams was cast in the role of Charles, an internet whiz who has been hired to be the assistant to a minor league baseball team and its sports announcer, in the 2017 IFC comedy series Brockmire.
Williams, along with friends Coy Stewart and Jadagrace, formed the music collective "Grouptherapy". On April 1, 2020, the collective released their debut EP entitled this is not the album. and later released their debut mixtape, there goes the neighborhood. on October 30, 2020.
On March 20, 2024, it was announced that Williams had left Grouptherapy.
On January 9, 2026, Williams released his first single “Motorcity Trippin’” under his new moniker “theMetroNorth”.