Reginald VelJohnson (born Reginald Johnson; August 16, 1952) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying police officers on screen, such as Sergeant Al Powell in the Die Hard franchise and Carl Winslow in the television sitcom Family Matters (1989–1998).
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. Johnson attended Benjamin N. Cardozo High School.
He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree 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 his 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 Detective 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 Sergeant 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. Note: Forbes magazine in its website's legal notices states Forbes contributors are not staffers and are under no editorial oversight. They are personal blogs. He later reprised the character in the 1990 sequel Die Hard 2. VelJohnson again portrayed Powell in the GameCube video game 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 Payton 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 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 Gus1987 Magic Sticks Licorice 1988 Plain Clothes Captain Graff Die Hard Sgt. Al Powell 1989 Turner & Hooch Detective David "Dave" Sutton 1990 Die Hard 2 Sgt. Al PowellCameo 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 filmProducer, writer Suits on the Loose Brother Steedman Death to the Supermodels Tom Direct-to-video release 2006 Hidden Secrets Norman Wexler 2007 Three Days to Vegas RJ Jackson Out at the WeddingCast list, Out at the Wedding closing credits Dexter 2009 Steppin: The Movie Mr. Shavers 2010 Jelly Joe Woods You Again Mason Dunlevy 2012 Brother White Hill Air Collision Bob Abbot 2013 The Formula Professor Millan 2014 12 Dog Days Till Christmas Probation Officer Art Stephenson 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 2026 Onslaught Josiah
Television Year Title Role Notes 1985–1988 The Equalizer Harmon Hunter Episode: "Lady Cop" Arthur Williams Episode: "Sea of Fire" 1988 227 The Santa Thief Episode: "The Night They Arrested Santa Claus" 1989 Perfect Strangers Carl Winslow Episode: "Crimebusters" 1989–1998 Family Matters Main role, 215 episodes 1992 Tales from the Crypt Hotel Guest Episode: "Werewolf Concerto" 1993 Dream On Santa Episode: "Silent Night, Holy Cow" 1994 Dad (voice) Television movie 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 Rev. Bennett Episode: "Daddy's Going to Hell" 2000 Twice in a Lifetime Dr. David Bryant Episode: "Whistle Blower" 2001 Maurice Beaumont Episode: "Lagniappe" CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Phillip Kane Episodes: "Face Lift" and "Gentle, Gentle" 2002 Crossing Jordan Mr. Holden Episode: "Someone to Count On" 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" Ghost Whisperer Danny Small Episode: "Undead Comic" 2006 Eve Rev. Everett Episode: "Oh, Brother" 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" 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 Family Guy Sgt. Al Powell Episode: "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag", Archival Footage 2009–2011 I'm in the Band Principal/Superintendent Cornelius Strickland Recurring role 2010 Funny or Die Presents Christopher Episode: "Just 3 Boyz" The Bold and the Beautiful Ed 2 episodes Meet the Browns Ernie Wilson Episode: "Meet the Baby Daddy" Glory DazeStan TurleyEpisode: "Papa Don't Pre-Game" 2010–2013 Mike & Molly Brother Heywood 6 episodes 2011 Imagination Movers Bernie Episode: "The Idea Cafe" 2011–2015 Hart of Dixie Dash DeWitt Recurring role 2012–2013 Tron: Uprising Able Recurring role 2012 General Hospital Reverend Love Episode #1.12632 Childrens HospitalJudge Lester HarrisonEpisode: "Children Lawspital" The Mistle-Tones Holly's dad Television movie 2013 Real Husbands of Hollywood Himself Episode: "Tisha and Duane" 2015 Clipped Tommy 5 episodes The Flight Before Christmas Joe Television moviePlayed 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" Hitting the Breaks Chauncey van Delaware 5 episodes Girl Meets World Officer James Episode: "Girl Meets True Maya" Ray Donovan Sherman Radley Episode: "Norman Saves the World"2017 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Mr. Flannigan (voice) Episode: "My Mischievous Son" Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on TelevisionCaptain Jackson #6 Episode: "Escape Room Escapades" 2018 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Himself Episode: "Bachelor/ette Party" The Prayer Box Billy Television movie 2018–2019 3Below: Tales of Arcadia Jerry (voice) Recurring role 2019–2021 Lazor Wulf God (voice) Recurring role 2019 Mom Jim Episode: "Audrey Hepburn and a Jalepeño Pepper" Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta Reverend Bennet Television movie The Movies That Made Us Himself Episode: "Die Hard" 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 Channel2024Dancing with the StarsHimselfSeason 33 contestant; 10th place
Video games Year Title Role Notes2002 Die Hard: Nakatomi PlazaSgt. Al Powell Voice and likeness only Die Hard: Vendetta
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