# Tim Reid

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For other people, see [Tim Reid (disambiguation)](/source/Tim_Reid_(disambiguation)).

**Timothy Lee Reid Sr.** (born December 19, 1944) is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for his roles in [prime time](/source/Prime_time) American [television programs](/source/Television_program), such as [Venus Flytrap](/source/Venus_Flytrap_(WKRP_in_Cincinnati)) on *[WKRP in Cincinnati](/source/WKRP_in_Cincinnati)* (1978–82), Marcel "Downtown" Brown on *[Simon & Simon](/source/Simon_%26_Simon)* (1983–87), Ray Campbell on *[Sister, Sister](/source/Sister,_Sister_(TV_series))* (1994–99) and William Barnett on *[That '70s Show](/source/That_'70s_Show)* (2004–06).[1][2]

Reid also starred in a CBS series, *[Frank's Place](/source/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".[3]

## Early years

Reid was born in [Norfolk](/source/Norfolk,_Virginia), [Virginia](/source/Virginia), and raised in the Crestwood area of [Chesapeake](/source/Chesapeake,_Virginia), formerly [Norfolk County](/source/Norfolk_County,_Virginia), Virginia. He is the son of William Lee and Augustine (*née* Wilkins) Reid. He had experienced segregation growing up in Norfolk, the majority of businesses around him being black-owned.[4][1] He earned his [Bachelor of Business Administration](/source/Bachelor_of_Business_Administration) degree at [Norfolk State College](/source/Norfolk_State_University) in 1968. Reid also became a member of [Alpha Phi Alpha](/source/Alpha_Phi_Alpha) fraternity. After graduation, he was hired by [Dupont Corporation](/source/Dupont_Corporation), where he worked for three years.[5]

Reid's entertainment career also began in 1968. He and insurance salesman [Tom Dreesen](/source/Tom_Dreesen) met at a [Junior Chamber of Commerce](/source/Junior_Chamber_of_Commerce) meeting near Chicago.[6] 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.[6] The team, later billed as "[Tim and Tom](/source/Tim_and_Tom)", was the first interracial [comedy duo](/source/Double_act). Years later, Reid and Dreesen wrote a book about those years called *Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White* (2008), co-written with sports writer Ron Rapoport.[7][8]

## Television acting career

Reid started out on the short-lived *[The Richard Pryor Show](/source/The_Richard_Pryor_Show)* in 1977. Reid starred as DJ "[Venus Flytrap](/source/Venus_Flytrap_(WKRP_in_Cincinnati))" on the hit [CBS](/source/CBS) sitcom *[WKRP in Cincinnati](/source/WKRP_in_Cincinnati)* from 1978-1982, in what is perhaps his best known TV role. He reprised his role in a 1992 episode of the sequel series *[The New WKRP in Cincinnati](/source/The_New_WKRP_in_Cincinnati)*.

Reid starred as Lieutenant Marcel Proust "Downtown" Brown on the CBS detective series *[Simon & Simon](/source/Simon_%26_Simon)* from 1983-1987. In 1988, Reid won an award from Viewers for Quality Television Awards as "Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series" in CBS comedy *[Frank's Place](/source/Frank's_Place)* (1987-1988). In 1988, the same role earned him an [Image Award](/source/NAACP_Image_Award) for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series",[9] but the series was short-lived as was his subsequent CBS series *[Snoops](/source/Snoops_(1989_TV_series))* (1989-1990).

