Reggie McFadden, the stand-up comedian who joined the cast of Fox’s “In Living Color” for its final season, has died at 57. His sister, author Bernice L. McFadden, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter on Oct. 4. He died in Tanzania, and the family has not said when or how.
What Reggie McFadden’s family has confirmed
The confirmation comes from his family and from the U.S. government’s notice to them. Bernice McFadden told The Hollywood Reporter that the U.S. State Department informed her of her brother’s death in Tanzania, Forbes reported. Forbes said the date and cause of death remain unknown.
She also spoke to The Los Angeles Times. “I was very sad to learn that my brother had passed away so far away from home,”she told the newspaper, according to Upper Michigan’s Source. The station said she did not know how or when he died. PopCulture.com wrote that the family does not yet know when he died or what caused it, and that the circumstances are unclear. None of the three reports cites an authority that has given a date or a cause.
How long Reggie McFadden lived in Tanzania
Outlets differ on how long he lived there. Forbes reported 18 years. PopCulture.com said about 20 years. Forbes lists his last televised stand-up as a 2005 appearance on “Last Call With Carson Daly” and his last credited screen role as a voice part in the 2005 short “National Lampoon Presents Tooned-Up.” If he moved 18 years ago, that was roughly 2008, about three years after those credits.
At 20 years, the move came around 2006. Either figure is longer than the 14 years between his 1991 debut on “Def Comedy Jam” and his last credits in 2005, by Forbes’ timeline. PopCulture.com also said he released an album titled “Enjoy, Vol. 1” in spring 2026.
Reggie McFadden’s rise on “Def Comedy Jam”
McFadden was born Nov. 30, 1968, in Brooklyn, Forbes reported. It cited his biography on The Comedy Store’s website, which says he grew up in rough Brooklyn neighborhoods and chose comedy because he believed that without hard work he would end up in the projects across the street.
His break came in 1991, when producers of HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” invited him to perform. The Comedy Store biography says “He was a huge hit right away,” per Forbes. He was 22. Forbes counts three “Def Comedy Jam” episodes. It also lists “An Evening at the Improv” in its seventh and ninth seasons in 1991 and 1992.
According to Wikipedia’s entry on the series, Russell Simmons produced “Def Comedy Jam” with Stan Lathan and Bob Sumner, and the show helped launch the careers of several Black stand-up comedians. Martin Lawrence and Joe Torry hosted the first six seasons. Steve Harvey hosted season seven and D.L. Hughley hosted season eight, the same page says.
Reggie McFadden on “In Living Color” season five
McFadden filled a roster spot in the show’s last season. Per Wikipedia’s entry on “In Living Color,” season five ran from Sept. 16, 1993, to May 19, 1994, with 26 episodes. Alexandra Wentworth, Anne-Marie Johnson, Jay Leggett, Carol Rosenthal and Marc Wilmore joined him as new cast members that year.
The cast had shrunk by then. Wikipedia says creator Keenen Ivory Wayans stopped appearing in sketches after season three in 1992 amid disputes with Fox over censorship and syndication. He left the show entirely after the 13th episode of season four. Marlon Wayans left two episodes later. The series first aired April 15, 1990, and its final episode on May 19, 1994, closed a run of five seasons and 127 episodes on Fox, the entry says.
McFadden joined a show already without its creator and with a smaller group of original stars. PopCulture.com said McFadden appeared in 23 episodes, including as a cast member of the fictional show “All Up in the Family.” Twenty-three of 26 is about 88% of the final season. The series ended with 127 episodes, which means he appeared in roughly 18% of its total run, using the two outlets’ numbers. The show launched the careers of Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, David Alan Grier and Tommy Davidson, Wikipedia says, and introduced Jennifer Lopez and Carrie Ann Inaba as Fly Girls.
Reggie McFadden’s other credits
Forbes lists guest roles on “Martin,” “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper,” “Coach,” “Moesha,” “Getting Personal” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” PopCulture.com said he played Larry David’s neighbor in a 2002 “Curb Your Enthusiasm” episode.
His film credits include “Jacob’s Ladder,” “The Inkwell,” “Little Nicky” and “Road Kings,” Forbes reported. Forbes also lists appearances on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” “Late Show With David Letterman” and “Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn.” PopCulture.com said he performed regularly at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles and had a Comedy Central special. PopCulture.com said he is survived by his mother and three siblings.
