Tim Reid
Encyclopedia
Timothy L. "Tim" Reid is an American
actor
, comedian
and film director
best known for his roles in prime time
American television program
s, 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).
, the son of Augustine (née Wilkins) and William Lee Reid. 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.
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. 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. 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 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."
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.
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.
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
best known for his roles in prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
American television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s, such as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
(1978-82), Marcel "Downtown" Brown on Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.-History:The original 1978 pilot called Pirate's Key was set in Florida...
(1983-87), Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister
Sister, Sister (TV series)
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart....
(1994-99) and William Barnett on That 70's Show (2004-2006).
Early years
Reid was born in Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, the son of Augustine (née Wilkins) and William Lee Reid. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
at Norfolk State College
Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University is a four-year, state-supported, coed, liberal arts, historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the Virginia High-Tech Partnership.-Academics:...
in 1968. Reid also became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity. After graduation he was hired by Dupont Corporation, where he worked for three years.
Reid's entertainment career also began in 1968, under atypical circumstances. He and insurance salesman Tom Dreesen
Tom Dreesen
Tom Dreesen is an American stand-up comedian.Dreesen grew up in Harvey, Illinois, south of Chicago. His family was one of the few white families in a largely African American community...
met at a Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting near Chicago. 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. The team, later billed as "Tim & Tom", was the first interracial comedy duo
Double act
A double act, also known as a comedy duo, is a comic pairing in which humor is derived from the uneven relationship between two partners, usually of the same gender, age, ethnic origin and profession, but drastically different personalities or behavior...
. 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).
Television acting career
Reid started out on the short-lived The Richard Pryor ShowThe Richard Pryor Show
The Richard Pryor Show is an American comedy variety series starring Richard Pryor. It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 13, 1977 at 8 p.m. opposite ABC's popular television shows Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days....
.
Reid starred as DJ "Venus Flytrap
Venus Flytrap (WKRP in Cincinnati)
Venus Flytrap is a character on the television situation comedy WKRP in Cincinnati , played by Tim Reid. He is the evening and early night-time disc jockey at WKRP, and during the course of the series he also becomes the assistant program director.-Development:Concerning the paucity of black actors...
" on the hit CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
, in what is perhaps his best known TV role.
Reid also starred as Lieutenant Marcel Proust "Downtown" Brown (episodes 43-127), on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
detective series Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.-History:The original 1978 pilot called Pirate's Key was set in Florida...
.
In 1988, Reid won an award from Viewers for Quality Television Awards as "Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series" in Frank's Place
Frank's Place
Frank's Place is an American comedy-drama series which aired on CBS for 22 episodes during the 1987-1988 television schedule. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and executive produced by Wilson and series star Tim Reid.-Plot:Set in New Orleans, Frank's Place chronicles the life of Frank Parrish...
. In 1988, the same role earned him an Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series."
Reid appeared in the movie version of Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's IT
It (novel)
It is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King. The story follows the exploits of seven children as they are terrorized by the eponymous inter-dimensional predatory life-form that exploits the fears and phobias of its victims in order to disguise itself while hunting its prey. "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
Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985...
.
He had a starring role in the series Sister Sister
Sister, Sister (TV series)
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart....
as Ray, for the entire six season run. On April 13, 2009, Reid returns to his former co-star Tamera Mowry
Tamera Mowry
Tamera Darvette Mowry-Housley is an American actress. She first gained fame for her teen role as Tamera Campbell on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister...
on The short-lived ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
series Roommates
Roommates (TV series)
Roommates is an American television sitcom developed by ABC Family and Acme Productions that premiered on March 23, 2009. On April 29, 2009, it was announced that Roommates would not return for a second season.-Overview:...
. 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
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
as William Barnett.
Directing
Reid has directed various television programs as well the film Once Upon a Time...When We Were ColoredOnce Upon a Time...When We Were Colored
Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored is a film directed by Tim Reid and the screenplay was written by Paul W. Cooper. The film is based on Clifton Taulbert’s real life and his nonfiction book, Once Upon A Time When We Were Colored. The film plays out Taulbert’s life...
based on a novel by Clifton L. Taulbert.
