# Reginald VelJohnson

Reginald VelJohnson (born Reginald Johnson; August 16, 1952) is an American actor. He is best known for playing police officer characters, such as Carl Winslow on the sitcom Family Matters, which ran from 1989 to 1998, and LAPD Sergeant Al Powell in the films Die Hard and Die Hard 2.

## Early life

VelJohnson was born Reginald Johnson in New York City, in the borough of Queens. His mother Eva was a nurse’s aide, while his father Dan was a hospital attendant. His father left the family, which included Reginald's brother Barry, when Johnson was 13 years old. Their mother subsequently married John Reilly, and Johnson attended Benjamin N. Cardozo High School.
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. Early in his acting career, he changed his name from Reginald Johnson to Reginald VelJohnson. He later said he changed the spelling of his birth name "because I wanted a name people would remember".

## 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. 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 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. 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. He later reprised the character in the 1990 sequel Die Hard 2. VelJohnson again portrayed Sgt. Powell in the GameCube video game titled Die Hard: Vendetta in 2002.
In 1989, VelJohnson was cast as police officer and family patriarch Carl Winslow in the ABC (later CBS) sitcom Family Matters, alongside Jo Marie Payton, who played his wife Harriette Winslow. It was a spinoff of the popular show Perfect Strangers on which he appeared only once, though Harriette appeared as a recurring guest star. He starred on the show until it ended in 1998. Since the end of Family Matters, VelJohnson has done mostly voice and guest star work. VelJohnson has made guest appearances in several TV shows, including The Equalizer, Diagnosis: Murder, Twice in a Lifetime, Will & Grace, Monk, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Eve, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Crossing Jordan, The Parkers, That's So Raven, and Bones. He had a minor role in the 2002 film Like Mike and a recurring role as Pastor/Brother Haywood on Mike & Molly. In 2007, he appeared in the short films Reverse, Nerve Endings, and Time Upon A Once which were made during the reality show On the Lot. In 2008, he appeared as the "Sgt. Al Powell" character from the Die Hard series in an episode of NBC's Chuck titled "Chuck Versus the Santa Claus", as the cousin of Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence). In 2010, VelJohnson started a recurring role as Principal, later Superintendent, Strickland on the Disney sitcom I'm in the Band and Funnyordie.com's short HBO film titled Just 3 Boyz starring Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, and Zach Galifianakis. He has appeared in the comedy film, The Formula, starring alongside Brandon Baker and Sasha Jackson. He played air traffic controller Bob Abbot in the 2012 film Air Collision.
In 2021, VelJohnson voiced Principal Winslow in the animated adaptation of the comic Invincible. In both the comic and the television series, the main character attends a high school named after the actor, and the character itself is named after his previous role of Carl Winslow from Family Matters. VelJohnson also voices several minor characters in the series. He later reprised his role as David Sutton on Disney's Turner & Hooch.
In January 2023, VelJohnson began appearing in advertisements for Progressive as "TV Dad," a parody of his previous Carl Winslow role.
In September 2024, VelJohnson was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with Emma Slater and they finished in 10th place.

## Personal life

As of 2009, VelJohnson had homes in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, and resided primarily in Oceanside, New York. He has never married and has no children.

## 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 | |
| 1988 | Die Hard | Sgt. Al Powell | |
| 1989 | Turner & Hooch | Detective David "Dave" Sutton | |
| 1990 | Die Hard 2 | Sgt. Al Powell | Cameo appearance |
| 1991 | A Fond Little Memory | | Short film |
| 1993 | Posse | Preston | |
| 2000 | Ground Zero | Burt Green | |
| 2002 | Like Mike | Mr. Boyd | |
| 2005 | Sunday Evening Haircut | O.C. | Short film Producer, writer |
| 2005 | Suits on the Loose | Brother Steedman | |
| 2005 | Death to the Supermodels | Tom | Direct-to-video release |
| 2006 | Hidden Secrets | Norman Wexler | |
| 2007 | Three Days to Vegas | RJ Jackson | |
| 2007 | Out at the Wedding | Dexter | |
| 2009 | Steppin: The Movie | Mr. Shavers | |
| 2010 | Jelly | Joe Woods | |
| 2010 | You Again | Mason Dunlevy | |
| 2012 | Brother White | Hill | |
| 2012 | Air Collision | Bob Abbot | |
| 2013 | The Formula | Professor Millan | |
| 2014 | 12 Dog Days Till Christmas | Probation Officer Art Stephenson | |
| 2014 | Strike One | Judge Morris | |
| 2018 | Funny Story | Hank | |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | Fire Chief | Deleted scene |
| 2020 | The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee | Reggie | |
| 2023 | Glisten and the Merry Mission | Snowy Owl | Voice |
| TBA | Onslaught | TBA | Filming |

### 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 | Dad (voice) | Television movie |
| 1994 | 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" |
| 2001 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Phillip Kane | Episodes: "Face Lift" and "Gentle, Gentle" |
| 2002 | Crossing Jordan | Mr. Holden | Episode: "Someone to Count On" |
| 2002 | 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" |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer | Danny Small | Episode: "Undead Comic" |
| 2006 | Eve | Rev. Everett | Episode: "Oh, Brother" |
| 2006 | 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" |
| 2007 | Bones | Dale Owens | Episode: "The Santa in the Slush" |
| 2008 | Chuck | Sgt. Al Powell | Episode: "Chuck Versus Santa Claus" |
| 2009 | The Three Gifts | Rodney Smith | Television movie |
| 2009 | 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" |
| 2010 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Ed | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Meet the Browns | Ernie Wilson | Episode: "Meet the Baby Daddy" |
| 2010 | Glory Daze | Stan Turley | Episode: "Papa Don't Pre-Game" |
| 2010–13 | Mike & Molly | Brother Heywood | 6 episodes |
| 2011 | Imagination Movers | Bernie | Episode: "The Idea Cafe" |
| 2011–15 | Hart of Dixie | Dash DeWitt | Recurring role |
| 2012–13 | Tron: Uprising | Able | Recurring role |
| 2012 | General Hospital | Reverend Love | Episode #1.12632 |
| 2012 | Childrens Hospital | Judge Lester Harrison | Episode: "Children Lawspital" |
| 2012 | The Mistle-Tones | Holly's dad | Television movie |
| 2013 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Himself | Episode: "Tisha and Duane" |
| 2015 | Clipped | Tommy | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | 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" |
| 2016 | Hitting the Breaks | Chauncey van Delaware | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Girl Meets World | Officer James | Episode: "Girl Meets True Maya" |
| 2016 | Ray Donovan | Sherman Radley | Episode: "Norman Saves the World" |
| 2017 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Mr. Flannigan (voice) | Episode: "My Mischievous Son" |
| 2017 | Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television | Captain Jackson #6 | Episode: "Escape Room Escapades" |
| 2018 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Himself | Episode: "Bachelor/ette Party" |
| 2018 | 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" |
| 2019 | 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 |
| 2024 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself | Season 33 contestant; 10th place |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza | Sgt. Al Powell | Voice and likeness only |
| 2002 | Die Hard: Vendetta | Sgt. Al Powell | Voice and likeness only |