Reid played the adult Mike Hanlon in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of [Stephen King](/source/Stephen_King)'s epic horror novel *[It](/source/It_(novel))*. He made an appearance as Sgt. Ray Bennett of the Seacouver Police Department in three first-season episodes of *[Highlander: The Series](/source/Highlander:_The_Series)* from 1992-1993. Reid had a starring role in the series *[Sister, Sister](/source/Sister,_Sister_(TV_series))* as Ray Campbell for the entire six-season run from 1994–1999. On April 13, 2009, he appeared opposite former *Sister, Sister* co-star [Tamera Mowry](/source/Tamera_Mowry) on the short-lived [ABC Family](/source/Freeform_(TV_channel)) series *[Roommates](/source/Roommates_(TV_series))* as Mr. Daniels. Reid had a recurring role on *[That '70s Show](/source/That_'70s_Show)* as William Barnett from 2004 to 2006.[10]

## Directing

Reid has directed various television programs, as well the 1996 film *[Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored](/source/Once_Upon_a_Time...When_We_Were_Colored)*, based on [a similarly titled memoir](/source/Once_Upon_a_Time_When_We_Were_Colored) by [Clifton L. Taulbert](/source/Clifton_L._Taulbert). Reid directed and adapted a children's TV show called *[Bobobobs](/source/Bobobobs)* that aired in the late 1980s. He is the creator of [Stop the Madness](/source/Stop_the_Madness), an after-school special video in the fight against drugs, recorded on December 11, 1985.[11]

## New Millennium Studios

Tim and Daphne Maxwell Reid built New Millennium Studios in 1997. Located in [Petersburg](/source/Petersburg,_Virginia), Virginia, the 57.4-acre site with its 14,850-square-foot sound studio was both the only Black-owned film studio in the United States since the 1930s, and also one of the largest independent film studios outside of Hollywood.

New Millennium Studios was used in dozens of movie and television productions, including scenes from the 2001 film *[Hearts in Atlantis](/source/Hearts_in_Atlantis_(film))* of the [Stephen King](/source/Stephen_King) [book of the same name](/source/Hearts_in_Atlantis); parts of 2000's *[The Contender](/source/The_Contender_(2000_film))* and elements of [Steven Spielberg](/source/Steven_Spielberg)'s 2012 film *[Lincoln](/source/Lincoln_(film))* were all shot there. The Reids also produced feature films of their own.

Due to "a lack of incentives in the state" to bring film production to Virginia, the Reids sold the property in March 2015 for $1.475 million to Four Square Property Management LLC, a company formed by Four Square Industrial Constructors, based in Chester, Virginia.[12]

## Personal life

In 1966, Reid married Rita Ann Sykes; 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](/source/Daphne_Maxwell_Reid).

In July 2011, Reid was named to the board of directors of the [American Civil War Center](/source/American_Civil_War_Museum) at [Tredegar Iron Works](/source/Tredegar_Iron_Works).[13] On May 10, 2014, Reid received a Virginia Commonwealth University honorary doctorate for his many outstanding and distinguished contributions after he delivered a commencement speech.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Reid served on the advisory board of the [National Student Film Institute](/source/National_Student_Film_Institute). A native Virginian, Reid resides in Glenshellah, [Portsmouth](/source/Portsmouth,_Virginia), Virginia.[14][15]

