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Reginald VelJohnson

Highest Rated: 94% Die Hard (1988)

Lowest Rated: 18% The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020)

Birthday: Aug 16, 1952

Birthplace: Queens, New York, USA

Reginald VelJohnson became best known for his roles as Sgt. Al Powell in "Die Hard" (1988) and as the family patriarch Carl Winslow on the long-running sitcom "Family Matters" (ABC, 1989-1997). Born and raised in Queens, New York, VelJohnson was primarily known for playing cops in both films and on television. One of his first cop roles was a small scene in the blockbuster comedy "Ghostbusters" (1984). He also played a law enforcement official in the TV movie "Kojak: The Belarus File" (1985), and in the 1987 comedy "Plain Clothes." VelJohnson's first big break, however, came in 1988 when he was cast opposite Bruce Willis in the action film "Die Hard." Of course, VelJohnson played a cop in the film, Sgt. Al Powell, which went onto become a smash hit at the box office. VelJohnson reprised his role as Sgt. Powell in "Die Hard 2," which came out in 1990. VelJohnson could have forever been remembered for his role in "Die Hard," but fate would prove otherwise. In 1989 he was cast as a father, who just happened to be a police officer by day, on the American sitcom "Family Matters." The show was a breakout hit and a staple of ABC's primetime block of family-friendly Friday night programming known as TGIF. As Carl Winslow, VelJohnson was a familiar face to American families throughout the 1990s. "Family Matters" ran for nine seasons on ABC, before ending its run in 1998. VelJohnson continued acting regularly after "Family Matters" ended, both in films and on television, most notably with recurring roles on "Mike & Molly" (CBS, 2010-16) and "Hart of Dixie" (The CW, 2011-15). Furthermore, in 2018 VelJohnson appeared in two films, "Funny Story" and "The Prayer Box," proving he had no intention of slowing down.

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Highest rated movies

94% 94% Die Hard Watchlist 83% 70% Funny Story Watchlist 69% 70% Die Hard 2 Watchlist
50% 51% Turner & Hooch
Watchlist
33% 46% Posse
Watchlist
18% 42% The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Watchlist
83% Magic Sticks
Watchlist
Time Capsule
Watchlist
97% Sex Tax: Based on a True Story
Watchlist
Ground Zero
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 87% Ghosts of Christmas Always Roy (Character) - 2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Christmas Lottery Gerald (Character) - 2020
18% 42% The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Reggie (Character) - 2020
No Score Yet No Score Yet Faith in the Family Reverend Bennet (Character) - 2019
83% 70% Funny Story Hank (Character) - 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Prayer Box Billy (Character) - 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Time Capsule Unknown (Character) - 2018
No Score Yet 46% The Flight Before Christmas Joe (Character) - 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet On Angel's Wings Coach Carter (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet 31% 12 Dog Days Till Christmas Art Stephenson (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet 15% The Formula Professor Millan (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet 53% Brother White Hill (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 58% The Mistle-Tones Holly's Dad (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 13% Air Collision Bob Abbot (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 58% Marriage Retreat Pastor Wexley (Character) - 2011
No Score Yet 97% Sex Tax: Based on a True Story Merle (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 43% Jelly Joe Woods (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 69% The Three Gifts Rodney (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet Marrying Up Jabari (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet 53% Out at the Wedding Unknown (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 76% Hidden Secrets Norman Wexler (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet 53% Suits on the Loose Steedman (Character) $79.4K 2006
No Score Yet 15% Death to the Supermodels Unknown (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 0% Waitin' to Live Willard Loggins (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ground Zero Burt Green (Character) $150 2000
No Score Yet 50% Deadly Pursuits Ed Conroy (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 33% One of Her Own Det. Bob Hymes (Character) - 1994
33% 46% Posse Preston (Character) $16.4M 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Grass Roots Mickey Henderson (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 47% Jury Duty; The Comedy Unknown (Character) - 1990
69% 70% Die Hard 2 Sgt. Al Powell (Character) $115.3M 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Bride in Black Barry Gates (Character) - 1990
50% 51% Turner & Hooch Det. David Sutton (Character) $70.5M 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story Unknown (Character) - 1988
94% 94% Die Hard Sgt. Al Powell (Character) $82.3M 1988
No Score Yet 83% Magic Sticks Licorice (Character) - 1987

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dancing With the Stars Contestant 2024
No Score Yet 60% Lazor Wulf God (Voice) 2020-2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet Josh Gates Tonight Guest 2020
No Score Yet 93% Station 19 Charlie (Guest Star) 2020
No Score Yet 83% Mom Jim (Guest Star) 2019
100% No Score Yet Sherman's Showcase Unknown (Guest Star) 2019
95% 88% Brooklyn Nine-Nine Reginald VelJohnson (Guest Star) 2018
72% 85% Ray Donovan Unknown (Guest Star) 2016
No Score Yet 85% Girl Meets World Officer James (Guest Star) 2016
81% 88% Hart of Dixie Dash (Guest Star) 2011-2015
31% 82% The Neighbors Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
No Score Yet 63% Mike & Molly Brother Haywood (Guest Star) 2011-2013
No Score Yet 93% Tron: Uprising Able (Voice) 2012-2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet I'm in the Band Principal Strickland (Guest Star) 2010
100% No Score Yet Funny or Die Presents Cast (Character) 2010
No Score Yet 64% Family Guy Sgt. Al Powell (archive footage) (Guest Voice) 2009
90% 83% Bones Dale Owens (Guest Star) 2007
89% 88% Monk Todd (Guest Star) 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet Eve Unknown (Guest Star) 2006
No Score Yet 87% Ghost Whisperer Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Big House Unknown (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Parkers Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
8% No Score Yet In-Laws Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
No Score Yet 81% CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Fugitive Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Twice in a Lifetime Dr. David Bryant / Gene Fitzsimmons (Guest Star) 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Hughleys Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diagnosis Murder Unknown (Guest Star) 1997-1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Family Matters Unknown (Character) 1989-1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Perfect Strangers Unknown (Guest Star) 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet 227 Unknown (Guest Star) 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Equalizer Arthur Williams (Guest Star) 1988