Reynaldo Rey (born Harry Reynolds; January 27, 1940 – May 28, 2015) was an American actor, comedian, and television personality.

Career

Rey moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he taught for seven years and became a member of the Karamu House Theatre, world-renowned for its development of top-notch actors, directors and producers. There, he launched his career in comedy, going on the road with the

O'Jays The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles. The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with the minor h ...

. He then moved to New York City, where he was invited to join the Harlem Theater Group. While a member of the group, he appeared in his first movie. From there he performed in Europe, Asia and Africa for two years. Rey has appeared in 52 movies, including ''

Friday Friday is the day of the week between Thursday and Saturday. In countries that adopt the traditional "Sunday-first" convention, it is the sixth day of the week. In countries adopting the ISO-defined "Monday-first" convention, it is the fifth d ...

'', ''

House Party 3 ''House Party 3'' is a 1994 American comedy film, starring Kid 'n Play, Bernie Mac, and TLC. It is the third installment of the '' House Party'' film series. This was intended to be the last film in the franchise, ending it as a trilogy, but a s ...

'', ''

White Men Can't Jump ''White Men Can't Jump'' is a 1992 American sports comedy film written and directed by Ron Shelton. It stars Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson as streetball hustlers. The film was released in the United States on March 27, 1992, by 20th Century ...

'', '' A Rage in Harlem'', and ''

Harlem Nights ''Harlem Nights'' is a 1989 American crime comedy-drama film starring and directed by Eddie Murphy, who also wrote. The film co-stars Richard Pryor, Michael Lerner, Danny Aiello, Redd Foxx (in his last film appearance before his death in 1991) ...

'', where he appeared with the likes of Redd Foxx (his mentor, for whom he often opened shows),

Della Reese Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. She began her long career as a s ...

Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as on ...

Arsenio Hall Arsenio Hall (born February 12, 1956) is an American comedian, actor and talk show host. He hosted the late-night talk show, ''The Arsenio Hall Show'', from 1989 until 1994, and again from 2013 to 2014. He has appeared in ''Martial Law'', '' Com ...

, and Eddie Murphy. He also has 32 television shows to his credit, including

BET Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...

's ''

Comic View ''ComicView'' is an American stand-up comedy show that aired on BET on Tuesdays and Fridays from September 1992 to December 2008. In May 2014, BET announced the return of ''ComicView''. The show has been the launching pad for such comedians as D ...

'', 1998–1999, 2000–2001, on which he was a co-host, ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...

'', Robert Townsend's ''Parents in Crime'', and '' The Parent Hood'', and ''

227 Year 227 ( CCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Senecio and Fulvius (or, less frequently, year 980 '' Ab urbe cond ...

'' as Ray the Mailman. He also appeared on a show called ''

Noah's Arc ''Noah's Arc'' is an American cable television comedy-drama series that aired for two seasons on the Logo network from October 19, 2005 to October 4, 2006. The show centered on the lives of four Black gay friends who share personal and professio ...

''. Rey also recorded three comedy albums and three videos. He produced his own video, which features a rap he wrote called "I’m Scared A U" after overwhelming audience reaction to it on Russell Simmons' ''

Def Comedy Jam ''Def Comedy Jam'' is an HBO television series produced by Russell Simmons. The series had its original run from March 7, 1992 to May 2, 1997. Simmons was inspired to make Def Comedy Jam by The Uptown Comedy Club in Harlem, New York and Jerry L ...

''. Rey also appeared twice in 1973 as a contestant on the popular game show ''

Match Game ''Match Game'' is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity panelis ...

''. He was brought back due to a technicality, and would go on to win 3 games, and a total of 650 dollars.

Death

Rey died on May 28, 2015, due to complications from a stroke he suffered a year prior. He is interred in the

Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California. It is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. Histor ...

Partial filmography

*''Disco Sexpot'' (1979) *''

Young Doctors in Love ''Young Doctors in Love'' is a 1982 American comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. It spoofs a variety of medical shows (in particular, '' General Hospital'') and has many guest stars from ABC soap operas. The film stars Sean Young, Michael M ...

'' (1982) – The Cops – Cicerelli *''

'' (1989) – Gambler *'' Far Out Man'' (1990) – Lou *'' A Rage in Harlem'' (1991) – Blind Man *'' The Three Muscatels'' (1991) – King Alberto Nacho *''

'' (1992) – Tad *''

Bébé's Kids ''Bebe's Kids'' (also marketed as ''Robin Harris' Bébé's Kids'') is a 1992 American adult animated comedy film produced by Hyperion Studio for Paramount Pictures. Directed by Bruce W. Smith, in his directorial debut, it is based upon comedia ...

'' (1992) – Lush (voice) *''

'' (1994) – Veda's Dad *''

'' (1995) – Red's Father *'' Sprung'' (1997) – Brotha #2 *'' Fakin' da Funk'' (1997) – Earnest *'' The Breaks'' (1999) – Uncle Deion *'' Jackie's Back'' (1999, TV Movie) – Cadillac Johnson (Retired Pimp) *''

Play It to the Bone ''Play It to the Bone'' is a 1999 American sports comedy drama film, starring Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson, written and directed by Ron Shelton. It follows the adventures of two boxers and best friends who travel to Las Vegas in order t ...

'' (1999) – Sportswriter *'' Little Richard'' (2000, TV Movie) – Sugarfoot Sam *''The Cheapest Movie Ever Made'' (2000) *''For da Love of Money'' (2002) – Pops *''The Sunday Morning Stripper'' (2003, Short) – Elder Jenkins *''Survival of the Illest'' (2004) – Old School *'' Super Spy'' (2004) *''My Big Phat Hip Hop Family'' (2005) – Terrell Mathis *'' Treasure n tha Hood'' (2005) – Willie *''Issues'' (2005) – Mr. Livingston *'' Who Made the Potato Salad?'' (2006) – Mr. Brown *''Uncle P (2006) – Mailman *''

Everybody Hates Chris ''Everybody Hates Chris'' is an American television semi-autobiographical sitcom that is inspired by the memories of the teenage years of comedian Chris Rock. The show is set from 1982 to 1987, although Rock himself was actually a teenager from ...

'' (2007, TV Series) – Mr. Lester *''

Divine Intervention Divine intervention is an event that occurs when a deity (i.e. God or a god) becomes actively involved in changing some situation in human affairs. In contrast to other kinds of divine action, the expression "divine ''intervention''" implies that ...

'' (2007) – Deacon Jones *''

First Sunday ''First Sunday'' is a 2008 American crime comedy film written, produced and directed by David E. Talbert, and produced by Ice Cube, who also starred in the lead role. The film co-stars Katt Williams and Tracy Morgan. The film was released in t ...

'' (2008) – Soul Joe *''Internet Dating'' (2008) – Mr. Bentay *''American Dream'' (2008) – Manager *''Pawn Shop'' (2012) – Rey's Pal (final film role)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rey, Reynaldo 1940 births 2015 deaths African-American male actors African-American screenwriters Screenwriters from Ohio American male film actors American male television actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) People from Sequoyah County, Oklahoma Male actors from Cleveland Emporia State University alumni Male actors from Oklahoma American people who self-identify as being of Native American descent 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors Screenwriters from Oklahoma Comedians from Oklahoma Comedians from Ohio 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people