Reginald VelJohnson
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.
Photos
Reginald VelJohnson
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Roswell Delirium | Unknown (Character) | - | 2025 |
No Score Yet |
|
Ghosts of Christmas Always | Roy (Character) | - | 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Christmas Lottery | Gerald (Character) | - | 2020 |
18% |
|
The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee | Reggie (Character) | - | 2020 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Faith in the Family | Reverend Bennet (Character) | - | 2019 |
83% |
|
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 |
|
The Flight Before Christmas | Joe (Character) | - | 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | On Angel's Wings | Coach Carter (Character) | - | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
12 Dog Days Till Christmas | Art Stephenson (Character) | - | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Formula | Professor Millan (Character) | - | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
Brother White | Hill (Character) | - | 2012 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Mistle-Tones | Holly's Dad (Character) | - | 2012 |
No Score Yet |
|
Air Collision | Bob Abbot (Character) | - | 2012 |
No Score Yet |
|
Marriage Retreat | Pastor Wexley (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sex Tax: Based on a True Story | Merle (Character) | - | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
Jelly | Joe Woods (Character) | - | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Three Gifts | Rodney (Character) | - | 2009 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Marrying Up | Jabari (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
Out at the Wedding | Unknown (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Hidden Secrets | Norman Wexler (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
Suits on the Loose | Steedman (Character) | $79.4K | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
Death to the Supermodels | Unknown (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Waitin' to Live | Willard Loggins (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ground Zero | Burt Green (Character) | $150 | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Deadly Pursuits | Ed Conroy (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
One of Her Own | Det. Bob Hymes (Character) | - | 1994 |
33% |
|
Posse | Preston (Character) | $16.4M | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Grass Roots | Mickey Henderson (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Jury Duty; The Comedy | Unknown (Character) | - | 1990 |
69% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
Die Hard | Sgt. Al Powell (Character) | $82.3M | 1988 |
No Score Yet |
|
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 | 84% | 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 | 80% | 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 / |
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 |