Reynaldo Rey

Reynaldo Rey (January 27, 1940 – May 28, 2015) was an American actor and stand-up comedian.

Biography

Rey was born Harry Reynolds in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. He is of African American and Native American descent. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State Teacher's College, majoring in Education.

Rey later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he taught for seven years and became a member of the Karamu House Theatre, world renowned for its production of top-notch actors, directors and producers. There, he launched his career in comedy, going on the road with the O'Jays. 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, House Party 3, White Men Can't Jump, A Rage in Harlem, and Harlem Nights, where he appeared with the likes of Redd Foxx (his mentor, who he often opened shows for), Della Reese, Richard Pryor, Arsenio Hall, and Eddie Murphy. He also has 32 television shows to his credit, including BET's Comic View, 1998–99, 2000-2001, on which he was a co-host, The Tonight Show, Robert Townsend's Parents in Crime, and The Parent Hood, and 227 as Ray the Mailman. Reynaldo has 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. He died on May 28, 2015 due to complications from a stroke he suffered.