Reynaldo Rey (born Harry Reynolds; January 27, 1940 – May 28, 2015) was an American actor, comedian and television personality. He established a steady career as a character actor and nightclub comic beginning in the early 1970s and is widely remembered for supporting roles that combined humor with a strong sense of timing.
Early life and background
Rey was born in Sequoyah County in Oklahoma. Public accounts note that he was of African American and Native American heritage. He later adopted the stage name Reynaldo Rey; earlier records list his birth name as Harry Reynolds. Details of his childhood are treated cautiously in available sources, but his Midwestern roots and early exposure to performance venues shaped his entry into comedy and acting.
Career and development
Rey launched his professional career around 1973, performing stand-up in clubs and gradually moving into television and film work. He appeared on a variety of programs and became known for character roles that provided comic relief or memorable small scenes. On television he had guest appearances and recurring turns, including work on the sitcom 227, among other series.
Notable films and style
Among his better-known film credits are supporting parts in the ensemble comedy Harlem Nights (1989), the sports-themed comedy White Men Can't Jump (1992), and the urban comedy Friday (1995). Rey's comic style leaned on expressive delivery and character-driven jokes rather than broad one-liners; casting directors often placed him in roles that required a strong personality in a few scenes.
Personal life, death, and legacy
Rey continued to perform stand-up and take small film and television roles through later decades. He died on May 28, 2015 from complications related to a stroke. The death occurred in Los Angeles, California, and he was 75 years old. Colleagues and fans remember him for his professionalism, enduring presence in comedy clubs, and for several small but enduring screen performances.
- Occupations: comedian, film and television actor, television personality
- Active: from about 1973 onward
- Noted films: Harlem Nights, White Men Can't Jump, Friday
Rey remains a recognizable figure to audiences who follow late 20th-century American comedy and urban ensemble films; his career illustrates the path of a working comic-actor who carved out steady work across stage, television, and cinema.