Reginald VelJohnson Biography

Fast Facts

• Attended Benjamin N․ Cardozo High School in Queens, N․Y․, with future CIA Director George Tenet and future porn star Ron Jeremy, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts from New York University
• Made his screen acting debut in the TV movie "When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate" in 1979
• Had a small role as a jail guard in the classic hit comedy "Ghostbusters" in 1984
• Quote: "I think TV with all the reality shows and the hip-hop generation doesn't focus on the meaning and feeling of a family - the real relationship between people․"
• Quote: "(On "Family Matters"): "People still ask me, 'Where's Urkel?'""
• Quote: "(On working with Bruce Willis on "Die Hard"): "He's still Bruce․ I'd love to work with him again․ It's amazing how long that film has lasted․""
• Best known for his role as Carl Otis Winslow in "Family Matters" and as Sgt․ Al Powell in the "Die Hard" series
• Enjoys singing and dancing in his free time, and is an avid marathon runner
• Changed the spelling of his name from Vel Johnson to VelJohnson "because I wanted a name people would remember․"
• Was the only cast member to appear in all 215 episodes of "Family Matters․"