| Tim Reid | |
|---|---|
Reid at the Pentagon for the birthday observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 2005 |
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| Born | Timothy L. Reid December 19, 1944 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, director |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | Rita Reid (1967-May 9, 1980; divorced deceased) 2 children Daphne Maxwell Reid (December 4, 1982-present) |
Timothy L. "Tim" Reid[1] (born December 19, 1944) is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for his roles in prime time American television programs, such as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-82), Marcel "Downtown" Brown on Simon & Simon (1983-87), Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister (1994-99) and William Barnett on That 70's Show (2004-2006).
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Reid was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the son of Augustine (née Wilkins) and William Lee Reid.[1] He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration at Norfolk State College in 1968. Reid also became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[2] After graduation he was hired by Dupont Corporation, where he worked for three years.[2]
Reid's entertainment career also began in 1968, under atypical circumstances. He and insurance salesman Tom Dreesen met at a Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting near Chicago.[3] They were "put together to promote an anti-drug program in the local schools" and, prompted by a comment from a child, decided to form a comedy team.[3] The team, later billed as "Tim & Tom", was the first interracial comedy duo. Years later, Reid and Dreesen co-wrote a book about those years called Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White (ISBN 978-0-226-70900-0, co-written with sports writer Ron Rapoport).
Reid started out on the short-lived The Richard Pryor Show.
Reid starred as DJ "Venus Flytrap" on the hit CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, in what is perhaps his best known TV role.
Reid also starred as Lieutenant Marcel Proust "Downtown" Brown (episodes 43-127), on the CBS detective series Simon & Simon.
In 1988, Reid won an award from Viewers for Quality Television Awards as "Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series" in Frank's Place. In 1988, the same role earned him an Image Award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series."[4]
Reid appeared in the movie version of Stephen King's IT. He played the role of Mike Hanlon, the librarian at the Derry, Maine Public Library. Reid also made an appearance as Sgt. Ray Bennett of the Seacouver Police Department in three first-season episodes of Highlander: The Series.
He had a starring role in the series Sister Sister as Ray, for the entire six season run. On April 13, 2009, Reid returns to his former co-star Tamera Mowry on The short-lived ABC Family series Roommates. Reid plays Mr. Daniels, Hope's father in the episode "The Break In" in which Mowry played Hope Daniels.
He also had a recurring role on That '70s Show as William Barnett.
Reid has directed various television programs as well the film Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored based on a novel by Clifton L. Taulbert.
He directed and adapted a children's TV show called Bobobobs which aired in the late '80s.
In 1967, Reid married Rita; they divorced on May 9, 1980. They have two children together: Tim Reid II (born 1968) and Tori Reid (born 1971). Since December 4, 1982, he has been married to actress Daphne Maxwell Reid. Tim Reid was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity on Sunday November 14, 2010. He was also named to the board of directors of The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar in July 2011. Tredegar Iron Works is located along the James River in Richmond and strives to interpret the American Civil War from three perspectives: Union, Confederate and African American. [5]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | That's My Mama | Rev. Armbruster | Episode:"Clifton's Persuasion " |
| 1976 | Mother, Jugs & Speed | Unity Dispatcher | uncredited |
| Rhoda | Kitchen Helper | Ep."Guess Who I Saw Today" | |
| 1977 | The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. Show | unknown | |
| Fernwood 2 Night | Matthew Johnson | Ep."#1.43" | |
| The Richard Pryor Show | Blind Man | Ep."#1.2" | |
| Lou Grant | Detective | Ep."Hostages" | |
| What's Happening!! | Dr. Claymore | Ep."It's All in Your Head" | |
| Maude | Policeman | Ep."Maude's Christmas Surprise" | |
| 1978 | ABC Weekend Specials | Tillson | Ep."Little Lulu" |
| WKRP in Cincinnati | Venus Flytrap | 83 episodes;1978-1983 | |
| 1979 | You Can't Take It with You | Donald | TV |
| 1982 | Benson | Russell, Benson's Brother | Ep."Thy Brother's Keeper" |
| 1983 | Teachers Only | Michael Horne | 5 episodes |
| Simon & Simon | Det. Marcel 'Downtown' Brown | 79 episodes;1983-87 | |
| 1985 | Code Name: Foxfire | unknown | Ep."Robin's Egg Blues" |
| 1987 | Matlock | Danny Miller | Ep."The Court-Martial: Part 1 and 2" |
| Frank's Place | Frank Parish | 22 episodes;1987-88 | |
| 1989 | Dead Bang | Chief Dixon | |
| Snoops | Chance Dennis | 4 episodes | |
| 1990 | ABC TGIF | Ray | |
| The Fourth War | Lt. Col. Clark | ||
| Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer | Jack Barnett | TV | |
| Stephen King's It | Mike Hanlon | TV Movie | |
| 1991 | Zorro | Dr. Lorenzo Lozano | Ep."Wicked, Wicked Zorro" |
| 1992 | You Must Remember This | Joe | TV |
| The New WKRP in Cincinnati | Gordon Sim / Venus Flytrap | Ep."Venus, We Hardly Knew Ya" | |
| Mastergate | Chip Chatworth | TV | |
| Highlander: The Series | Sgt. Bennett | 3 episodes;1992-93 | |
| 1993 | Say a Little Prayer | Thug | |
| 1994 | Sister, Sister | Ray Campbell | 119 episodes;1994-99 |
| Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad | Frederick Douglass | ||
| 1995 | Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again | Downtown Brown | |
| Out-of-Sync | Det. Wilson | ||
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Buddy Baker | Ep."Last Call" |
| 1998 | Linc's | Priest | unknown episodes |
| 1999 | Just Deserts | Scott Waring | TV |
| 2000 | Alley Cats Strike | Mayor McLemore | TV |
| 2002 | Mu Sa Do | Doorman 2 | |
| 2003 | You Wish! | Larry | TV |
| For Real | Marc | ||
| 2004-2006 | That '70s Show | William Barnett | 9 episodes |
| 2005 | On the One | Prophet | |
| The Reading Room | Douglas | TV | |
| 2006 | That's So Raven | Sheriff Jefferson | Ep."Driving Miss Lazy" |
| 2007 | Trade | Hank Jefferson | |
| 2009 | Roommates | Mr. Stanley Daniels | |
| 2010 | Treme | Judge |