He directed and adapted a children's TV show called Bobobobs
Bobobobs
Bobobobs is a series of fictional children’s stories created by Henk Zwart and Nerida Zwart. The Bobobobs consists of several illustrated books and comics, and an animation children’s television series produced in 1988...
which aired in the late '80s.
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. Tim Reid was initiated into Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
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
Tredegar Iron Works
The Tredegar Iron Works was a historic iron foundry in Richmond, Virginia, United States of America, opened in 1837. During the American Civil War, the works served as the primary iron and artillery production facility of the Confederate States of America...
is located along the James River in Richmond and strives to interpret the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
from three perspectives: Union, Confederate and African American.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | That's My Mama That's My Mama That's My Mama is an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the ABC network from September 1974 until December 1975. There are 39 episodes of this series.-Synopsis:... |
Rev. Armbruster | Episode:"Clifton's Persuasion " |
| 1976 | Mother, Jugs & Speed Mother, Jugs & Speed Mother, Jugs & Speed is a 1976 black comedy film directed by Peter Yates. It stars Bill Cosby , Raquel Welch , Harvey Keitel , and Larry Hagman as employees of an independent ambulance service trying to survive in Los Angeles.-Plot:... |
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 The Richard Pryor Show The Richard Pryor Show is an American comedy variety series starring Richard Pryor. It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 13, 1977 at 8 p.m. opposite ABC's popular television shows Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days.... |
Blind Man | Ep."#1.2" | |
| Lou Grant Lou Grant (TV series) Lou Grant is an American television drama series starring Ed Asner in the titular role as a newspaper editor. Unusual in American television, this drama series was a spinoff from a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Aired from 1977 to 1982, Lou Grant won 13 Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Drama... |
Detective | Ep."Hostages" | |
| What's Happening!! What's Happening!! What's Happening!! is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976 to April 28, 1979. The show premiered as a summer series. With good ratings and reviews, and after the failure of several other shows on the network, What's Happening!! returned in November 1976 as a weekly... |
Dr. Claymore | Ep."It's All in Your Head" | |
| Maude Maude (TV series) Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with... |
Policeman | Ep."Maude's Christmas Surprise" | |
| 1978 | ABC Weekend Specials | Tillson | Ep."Little Lulu" |
| WKRP in Cincinnati WKRP in Cincinnati WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta... |
Venus Flytrap | 83 episodes;1978-1983 | |
| 1979 | You Can't Take It with You You Can't Take It with You You Can't Take It with You is a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play opened at the Booth Theater on December 14, 1936, and played for 837 performances... |
Donald | TV |
| 1982 | Benson Benson (TV series) Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986, on ABC. The series was a spin-off from the soap opera parody Soap ; however, Benson discarded the... |
Russell, Benson's Brother | Ep."Thy Brother's Keeper" |
| 1983 | Teachers Only | Michael Horne | 5 episodes |
| Simon & Simon Simon & Simon Simon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.-History:The original 1978 pilot called Pirate's Key was set in Florida... |
Det. Marcel 'Downtown' Brown | 79 episodes;1983-87 | |
| 1985 | Code Name: Foxfire | unknown | Ep."Robin's Egg Blues" |
| 1987 | Matlock Matlock (TV series) Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar... |
Danny Miller | Ep."The Court-Martial: Part 1 and 2" |
| Frank's Place Frank's Place Frank's Place is an American comedy-drama series which aired on CBS for 22 episodes during the 1987-1988 television schedule. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and executive produced by Wilson and series star Tim Reid.-Plot:Set in New Orleans, Frank's Place chronicles the life of Frank Parrish... |
Frank Parish | 22 episodes;1987-88 | |
| 1989 | Dead Bang Dead Bang Dead Bang is a 1989 action film starring Don Johnson and Tim Reid, and directed by John Frankenheimer. Johnson's character, based on real-life LAPD officer Jerry Beck, tracks the killer of a Los Angeles Sherrifs Deputy and uncovers a plot involving hate literature, white supremacist militias and... |
