Tim Reid

Tim Reid
Reid speaking at the USDA Black History Month celebration in 2012
Born	Timothy L. Reid (1944-12-19) December 19, 1944 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, comedian, director
Years active	1974–present
Spouse(s)	Rita Reid (1967-May 9, 1980; divorced) 2 children Daphne Maxwell (December 4, 1982-present); 2 children

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 '70s Show (2004-2006). Reid starred in a CBS series, Frank's Place, as a professor who inherits a Louisiana restaurant.

Early years

Timmy Reid was born in Norfolk, Virginia and raised in the Crestwood area of Chesapeake, Virginia, formerly Norfolk County, 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. After graduation he was hired by Dupont Corporation, where he worked for three years.^[2]

Reid's entertainment career also began in 1968. 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 and 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). ^{[citation needed]}

Television acting career

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 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 epic horror novel It. He played the role of Mike Hanlon, librarian at the Derry, Maine Public Library. Though he admitted having a great time working on the project, Reid later expressed his disappointment with the fact that his character was absent from the climatic showdown against the titular villain (played by Tim Curry). He 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 appeared opposite former co-star Tamera Mowry on the short-lived ABC Family series Roommates as Mr. Daniels. Reid had a recurring role on That '70s Show as William Barnett. ^{[citation needed]}

Directing

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 1980s. Reid is the creator of Stop the Madness, an after school special video in the fight against drugs recorded on December 11, 1985. ^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

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. Reid was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity on Sunday November 14, 2010. He was named to the board of directors of the American Civil War Center in July 2011 at Tredegar Iron Works. ^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

References

External links

• Tim Reid Productions
• Tim Reid at the Internet Movie Database
• 'WKRP' vet Reid, standup Dreesen's previous life
• An excerpt from Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White by Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen with Ron Rapoport
• Alpha Phi Alpha News