Tim Reid Bio
Timothy Lee Reid Sr. (born December 19, 1944) is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for prominent roles in prime-time television. His television work includes Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati, Marcel “Downtown” Brown on Simon & Simon, Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister, and recurring appearances on That ’70s Show.
Early Life and Background
Timothy Lee Reid Sr. was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and raised in the Crestwood area of Chesapeake in what was formerly Norfolk County. He is the son of William Lee Reid and Augustine Reid and experienced segregation during his youth in Norfolk, where many local businesses were black-owned.
Reid earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Norfolk State College in 1968 and became a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. After graduation he worked for three years at DuPont Corporation before moving fully into entertainment, combining formal education with early professional experience outside the industry.
His Virginia roots remained central to his career and later activities, including business and philanthropic efforts that tied back to his home state. Reid has maintained residence in Glenshellah, Portsmouth, Virginia, and has engaged in local cultural and educational initiatives.
Path to Actor
Reid’s entertainment career began in 1968 when he met Tom Dreesen at a Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting near Chicago; they paired to promote an anti-drug program and soon formed the interracial comedy team billed as “Tim and Tom.” The duo became the first widely recognized interracial comedy team and later co-wrote Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White, recounting those years.
Reid transitioned from stand-up and touring comedy into television work during the 1970s, taking early acting opportunities that leveraged his stage experience and timing as a comic performer. He appeared on The Richard Pryor Show in 1977 before securing more regular television roles that broadened his profile.
During this period Reid also developed skills behind the camera and in production, laying groundwork for later directing projects and media ventures. His combined experience in performance, business education and early corporate employment informed a practical approach to building a career in television and film.
Tim Reid Career
Early Career (1968–1977)
From 1968 Reid balanced work with Tom Dreesen as a comedy team and gradually moved into television appearances. His early professional trajectory included touring as part of Tim and Tom and gaining exposure through stand-up and television showcases that highlighted his comedic voice and presence.
After his initial television appearances, Reid continued to pursue acting roles that would allow him to move from guest spots to recurring parts, using his comedy background as a foundation for performing in scripted series. Those formative years established his reputation as a reliable performer for both comedic and dramatic material.
Breakthrough (1978–1988)
Reid’s breakthrough came with the role of DJ “Venus Flytrap” on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired from 1978 to 1982 and remains one of his best-known performances. The part showcased his comedic timing and charisma and brought national recognition that opened doors to additional television series roles.
Following WKRP, Reid joined the cast of Simon & Simon as Lieutenant Marcel Proust “Downtown” Brown from 1983 to 1987, expanding his profile into the detective drama genre. The combination of sitcom and dramatic work in the late 1970s and 1980s demonstrated Reid’s range and helped sustain steady television employment.
Frank’s Place and Recognition (1987–1989)
Reid starred in the CBS series Frank’s Place as a professor who inherits a Louisiana restaurant, a role that earned critical attention and peer recognition. For his performance on Frank’s Place he received an award from Viewers for Quality Television as Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series and an Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, both tied to the series’ 1987–1988 run.
Although Frank’s Place was short-lived, the series reinforced Reid’s reputation for nuanced television work and demonstrated his ability to carry complex roles that blended comedy and drama. Those achievements marked a high point in the late 1980s for his career visibility and critical standing.
Later Television and Film Work (1990s–2000s)
Reid continued to work steadily in television, appearing as the adult Mike Hanlon in the 1990 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It and taking recurring roles such as Sgt. Ray Bennett on Highlander: The Series. He later had a starring role as Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister for the full six-season run from 1994 to 1999, anchoring his status as a veteran television actor.
In the 2000s Reid appeared as William Barnett on That ’70s Show from 2004 to 2006 and made guest appearances on series including Roommates in 2009. He also moved into directing and producing work, applying his performing experience to projects behind the camera.
Notable Works and Milestones
Signature roles across his career include Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati and Marcel “Downtown” Brown on Simon & Simon, with later defining parts in Frank’s Place and Sister, Sister. Reid directed the 1996 film Once Upon a Time…When We Were Colored, adapted from Clifton L. Taulbert’s memoir, and created the anti-drug after-school special Stop the Madness in 1985.
Reid and his wife, actress Daphne Maxwell Reid, built New Millennium Studios in Petersburg, Virginia, in 1997; the 57.4-acre facility with a 14,850-square-foot sound studio was noted as a major independent film studio and the Reids sold the property in March 2015. He is the founder and president of Legacy Media Institute, a nonprofit focused on connecting industry professionals with aspiring actors and media workers.
Tim Reid Awards Won
Verified awards include a Viewers for Quality Television award for Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series and an Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, both associated with his work on Frank’s Place. Public records also note other institutional recognitions tied to his career and community work, including an honorary doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University awarded in 2014.
Tim Reid Family
Reid is the son of William Lee Reid and Augustine Reid. He has two children from his first marriage to Rita Ann Sykes: Timothy II (born 1968) and Tori Reid (born 1971).
Personal Life
Tim Reid married Rita Ann Sykes in 1966; the couple divorced on May 9, 1980. On December 4, 1982, he married actress Daphne Maxwell Reid, with whom he developed film production facilities and produced feature films through New Millennium Studios.
Beyond screen work, Reid has served on boards and advisory groups, including a 2011 appointment to the board of directors of the American Civil War Center at Tredegar Iron Works and service on the advisory board of the National Student Film Institute. He continues to engage in educational and industry mentorship through the Legacy Media Institute and related initiatives.