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 It (1990 film) It is a 1990 horror television miniseries based on the novel of the same name. The story revolves around an inter-dimensional predatory life-form that is simply referred to as "It", which has the ability to transform itself into its prey's worst fears allowing it to exploit the fears and phobias... |
Mike Hanlon | TV Movie | |
| 1991 | Zorro Zorro (1990 TV series) Zorro, also known as The New Zorro, New World Zorro, and Zorro 1990, is an American action-adventure drama series featuring Duncan Regehr as the character of Zorro. Regehr portrayed the fearless Latino hero and fencer on The Family Channel from 1990 to 1993... |
Dr. Lorenzo Lozano | Ep."Wicked, Wicked Zorro" |
| 1992 | You Must Remember This You Must Remember This You Must Remember This is a novel by Joyce Carol Oates. It tells the story of Enid Maria, a girl who falls in love with her uncle, a professional boxer. It also is about her family, the Stevicks, and their thriving life in Port Oriskany, a fictional industrial city in upstate New York.... |
Joe | TV |
| The New WKRP in Cincinnati The New WKRP in Cincinnati The New WKRP in Cincinnati is a sequel/spin-off of the original CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. It was made for the syndication market from 1991 to 1993.... |
Gordon Sim / Venus Flytrap | Ep."Venus, We Hardly Knew Ya" | |
| Mastergate | Chip Chatworth | TV | |
| Highlander: The Series Highlander: The Series Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985... |
Sgt. Bennett | 3 episodes;1992-93 | |
| 1993 | Say a Little Prayer Say a Little Prayer (film) Say a Little Prayer is a children's film by Richard Lowenstein. It stars Sudi de Winter, Fiona Ruttelle, Rebecca Smart, Lynne Murphy and Jill Forster. The film was written by Richard Lowenstein, based on Robin Klein's novel, Came Back to Show You I Could Fly... |
Thug | |
| 1994 | Sister, Sister Sister, Sister (TV series) Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart.... |
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 Out-of-Sync Out-of-Sync is a 1995 crime drama film featuring LL Cool J in his first starring role. The film was directed by Debbie Allen and co-starred Victoria Dillard, Tim Reid and Howard Hesseman.-Plot:... |
Det. Wilson | ||
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della... |
Buddy Baker | Ep."Last Call" |
| 1998 | Linc's Linc's Linc's is an American comedy-drama based in a bar in Washington D.C.. The series starred Steven Williams, Pam Grier and Golden Brooks, and aired on Showtime for two seasons from 1998 to 2000 before being cancelled.... |
Priest | unknown episodes |
| 1999 | Just Deserts | Scott Waring | TV |
| 2000 | Alley Cats Strike Alley Cats Strike Alley Cats Strike is a 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie produced by Rastar. It premiered on March 18, 2000.- Plot :A citywide Jr. High sports rivalry erupts when the competing schools manage to split the year-long series of athletic events... |
Mayor McLemore | TV |
| 2002 | Mu Sa Do | Doorman 2 | |
| 2003 | You Wish! | Larry | TV |
| For Real | Marc | ||
| 2004-2006 | That '70s Show That '70s Show That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979... |
William Barnett | 9 episodes |
| 2005 | On the One | Prophet | |
| The Reading Room The Reading Room The Reading Room is a 2005 made-for-tv movie that originally premiered on Hallmark Channel. It is directed by Georg Stanford Brown.-Plot:... |
Douglas | TV | |
| 2006 | That's So Raven That's So Raven That's So Raven is an American cable television teen sitcom/fantasy series. The show premiered on the Disney Channel on January 17, 2003, and ended on November 10, 2007. The show spawned Disney Channel's first spin-off series: Cory in the House... |
Sheriff Jefferson | Ep."Driving Miss Lazy" |
| 2007 | Trade Trade (film) Trade is a 2007 American film directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner and starring Kevin Kline. It was produced by Roland Emmerich and Rosilyn Heller. The film premiered January 23, 2007 at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and opened in limited release on September 28, 2007... |
Hank Jefferson | |
| 2009 | Roommates Roommates (TV series) Roommates is an American television sitcom developed by ABC Family and Acme Productions that premiered on March 23, 2009. On April 29, 2009, it was announced that Roommates would not return for a second season.-Overview:... |
Mr. Stanley Daniels | |
| 2010 | Treme | Judge |
External links
- '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
- http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/PressNewsDetails.php?newsID=172&newsCat=News Alpha Phi Alpha News