Reggie McFadden, ‘In Living Color’ and ‘Def Comedy Jam’ Comedian, Dies at 57

Reggie McFadden, the Brooklyn-bred comedian and actor who helped define mid-’90s television comedy, has died in Tanzania at 57. McFadden’s family was notified of his death through the U.S. State Department, as his sister, author Bernice McFadden, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter and reported by Complex. His exact date and cause of death remain unconfirmed. McFadden had resided in Tanzania for roughly 18 years, putting distance between himself and Hollywood after a decade spent everywhere across the dial. Following an early breakout on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, he joined Fox’s In Living Color for its fifth and final season in 1993. He appeared in 23 episodes, leading sketches like “Wheel of Dozens” and the “Dirty Dozens Tournament of Champions.” That tenure quickly converted into sitcom work, landing him guest spots on Martin, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, and Moesha, before he turned in a memorable appearance as Officer Burt on Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2001. Walking away from the Los Angeles circuit to establish Olduvai Records in East Africa was the sharpest audible he could have called, bypassing Hollywood’s cyclical neglect of veteran Black comics to build an independent footprint on his own terms. His business portfolio in Tanzania spanned gold mining and multimedia production, maintaining an active distribution deal with Sony Music’s The Orchard that saw him release ENJOY, Vol. 1 in May 2025. McFadden is survived by his two sons, Jaron and Myles; his mother, Vivian; his sisters, Bernice and Misty; and his brother, Kris.