Actor Tyler Lepley married longtime partner Miracle Watts on July 25, 2026, at a destination wedding in Los Cabos, Mexico. The couple, who met on the set of “P-Valley” in 2021, confirmed the news on Instagram with photos.
Lepley, born March 24, 1987, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is best known for playing Benjamin “Benny” Young on Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots” and Diamond on the Starz drama “P-Valley.” His marriage to Watts caps a relationship that began on set, produced a son in 2022, and moved through engagement in late 2024 before ending in a small, private ceremony this July.
Early Life and Path to Acting
Lepley grew up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, raised by his mother and a stepfather who entered his life when he was six years old. He has Italian heritage through his mother and Jamaican heritage through his biological father.
He excelled in athletics at Central Bucks High School West, particularly football, and went on to earn a football scholarship to Kutztown University. He graduated in 2010 with a degree in criminal justice.
After college, Lepley moved to Los Angeles and worked as a personal trainer at a Santa Monica gym. A producer discovered him at a boxing gym and encouraged him to audition for acting roles, which led to a small part in the independent film “Slumber Party Slaughter” before he pursued formal acting training.
Career Breakthrough and Major Roles
In 2013, Tyler Perry cast Lepley as Benny Young in “The Haves and the Have Nots,” the first scripted series on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Lepley remained in the role for eight seasons, from 2013 to 2021, establishing himself as a dependable lead on the network’s flagship drama.
That same year, he appeared as Curtis in the feature film “Baggage Claim.” He later took a lead role as Jaxon Holley in the 2016 TV One film “Ringside.”
In 2019, Starz cast Lepley as a series regular in “P-Valley,” playing Diamond, a military veteran working as head bouncer at a strip club in the fictional town of Chucalissa, Mississippi. The series premiered in 2020 and drew critical praise, with Lepley’s performance noted for combining physical presence with emotional depth.
He also joined the main cast of Amazon Prime Video’s “Harlem,” created by Tracy Oliver, playing Ian, a chef navigating complex relationships within a group of four friends in New York City.
Recent Film and Television Work
| Project | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Baggage Claim | 2013 | Curtis |
| Ringside | 2016 | Jaxon Holley |
| Ruth & Boaz | 2025 | Boaz |
| Tyler Perry’s Duplicity | 2025 | Tony |
Lepley’s performance as Boaz in “Ruth & Boaz,” a modern retelling of the biblical story, earned him recognition at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special. “Tyler Perry’s Duplicity” streamed on Prime Video the same year.
Beyond acting, Lepley has had business ventures, including a Tampa restaurant connected to his name.
Relationship Timeline
Lepley and Watts met while filming “P-Valley” in 2021, and their relationship became public that year. The pair welcomed their son, Xi Lei Lepley, in the fall of 2022, with reports placing the birth in either September or October of that year.
The couple announced their engagement in November 2024, roughly two years after their son’s birth. Watts shared the news of the proposal on Instagram at the time.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Met on set of “P-Valley” | 2021 |
| Son Xi Lei Lepley born | Fall 2022 |
| Engagement announced | November 2024 |
| Wedding in Los Cabos | July 25, 2026 |
The Wedding
Lepley and Watts married on July 25, 2026, at Acre Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico. The couple kept the guest list small, limited to close family and friends, and shared their first wedding photos publicly the following day.
The newlyweds used the hashtag “#TylersMiracle,” a nod to their combined names that fans had used to follow the relationship for years. Coverage of the event described an all-white celebration with multiple bridal looks and a yacht gathering among the festivities tied to the wedding weekend.
Family Background
Lepley is a father of three. He has two older children, Leo and Jade, from a previous relationship with talent agent April King. He and Watts are now married and raising their son, Xi Lei, together as a blended family.
Where Things Stand Now
As of this writing, Lepley and Watts have not issued additional public statements beyond their wedding announcement and photos. The marriage represents the most recent confirmed milestone in a relationship that began on a television set in 2021 and has played out publicly through a pregnancy announcement, an engagement, and now a wedding in Mexico. Lepley continues to work across film and television, with “Ruth & Boaz” and “Tyler Perry’s Duplicity” standing as his most recent credited projects.
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