Tim Reid was born Timothy Lee Reid on December 19, 1944, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was raised in nearby Chesapeake and grew up in a troubled, impoverished childhood. Despite these challenges, Reid went on to attend Norfolk State College, now University, and graduated with a degree in business administration.
Reid's early career was marked by a stint at Du Pont Chemicals in Chicago, but it was his chance meeting with an insurance agent named Tom Dreesen that led to his first taste of the limelight. The two formed a comedy nightclub act called "Tim and Tom" and eventually decided to focus on acting, with Reid taking drama classes and working as a comedian.
Reid's breakthrough came with his role as "Venus Flytrap" on the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati, which cemented his status as a hip and cool radio disc jockey. He went on to appear in a string of successful TV shows, including Teachers Only, Simon & Simon, and Frank's Place, which he also executive-produced and starred in alongside his second wife, Daphne Reid.
Reid and Daphne co-founded their own production studio, New Millennium Studios, in Virginia, which produced several TV shows and films, including Linc's and Alley Cats Strike. Over the years, Daphne has been a frequent partner to Tim both in front and behind the camera lens, appearing in several projects alongside him.
In addition to his work in TV and film, Reid has dedicated himself to projects that raise social issues and increase black awareness. He directed and starred in the comedy For Real, a hip-hop update of the Pygmalion story, and has appeared in several films and TV shows, including Treme, That '70s Show, and Grey's Anatomy.
