Patrick Reynolds (Anti-Tobacco Advocate)

For other people named Patrick Reynolds, see Patrick Reynolds (disambiguation).
Patrick Cleveland Reynolds

Patrick Reynolds in 2006
Born December 2, 1948 (1948-12-02) (age 63)
Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Occupation Actor, Activist
Spouse Alexandra Reynolds (2007-present)
Regine Wahl (1983[1]-1985[2])

Patrick Cleveland Reynolds (born December 2, 1948, in Miami Beach, Florida[3]) is an American anti-smoking activist and former actor.

He is the grandson of the tobacco company founder, R. J. Reynolds,[4] and speaks of how he believes his family business has killed millions, including his own father (Richard Joshua Reynolds, Jr.) and brother (Michael Randolph Reynolds).[2] He is a frequent speaker on the dangers of smoking, and founded a non-profit organization dedicated to anti-tobacco campaigning.

Contents

Social activism

I consider myself the white sheep of my family

Reynolds, 1986[3]

In April 1986, Reynolds went with a friend to a meeting with Senator Robert Packwood, where the issue of a proposed cut in tobacco tax was raised. Outraged, Reynolds stood up and asked why tobacco taxes were so low.[2] By June 1986, Reynolds had become an anti-smoking activist, appearing in adverts for the American Lung Association and testifying before a congressional subcommittee at the invitation of Packwood,[5][6] to the dismay of his family. He had already sold his tobacco stock in 1979,[7] and tried to get hired by RJR Nabisco Inc. from 1983–85, in an attempt to get the company to divest their tobacco holding.[8] Reynolds was himself a smoker for 10 years until he quit in 1985 after five years of trying.[5][6][9] He has appeared on many national television programs.

In 1989, Reynolds founded The Foundation for a Smokefree America.[4] That same year, Reynolds published The Gilded Leaf with Thomas Schactman, chronicling three generations of his family and its tobacco business,[10][11] a book he had been working on since 1980.[2] The book was re-issued in 2006 (ISBN 0-595-83831-6).

Former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop M.D., called him "one of the nation's most influential advocates of a smokefree America."[12] He continues to speak regarding tobacco control to groups, with a focus on high school and elementary school audiences. He advised the Greek government on anti-smoking measures[13] in 2009 , and in 2011 was seeking sponsorship for a world tour.[13]

Relative to the friction within his family over his public campaign, he said in 2011 it has eased. “[S]ince 1986, the price of the stock kept going up. And as far as being an embarrassment, I received an award from the World Health Organization; I brought honor to the Reynolds family.”[13]

Personal life

His mother was his father's second wife, an actress who starred as Marianne O'Brien in the 1940s, contracted to Jack Warner.[3] His parents separated when he was three and he did not meet his father again until he was nine. His father died five years later from emphysema aged 58,[14] leaving a will that disinherited Patrick and his brother and four half-brothers. He received $500,000 from his father's fourth wife in agreement not to contest the will.[10] He inherited $2.5 million from his grandfather in 1969, when he was 21.[8] He studied drama at the University of California.[3] He recorded three unsuccessful pop singles in 1982.[2] He married his first wife Regina in Ofterschwang, West Germany in July 1983,[1] and briefly began working for her father's international bus company before landing his role in Eliminators.[2] His mother died in 1985.[2]

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Alexandra and their son, born in October 2009.

Partial filmography

References

  1. ^ a b "Millionaire Marries". Pittsburgh Press. 11 July 1983. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=aqgcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2IEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5144,4793581. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Mitchell, Greg (November 1988). "Fresh Heir". Mother Jones Magazine. http://books.google.com/books?id=PucDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA2. Retrieved 2010-01-24. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Scott, Vernon (13 February 1986). "Patrick Reynolds: Poor little rich actor". United Press International. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=ppMUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JIQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7118,2337120. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  4. ^ a b "Patrick Reynolds Brings ‘Truth About Tobacco’ Nov.22". The Chattanoogan. 26 October 2005. http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_74847.asp. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  5. ^ a b Camili, Doug (14 July 1986). "Tobacco family scion to do anti-smoking ads". Montreal Gazette. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=3RoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RagFAAAAIBAJ&pg=985,2390774. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  6. ^ a b "Bucking the family". Pittsburgh Press. 25 June 1986. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=vHQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u2IEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6285,5004948. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  7. ^ Foster, R. Daniel (6 February 1992). "He supports a proposed ban on smoking in L.A. restaurants.". Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/61569375.html?dids=61569375:61569375&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+06%2C+1992&author=R.+DANIEL+FOSTER&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Tobacco+Road+Health%3A+The+grandson+of+R.+J.+Reynolds+has+battled+the+industry+his+ancestors+helped+created.+He+supports+a+proposed+ban+on+smoking+in+L.A.+restaurants.&pqatl=google. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  8. ^ a b Minehart, Tom (17 August 1986). "Tobacco heir's fight has family fuming". The Associated Press. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=BaArAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6670,5311096. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  9. ^ Carelli, Richard (18 July 1986). "R.J. Reynolds' son urging Congress to ban tobacco ads". Associated Press. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=rJwrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D_wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5652,5104617. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  10. ^ a b Frizzi, Ginny (8 July 1989). "'Gilded Leaf' a revealing look at Reynolds tobacco clan". Pittsburgh Press. http://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=ca0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sWMEAAAAIBAJ. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  11. ^ Cooper, Andrea (20 August 1989). "In short; Non-fiction". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/20/books/in-short-nonfiction-672689.html?pagewanted=1. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  12. ^ Anderson, Jon (18 May 1988). "A NEW LEAF A TOBACCO HEIR REJECTS THE LEGACY". Chicago Tribune. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24777705.html?dids=24777705:24777705&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+18%2C+1988&author=Jon+Anderson&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=A+NEW+LEAF+A+TOBACCO+HEIR+REJECTS+THE+LEGACY&pqatl=google. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 
  13. ^ a b c Lewis, Al, "Tobacco heir still battling his legacy", MarketWatch, December 14, 2011, 10:41 am EST. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  14. ^ Canellos, Peter S. (25 July 1986). "A TOBACCO HEIR IN THE ANTI-SMOKING CAMP". Orlando Sentinel. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/92864521.html?dids=92864521:92864521&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+25%2C+1986&author=Peter+S.+Canellos%2C+Washington+Post&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=A+TOBACCO+HEIR+IN+THE+ANTI-SMOKING+CAMP&pqatl=google. Retrieved 24 January 2010. 

External links