Reid, Timothy Lee Sr.
1944- · Contribution: 1987-1997
Actor & Studio Founder
Co-created and starred in 'Frank's Place,' a critically acclaimed 1987 dramedy; co-founded New Millennium Studios in Virginia, the first Black-owned film studio in the U.S. since the 1930s
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1944
- Active since
- 1978
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- "Frank's Place"Co-founded New Millennium StudiosTwo-time Emmy nominee
Impact on the world
Reid delivered one of television's most acclaimed short-lived series and then built Black-owned production infrastructure. He invested in the means of making Black stories.
Sources
- The HistoryMakers
2 more sources and references are available to members.
Related visionaries
Perry, Tyler
1969-
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Townsend, Robert
1957-
Self-financed and directed 'Hollywood Shuffle' in 1987, a satire of the racial stereotyping faced by Black actors, financed entirely through his own savings and multiple credit card applications
Evans, Michael Jonas
1949-2006
Originated the role of Lionel Jefferson on 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons'; co-created 'Good Times' with Eric Monte, already profiled in this collection, though he died believing his creative contributions had gone uncredited and uncompensated by producer Norman Lear
Monte, Eric (Kenneth Williams)
1943–2022
Created the characters and concepts behind 'Good Times,' 'The Jeffersons,' and 'What's Happening!!,' three landmark Black sitcoms of the 1970s, though credit and creative control were largely retained by producer Norman Lear until Monte won a lawsuit and settlement in 1977