Reginald VelJohnson
Reginald VelJohnson | |
---|---|
Born | Reginald Johnson August 16, 1952 New York City, U.S. |
Education | New York University (BFA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1979–present |
Known for | Carl Winslow – Family Matters Al Powell – Die Hard |
Reginald VelJohnson (born Reginald Johnson; August 16, 1952) is an American actor. He is best known for playing
Early life
VelJohnson was born Reginald Johnson, the son of Eva, a nurse’s aide, and Dan, a hospital attendant, on August 16, 1952, in the Queens borough of New York City.[1] His father left the family, which included Reginald's brother Barry,[2] when Johnson was 13 years old. Their mother subsequently married John Reilly,[3] and Johnson attended Benjamin N. Cardozo High School.[4]
He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater from New York University, where he had a chance to work with Joseph Papp's Black/Hispanic Shakespeare Company, in which Morgan Freeman and CCH Pounder were among his fellow actors.[5][6] Early in his acting career, he changed his name from Reginald Johnson (his birth name) to Reginald VelJohnson. He later said he changed the spelling "because I wanted a name people would remember".[7]
Career
VelJohnson is known for playing police officers in films and on television. His early career included a brief appearance in Ghostbusters (1984) as a municipal corrections officer, and an appearance in Crocodile Dundee (1986) as a limo driver.[8] VelJohnson played alongside Tom Hanks, as Det. David Sutton, in Turner & Hooch (1989). He played an ambulance driver in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) in which he was credited by the stage name Ivory Ocean.
VelJohnson had his breakthrough role[5] as Sgt. Al Powell in the 1988 film Die Hard. VelJohnson was hired after Gene Hackman, originally hired to play the role, became unavailable, and producers decided to hire a relatively unknown actor for the part.[9] He came from New York to California to film it for nine months, which was so long that he ended up residing in California permanently thereafter.[8][10] He later reprised the character in the 1990 sequel Die Hard 2.[8] VelJohnson again portrayed Sgt. Powell in the GameCube video game titled Die Hard: Vendetta in 2002.
In 1989, VelJohnson was cast as the memorable police officer and family patriarch
In 2021, VelJohnson voiced Principal Winslow in the
In January 2023, VelJohnson began appearing in advertisements for Progressive as "TV Dad," a parody of his previous Carl Winslow role.[15]
Personal life
As of 2009, VelJohnson had homes in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, and resided primarily in Oceanside, New York.[16] He has never married and has no children.[9]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | Wolfen | Morgue Attendant | Credited as Reginald Vel Johnson |
1984 | Ghostbusters | Corrections Officer | Credited as Reggie Vel Johnson |
1985 | Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins | EMT | |
1986 | Crocodile Dundee | Gus | |
1988 | Plain Clothes | Captain Graff | |
Die Hard | Sgt. Al Powell | ||
1989 | Turner & Hooch | Detective David "Dave" Sutton | |
1990 | Die Hard 2 | Sgt. Al Powell | Cameo |
1991 | A Fond Little Memory[citation needed] | Short film | |
1993 | Posse | Preston | |
2000 | Ground Zero | Burt Green | |
2002 | Like Mike | Mr. Boyd | |
2005 | Sunday Evening Haircut[citation needed] | O.C. | Short film Producer, writer |
Suits on the Loose[citation needed] | Brother Steedman | ||
Death to the Supermodels | Tom | Direct-to-video release | |
2006 | Hidden Secrets[citation needed] | Norman Wexler | |
2007 | Three Days to Vegas | RJ Jackson | |
Out at the Wedding[17] | Dexter | ||
2009 | Steppin: The Movie | Mr. Shavers | |
2010 | Jelly[citation needed] | Joe Woods | |
You Again | Mason Dunlevy | ||
2012 | Brother White[citation needed] | Hill | |
Air Collision
|
Bob Abbot | ||
