Reggie McFadden, the veteran actor and stand-up comedian who rose to fame on Def Comedy Jam before joining the cast of In Living Color, has died at 57.
McFadden died in Tanzania, where he had reportedly lived for roughly 18 years. His sister, acclaimed author Bernice L. McFadden, said the family learned of his death after being notified by the U.S. State Department.
As of Monday, his relatives did not know exactly when McFadden died or what caused his death, leaving the family waiting for additional information from overseas. People.com
McFadden was born Nov. 30, 1968, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He began pursuing comedy while still young and worked his way through New York’s stand-up scene before getting his national breakthrough in the early 1990s.
His appearance on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam helped introduce him to a much larger audience and eventually led him west to Los Angeles, where acting opportunities quickly followed. The Comedy Store
McFadden landed a guest role on Martin in 1993 and went on to appear on popular sitcoms including Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, Coach and Moesha.
His best-known television work came when he joined Fox’s groundbreaking sketch-comedy series In Living Color during its fifth and final season.
McFadden appeared in 23 episodes during the 1993-94 season and took part in sketches including “Wheel of Dozens,” “All Up in the Family” and the “Dirty Dozens Tournament of Champions.” He also worked as a writer and performer during that period. People.com
In Living Color had already become one of the defining comedy programs of the early 1990s, helping launch or elevate the careers of performers including Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier and members of the Wayans family.
McFadden continued working steadily after the show ended.
He appeared in the 1998 Fox sitcom Getting Personal, which starred Vivica A. Fox, Duane Martin and Jon Cryer, and later turned up in Adam Sandler’s 2000 comedy Little Nicky. Earlier in his career, he also had a small role in the 1990 psychological thriller Jacob’s Ladder. TVGuide.com
Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm may also remember McFadden as Officer Burt, a neighbor of Larry David’s character, in a 2001 episode of the HBO comedy.
His résumé stretched beyond sitcoms and movies.
McFadden performed at the prestigious Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal and appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman in August 1996. He also received his own installment of Comedy Central Presents and performed regularly in Las Vegas. IMDb Pro
Away from Hollywood, McFadden eventually built a new life in Tanzania.
He was associated with Olduvai Records, an entertainment venture that also described business interests in gold mining. McFadden released an album titled ENJOY, Vol. 1 through the label in May 2025. TV Insider
His death prompted tributes from people who remembered his work during one of the biggest eras in American stand-up comedy.
Professor Rel Dowdell, director of film studies at Hampton University, remembered McFadden as a veteran performer whose talent and commitment to his craft were evident throughout his career.
McFadden is survived by his mother, Vivian; his sons, Jaron and Myles; his sisters, Bernice and Misty; and his brother, Kris. People.com
For now, significant questions surrounding his death remain unanswered, including its exact date and cause.
His family has not announced additional details.
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