Tim Reid

This article is about the American actor. For the Canadian politician, see Tim Reid (politician).
Tim Reid

Reid speaking at the USDA Black History Month celebration in February 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
(1967May 9, 1980; divorced) two children
Daphne Maxwell (December 4, 1982present)

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 (200406). Reid starred in a CBS series, Frank's Place, as a professor who inherits a Louisiana restaurant. Reid is the founder and president of Legacy Media Institute, a non-profit organization "dedicated to bringing together leading professionals in the film and television industry, outstanding actors, and young men and women who wish to pursue a career in the entertainment media".[2]

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.[3]

Reid's entertainment career also began in 1968. He and insurance salesman Tom Dreesen met at a Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting near Chicago.[4] 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.[4] The team, later billed as "Tim and Tom", was the first interracial comedy duo. Years later, Reid and Dreesen wrote a book about those years called Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White (2008, ISBN 978-0-226-70900-0), co-written with sports writer Ron Rapoport).[5][6]

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".[7]

Reid appeared in the initial movie version of Stephen King's epic horror novel It. He played the role of Mike Hanlon, librarian at the Derry, Maine Public Library and one of the seven main protagonists. 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 Campbell, 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.[8]

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.[9]

Personal life

In 1967, Reid married Rita; they divorced on May 9, 1980. They have two children together: Timothy II (born 1968) and Tori Reid (born 1971). On December 4, 1982, he married actress Daphne Maxwell Reid. Reid was named to the board of directors of the American Civil War Center in July 2011 at Tredegar Iron Works.[10] On May 10, 2014, Reid received a VCU honorary doctorate for his many outstanding and distinguished contributions. He delivered a commencement speech during the ceremony.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1974That's My MamaRev. ArmbrusterEpisode:"Clifton's Persuasion "
1976Mother, Jugs & SpeedUnity Dispatcher uncredited
RhodaKitchen Helper Ep."Guess Who I Saw Today"
1977The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. Showunknown
Fernwood 2 Night Matthew Johnson Ep."#1.43"
The Richard Pryor ShowBlind ManEp."#1.2"
Lou GrantDetectiveEp."Hostages"
What's Happening!!Dr. Claymore Ep."It's All in Your Head"
Maude Policeman Ep."Maude's Christmas Surprise"
1978ABC Weekend SpecialsTillsonEp."Little Lulu"
WKRP in CincinnatiVenus Flytrap / Gordon Sims 83 episodes;1978-1982
1979You Can't Take It with YouDonaldTV
1982BensonRussell, Benson's BrotherEp."Thy Brother's Keeper"
1983Teachers OnlyMichael Horne 5 episodes
Simon & SimonDet. Marcel 'Downtown' Brown 79 episodes;1983–87
1985Code Name: FoxfireunknownEp."Robin's Egg Blues"
1987MatlockDanny MillerEp."The Court-Martial: Part 1 and 2"
Frank's PlaceFrank Parish22 episodes;1987–88
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy (shared with Hugh Wilson)
Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series
Nominated-Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Nominated-Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Nominated-Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
1989Dead BangChief Dixon
SnoopsChance Dennis 4 episodes
1990ABC TGIFRay
The Fourth War Lt. Col. Clark
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced SingerJack BarnettTV
Stephen King's ItMike HanlonTV Movie
1991Zorro Dr. Lorenzo Lozano Ep."Wicked, Wicked Zorro"
1992You Must Remember ThisJoeTV
The New WKRP in Cincinnati Gordon Sims / Venus FlytrapEp."Venus, We Hardly Knew Ya"
MastergateChip Chatworth TV
Highlander: The SeriesSgt. Bennett 3 episodes;1992–93
1993Say a Little PrayerThug
1994Sister, SisterRay Campbell 120 episodes;1994–99
Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad Frederick Douglass
1995Simon & Simon: In Trouble AgainDowntown Brown
Out-of-SyncDet. Wilson
1996Once Upon a Time... When We Were ColoredDirectorDebut as a film director
1997Touched by an Angel Buddy Baker Ep."Last Call"
1998Linc'sPriestunknown episodes
1999Just DesertsScott WaringTV
2000Alley Cats Strike Mayor McLemore TV
2002Mu Sa DoDoorman 2
2003You Wish!LarryTV
For RealMac
2004-2006That '70s ShowWilliam Barnett 9 episodes
2005On the OneProphet
The Reading RoomDouglasTV
2006That's So RavenSheriff JeffersonEp."Driving Miss Lazy"
2007TradeHank Jefferson
2009RoommatesMr. Stanley Daniels
2010TremeJudge John A. Gatling
201693 Days Post-Production
2016LimitlessAstrophysicist Sturgeon Reid

References

  1. 1 2 "Tim Reid Biography (1944-)". Film Reference. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  2. Legacy Media Institute.
  3. Tim Reid profile, Museum of Broadcast Communications website; accessed January 11, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Todd Leopold, "'WKRP' vet Reid, standup Dreesen's previous life", CNN, October 2, 2008.
  5. Tim and Tom page at The University Press of Chicago.
  6. "Tim Reid Biography" at IMDb.
  7. Tim Reid profile; accessed November 26, 2007.
  8. Tim Reid at the Internet Movie Database
  9. ""STOP THE MADNESS" (1985, 1986) anti-drug music video", YouTube.
  10. "Actor, studio founder Tim Reid named to board of Virginia Civil War center", This Week in the Civil War, This Week in the Civil War.
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