2013 | The Formula[citation needed] | Professor Millan | |
2014 | 12 Dog Days Till Christmas'[18] | Probation Officer Art Stephenson | |
Strike One[citation needed] | Judge Morris | ||
2018 | Funny Story | Hank | |
2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Fire Chief | Scenes deleted |
2020 | The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee | Reggie | |
2023 | Glisten and the Merry Mission | Snowy Owl | Voice |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985–88 | The Equalizer | N/A (1985) Harmon Hunter (1986) Arthur Williams (1988) |
Episode: "Lady Cop" Episode: "Dead Drop" Episode: "Sea of Fire" |
1988 | 227 | The Santa Thief | Episode: "The Night They Arrested Santa Claus" |
1989 | Perfect Strangers | Carl Winslow
|
Episode: " Crimebusters "
|
1989–98 | Family Matters | Carl Winslow | Main role, 215 episodes |
1992 | Tales from the Crypt | Hotel Guest | Episode: "Werewolf Concerto" |
1993 | Dream On | Santa | Episode: "Silent Night, Holy Cow" |
1994 | A Cool Like That Christmas[citation needed] | Dad (voice) | Television movie |
One of Her Own | Det. Bob Hymes | Television movie | |
1996 | Deadly Pursuits | Ed Conroy | Television movie |
1998 | Diagnosis: Murder | Dr. David Sinclair | Episode: "The Last Resort" |
1999 | The Hughleys | Rev. Bennett | Episode: "Daddy's Going to Hell" |
2000 | Twice in a Lifetime | Dr. David Bryant | Episode: "Whistle Blower" |
2001 | The Fugitive | Maurice Beaumont | Episode: "Lagniappe" |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Phillip Kane | Episodes: "Face Lift" and "Gentle, Gentle" | |
2002 | Crossing Jordan | Mr. Holden | Episode: "Someone to Count On" |
Will & Grace | Dr. Kaplan | Episode: " It's the Gay Pumpkin, Charlie Brown "
| |
2003 | The Parkers | Sterling Oglevee | Episode: "A Sterling Relationship" |
2005 | That's So Raven | Dikembe, The Ambassador | Episode: "The Royal Treatment" |
Ghost Whisperer | Danny Small | Episode: "Undead Comic" | |
2006 | Eve
|
Rev. Everett | Episode: " Oh, Brother "
|
Monk | Todd | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Class Reunion" | |
2007 | On the Lot | Neighbor in 'Time Upon a Once' | Episode: "11 Cut to 10 & 10 Directors Complete" |
Bones | Dale Owens | Episode: " The Santa in the Slush "
| |
2008 | Chuck | Sgt. Al Powell | Episode: "Chuck Versus Santa Claus" |
2009 | The Three Gifts[citation needed] | Rodney Smith | Television movie |
Family Guy | Sgt. Al Powell | Episode: "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" | |
2009–11 | I'm in the Band | Principal/Superintendent Cornelius Strickland | Recurring role |
2010 | Funny or Die Presents | Christopher | Episode: "Just 3 Boyz" |
The Bold and the Beautiful | Ed | 2 episodes | |
Meet the Browns | Ernie Wilson | Episode: "Meet the Baby Daddy" | |
Glory Daze | Stan Turley | Episode: "Papa Don't Pre-Game" | |
2010–13 | Mike & Molly | Brother Heywood | 6 episodes |
2011–15 | Hart of Dixie | Dash DeWitt | Recurring role |
2012–13 | Tron: Uprising | Able | Recurring role |
2012 | General Hospital | Reverend Love | Episode #1.12632 |
Childrens Hospital | Judge Lester Harrison | Episode: "Children Lawspital" | |
The Mistle-Tones | Holly's dad | Television movie | |
2013 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Himself | Episode: "Tisha and Duane" |
2015 | Clipped | Tommy | 5 episodes |
The Flight Before Christmas | Joe | Television movie Played husband of "Marie" (Jo Marie Payton, who also played Reginald's wife on Family Matters) | |
2016 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Judge Melvoy | Episode: "McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century" |
Hitting the Breaks | Chauncey van Delaware | 5 episodes | |
Girl Meets World | Officer James | Episode: "Girl Meets True Maya" | |
Ray Donovan | Sherman Radley | Episode: "Norman Saves the World" | |
2017 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Mr. Flannigan (voice) | Episode: "My Mischievous Son" |
Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television | Captain Jackson #6 | Episode: "Escape Room Escapades" | |
2018 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Himself | Episode: "Bachelor/ette Party" |
The Prayer Box | Billy | Television movie | |
2018–19 | 3Below: Tales of Arcadia | Jerry (voice) | Recurring role |
2019–21 | Lazor Wulf | God (voice) | Recurring role |
2019 | Mom | Jim | Episode: "Audrey Hepburn and a Jalepeño Pepper" |
Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta | Reverend Bennet | Television movie | |
2020 | Sydney to the Max | Principal Linkenberry | Episode: "Going the Green Mile" |
2021 | Turner & Hooch | Mayor David "Dave" Sutton | Recurring role |
2021-Present | Invincible | Principal Winslow, Tether Tyrant (voices) | 3 episodes |
2022 | Ghosts of Christmas Always | Roy | Television movie, Hallmark Channel |
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza | Sgt. Al Powell [19] | Voice and likeness only |
Die Hard: Vendetta |
References
- ^ "Reginald VelJohnson Biography (1952–)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ "Reginald Veljohnson [sic]". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Reginald Veljohnson Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ "QConfidential". Queens Tribune. New York City. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c Hill, Michael E. (November 25, 1990). "Reginald VelJohnson". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Reginald Vel Johnson: Class of 1975". New York University Grad Acting Alumnni Association. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019.
- ^ Buck, Jerry (November 16, 1989). "Reginald Veljohnson of 'Family Matters' reminisces". The Dallas Morning News.
- ^ a b c d Thompson, Simon (November 2, 2018). "Reginald VelJohnson Talks 'Die Hard' At 30 And 'Crocodile Dundee' Sequel [Interview]". Forbes.com Contributor. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2019. Note: Forbes magazine in its website's legal notices states Forbes contributors are not staffers and are under no editorial oversight. They are personal blogs.
- ^ a b Seemeyer, Zach (June 14, 2022). "'Family Matters' Star Reginald VelJohnson Talks Challenging Co-Stars and Being an Iconic TV Dad (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Dawn, Randee (November 7, 2018). "Reginald VelJohnson reveals how 'Die Hard' helped him get cast in 'Family Matters'". Today. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "On this day in comedy... In 1952 comedian and actor Reginal VelJohnson was born!". Humor Mill Mag. September 16, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "On the Lot: Episodes". Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2007.
- ^ Smith, William. "Mixing 'The Formula' For Success". The Hawk Eye. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
- ^ Special Episode: Robert Kirkman and the Invincible Show, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved March 22, 2021
- ^ Conway, Jeff. "Actor Reginald VelJohnson Discusses His 'TV Dad' Progressive Commercials And His Professional Mindset At 70". Forbes. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "The Three Gifts > Cast > Reginald VelJohnson". Hallmark Channel. 2009. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ Cast list, Out at the Wedding closing credits
- ^ "'12 Dog Days Till Christmas': Claflin event includes screening of S.C.-made film". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, South Carolina. April 5, 2015. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- ^ Bits Studios. Die Hard Vendetta. Sierra Entertainment. Scene: Ending credits, 2:45:30 in, VOICE AND MOTION CAPTURE ARTISTS.
External links
- Reginald VelJohnson at IMDb
- Reginald VelJohnson at Yahoo! TV at archive.today (archived February 9, 2013)
- Reginald VelJohnson at the Internet Broadway Database
- Reginald VelJohnson at the Internet Off-Broadway Database