## Filmography

Year Film Role Notes 1974 That's My Mama Rev. Armbruster Episode:"Clifton's Persuasion " 1976 Mother, Jugs & Speed Unity Dispatcher uncredited 1976 Rhoda Kitchen Helper Episode: "Guess Who I Saw Today" 1977 Fernwood 2 Night Matthew Johnson Episode: "#1.43" 1977 The Richard Pryor Show Blind Man Episode: "#1.2" 1977 Lou Grant TV Cameraman Episode: "Hostages" 1977 What's Happening!! Dr. Claymore Episode: "It's All in Your Head" 1977 Maude Policeman Episode: "Maude's Christmas Surprise" 1978 ABC Weekend Specials Tillson Episode: "Little Lulu" 1978–1982 WKRP in Cincinnati Venus Flytrap 83 episodes 1979 You Can't Take It with You Donald TV movie 1982 Benson Russell DuBois Episode: "Thy Brother's Keeper" 1983 Teachers Only Michael Horne 13 episodes 1983–1987 Simon & Simon Det. Marcel 'Downtown' Brown 79 episodes 1985 Code Name: Foxfire unknown Episode: "Robin's Egg Blues" 1987 Matlock Danny Miller Episode: "The Court-Martial: Part 1 and 2" 1987–1988 Frank's Place Frank Parish 22 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy (shared with Hugh Wilson) VQT Award for 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 1989 Dead Bang Chief Dixon 1989–1990 Snoops Chance Dennis 13 episodes 1990 The Fourth War Lt. Col. Clark 1990 Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer Jack Barnett TV movie 1990 Stephen King's It Mike Hanlon TV miniseries 1991 Zorro Dr. Lorenzo Lozano Episode: "Wicked, Wicked Zorro" 1992 Just Deserts Scott Waring TV pilot episode 1992 The New WKRP in Cincinnati Venus Flytrap Episode: "Venus, We Hardly Knew Ya" 1992 Mastergate Chip Chatworth TV movie 1992 You Must Remember This Joe TV movie 1992–1993 Highlander: The Series Sgt. Bennett 3 episodes 1993 Say a Little Prayer Thug 1994–1999 Sister, Sister Ray Campbell 114 episodes 1994 Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad Frederick Douglass 1995 Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again Downtown Brown TV movie 1995 Out-of-Sync Det. Wilson 1996 Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored Debut as a film director 1997 Touched by an Angel Buddy Baker Episode: "Last Call" 1998 Linc's As creator and co-executive producer 2000 Alley Cats Strike Mayor Jeffery "Jeff" McLemore Disney Channel Original Movie 2002 Las Vegas Warrior Doorman 2 2003 You Wish! Larry Pendragon Disney Channel Original Movie 2003 For Real Mac Also director 2004–2006 That '70s Show William Barnett 9 episodes 2005 Preaching to the Choir Prophet 2005 The Reading Room Douglas TV movie 2006 That's So Raven Sheriff Jefferson Episode: "Driving Miss Lazy" 2007 Trade Hank Jefferson 2009 Roommates Mr. Stanley Daniels Episode: "The Break-In" 2010 The Cost of Heaven Richard Ginyard 2010–2012 Treme Judge John A. Gatling 4 episodes 2012 The Soul Man Henry Episode: "Loving Las Vegas" 2013 Troop 491: The Adventures of the Muddy Lions Pastor Brown 2013 Habeas Corpus Ray Senior Short film 2016 By the Grace of Bob JJ Barnes 2016 Limitless Astrophysicist Sturgeon Reid Episode: "Close Encounters" 2016 Tri Miles 2016 93 Days Dr. Adeniyi Jones 2016 Chasing Waterfalls Quincy TV movie 2016 The Rooftop Christmas Tree Dale Landis TV movie 2016 Crushed Russell Black TV movie 2017–2018 Greenleaf Bishop Lionel Jeffries 5 episodes 2017–2018 Me, Myself & I Older Darryl 3 episodes 2018 Love Is_ "Wiser" Sean Episode: "(His) Answers" 2018 My Christmas Inn Perry Taylor TV movie 2019 Grey's Anatomy Julian Episode: "I Walk the Line" 2019 Radio Christmas Garrett TV movie 2019 Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Kendal Hooks Episode: "If I Had Wings"[16] 2019 Check Inn to Christmas Blake TV movie 2019 Baking Christmas Phillip TV movie 2020 A Welcome Home Christmas General O'Toole TV movie 2021 Swagger Clyde Sawyer 3 episodes 2021 Pennywise: The Story of It Himself Documentary film[17] 2022 A New Orleans Noel Marcel Lirette TV movie 2024 Stream Dave Burham [18]

## References

1. ["Tim Reid Biography (1944-)"](http://www.filmreference.com/film/71/Tim-Reid.html). Film Reference. Retrieved June 4, 2012.

