Reginald VelJohnson Net Worth

What is Reginald VelJohnson's Net Worth and Salary?

Reginald VelJohnson is an American actor who has a net worth of $2 million. Reginald VelJohnson has built an iconic career in television and film, most notably through his portrayal of lovable father figures and authority figures. His breakthrough came with the role of Sergeant Al Powell in the action classic "Die Hard" (1988), where his character provided emotional depth as the compassionate police officer who forms a bond with Bruce Willis's John McClane. VelJohnson reprised this role in "Die Hard 2" (1990).

His most enduring contribution to television came as Carl Winslow, the patient patriarch and police officer on the long-running sitcom "Family Matters" (1989-1998). As the head of the Winslow household, VelJohnson created one of television's most memorable fathers, providing the perfect foil for Jaleel White's Steve Urkel while anchoring the show with warmth and humor.

Beyond these signature roles, VelJohnson has maintained a steady presence in entertainment with appearances in films like "Ghostbusters" (1984) and "Turner & Hooch" (1989), and television shows including "Hart of Dixie," "Mike & Molly," and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." His distinctive voice and comforting screen presence have made him a favorite for guest appearances, often playing law enforcement officers or father figures that recall his most famous roles.

Early Life

Reginald Vel Johnson was born on August 16th, 1952, in Queens, New York. Raised by a nurse's aide and a hospital attendant, Reginald's family was abandoned by his father when he was 13. Raised alongside his brother Barry, VelJohnson attended high school alongside George Tenet. After graduating from high school, Reginald attended New York University and became closely involved with the school's drama department. During his time at college, he worked with actors like Morgan Freeman. During the early years of his acting career, he changed his name from Reginald Vel Johnson to "Reginald VelJohnson" in an effort to make his last name more memorable.

Career

Reginald has established a reputation for playing police officers throughout his acting career. He can be spotted briefly in 1984's "Ghostbusters," playing a corrections officer. Another early role came with "Crocodile Dundee," in which he played a limo drier. He then continued to play police officers in movies like "Turner & Hooch" while also playing an ambulance driver in "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins."

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Although these early roles certainly helped Reginald establish himself in Hollywood, it wasn't until 1988 that he truly broke through in the entertainment world. This was the year that he played the iconic character of Sgt. Al Powell in "Die Hard." Although many believed that "Die Hard" would be a failure, it defied expectations and raked in over $140 million on a budget of about $30 million. In addition to launching Reginald's career, it also helped establish leading men Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. VelJohnson moved to Los Angeles to film the movie and decided to reside permanently in the city after the film's success. He then reprised his role in the 1990 sequel "Die Hard 2" and voiced his character in the GameCube video game "Die Hard: Vendetta" much later in 2002.

After the success of "Die Hard," Reginald found himself playing a police officer in the sitcom "Family Matters." The show saw him join Jo Marie Payton in a project that lasted almost ten years. After "Family Matters" came to an end," Reginald turned his attention towards voice work while also appearing in a number of guest roles in various TV shows. These shows include "The Equalizer," "Diagnosis: Murder," "Twice in a Lifetime," "Will & Grace," "Monk," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Eve," "Crossing Jordan," "The Parkers," "That's So Raven," and "Bones."

During this period, VelJohnson also continued to appear in movies like "Like Mike." However, he continued to focus more on TV shows like "On the Lot" and the Disney sitcom "I'm in the Band." His notable voice roles during the modern era include the role of Principal Winslow in the animated series "Invincible."

Real Estate

Reginald has reportedly owned homes in North Carolina, California, and New York, however, his primary residence since 2009 is a home in Oceanside, New York.

Salaries

VelJohnson earned $100,000 for his role in "Die Hard." This was significantly less than the salary of Bruce Willis, who earned $5 million for the movie.

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