Reginald Veljohnson- Biography

Also Credited As:

Reginald Vel Johnson

About Reginald Veljohnson

A hefty, genial African-American character actor in features and a put-upon sitcom lead, Reginald VelJohnson is perhaps best known to film audiences as the friendly, Twinkie-chomping cop pal to Bruce Willis in "Die Hard" (1988). VelJohnson fleetingly recreated this role in a cameo for "Die Hard 2" (1990). TV audiences know him as Carl Winslow, another good-natured if long-suffering police officer, on the hit ABC sitcom, "Family Matters" (1989-97; CBS, 1997-98). Though VelJohnson was initially considered the star of the show, he was eclipsed by the addition of a phenomenally popular character: the sublimely nerdy Steve Urkel (Jaleel White). Much of the show has consequently revolved around their prickly relationship.

Family

Brother

Barry VelJohnson. younger; born c. 1957; changed his name from Johnson to VelJohnson after his older brother did

Father

Dan Johnson. walked out on family when VelJohnson was 13 years old; reunited with son in 1986 while dying of heart problems in a veteran's hospital in Queens, New York

Mother

Eve Johnson. remarried when VelJohnson was 15 to John Reilly, who helped raise her children

Education

Benjamin N Cardozo High School, Bayside , New York

New York University, New York , New York

Long Island Institute of Music and Arts, New York

Career Milestones

Added his middle name, Vel, to his original surname in the early 1970s because there were other actors named Reginald or Reggie Johnson

Appeared on and off-Broadway in such shows as "Hamlet," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Mondongo"

Invited to join Joseph Papp's Black/Hispanic Shakespeare Company with Morgan Freeman, Gloria Foster, C C H Pounder, Miriam Colon and Jaime Sanchez

Recurring TV role in "Perfect Strangers" led to own series "Family Matters"

1981

Film acting debut, "Wolfen"

1989

Played Carl Winslow on the ABC sitcom, "Family Matters"

1999

Appeared in the annual holiday stage musical "A Christmas Carol" in NYC

2005

Starred in the comedy "Suits on the Loose" helmed by Rodney Henson