1. Newcomb, Horace (February 3, 2014). [*Encyclopedia of Television*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NUXIAgAAQBAJ&dq=tim+reid+december+1944&pg=PA1912). Routledge. ISBN 9781135194727.

1. [Legacy Media Institute.](http://www.legacymediainstitute.org/seminars-and-workshops/2010-summer-workshop-scheduled/)

1. ["Tim Reid"](https://richmond.com/tim-reid/article_7268be3d-8a6c-556a-85b1-2a8522b77b15.html). February 4, 2005.

1. [Tim Reid profile](http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/R/htmlR/reidtim/reidtim.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081018135907/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/R/htmlR/reidtim/reidtim.htm) October 18, 2008 at the Wayback Machine, [Museum of Broadcast Communications](/source/Museum_of_Broadcast_Communications) website; accessed January 11, 2014.

1. Leopold, Todd (October 2, 2008), ["'WKRP' vet Reid, standup Dreesen's previous life"](http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/10/02/tim.and.tom/index.html), [CNN](/source/CNN).

1. [*Tim and Tom*](http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/T/bo5631126.html) page at The University Press of Chicago.

1. ["Tim Reid Biography"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005347/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm) at IMDb.

1. [Tim Reid profile](http://www.bronzefest.com/guests.html); accessed November 26, 2007.

1. [Tim Reid](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005347/) at IMDb

1. ["'STOP THE MADNESS' (1985, 1986) anti-drug music video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5zJvX3pIY4). – via YouTube.

1. Hallman, Randy (May 8, 2015). ["Reids sell New Millennium Studios property in Petersburg"](http://www.richmond.com/business/local/reids-sell-new-millennium-studios-property-in-petersburg/article_87326fac-6463-54b0-b66e-2900c05645f2.html). *Richmond Times-Dispatch*

1. ["Actor, studio founder Tim Reid named to board of Virginia Civil War center"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151023032248/http://thisweekinthecivilwar.com/?p=606), This Week in the Civil War, This Week in the Civil War.

1. *National Student Film Institute/L.A: The Sixteenth Annual Los Angeles Student Film Festival*. The Directors Guild Theatre. June 10, 1994. pp. 10–11.

1. *Los Angeles Student Film Institute: 13th Annual Student Film Festival*. The Directors Guild Theatre. June 7, 1991. p. 3.

1. Andreeva, Nellie & Petski, Denise (November 30, 2018). ["Brooke Elliott, Ben Lawson, Michele Weaver & Gerald McRaney Star In "If I Had Wings," Part Of Dolly Parton Netflix Series"](https://deadline.com/2018/11/gerald-mcraney-ben-lawson-brooke-elliott-michele-weaver-cast-if-i-had-wings-episode-dolly-parton-netflix-anthology-series-1202511372/). *Deadline Hollywood*. Retrieved January 2, 2019.

1. ["Tim Reid"](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tim-reid/credits/3060120295/). *TVGuide.com*. Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. Miska, Brad (December 5, 2022). ["'Stream' – Guitarist Paul Wiley to Score New Horror Movie from the Producers of 'Terrifier'! \[Exclusive\]"](https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3742528/stream-guitarist-paul-wiley-to-score-new-horror-movie-from-the-producers-of-terrifier-exclusive/). *[Bloody Disgusting](/source/Bloody_Disgusting)*. Retrieved April 2, 2023.

## External links

- [Tim Reid Productions](http://www.timreidproductions.com/)
- [Tim Reid](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005347/) at IMDb
- ['WKRP' vet Reid, standup Dreesen's previous life](http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/10/02/tim.and.tom/index.html?iref=mpstoryview)
- [An excerpt](http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/709000.html) from *Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White* by Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen with Ron Rapoport
- [Alpha Phi Alpha News.](https://web.archive.org/web/20110718000319/http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com/PressNewsDetails.php?newsID=172&newsCat=News)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tim Reid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Reid) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Reid?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.