Reggie McFadden, the ‘In Living Color’ Comedian Who Broke Out on ‘Def Comedy Jam,’ Has Died

The comedy world is mourning one of its 1990s standouts. Reggie McFadden, the actor and stand-up comic who rose through HBO’s ‘Def Comedy Jam’ and spent a season on Fox’s ‘In Living Color’, built a career that stretched from Brooklyn open mics to network television and the Las Vegas Strip.

Born on November 30, 1968, McFadden grew up in the projects of Brooklyn and saw stand-up as a way out. At 18, he began testing material at open mic nights in Manhattan coffeehouses, slowly building the skills that would carry him to national audiences.

Sadly, fans and fellow comedians are now remembering that career. McFadden has died at the age of 57, his sister, best-selling author Bernice McFadden, told The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that the US State Department notified the family that he died in Tanzania, where he had lived for roughly the past 18 years.

The family is still waiting on key details. According to his sister, they do not yet know when he died or what caused his death. News of his passing was also shared publicly by fellow comedian Guy Torry, who remembered him as a great writer, comedian, actor, father, and friend.

Comic Tony Luewellyn also paid tribute on Facebook, mourning the loss of another veteran of the comedy community. McFadden’s big break came in 1991, when the producers of HBO’s ‘Def Comedy Jam’ invited him to appear on the show. He went on to appear in 3 episodes of the influential stand-up showcase.

That exposure helped him make the move to Los Angeles. There, he picked up small roles on series including ‘Martin’, ‘Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper’, ‘Moesha’ and ‘Coach’. His stand-up career kept growing, too. McFadden performed on late-night and comedy showcases including ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’, ‘Late Show with David Letterman’, ‘Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn’ and ‘Last Call with Carson Daly’.

McFadden is perhaps best remembered for ‘In Living Color’. He joined the sketch comedy series for the 1993-94 season, appearing in 23 episodes of its fifth and final run. He was part of both the cast and the writing team, showcasing his talents as a performer and as someone who shaped comedy material behind the scenes. His sketches included “Wheel of Dozens” and “All Up in the Family.”

The groundbreaking series was known for its energetic performances, distinctive characters, and willingness to push the boundaries of TV comedy. For McFadden, it marked one of the defining chapters of his career.

McFadden also kept busy beyond TV appearances. He headlined his own Comedy Central special and performed regularly at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He remained creatively active in recent years as well. In May 2025, he released an album titled ‘ENJOY, Vol. 1’.

Fans have been sharing their memories online since the news broke, with many expressing their condolences to the McFadden family. For a generation of viewers, his work on ‘Def Comedy Jam’ and ‘In Living Color’ remains a reminder of an era when Black comedy was reshaping American television. As those who knew him mourn a colleague, father, and friend, his legacy lives on in the laughter he brought to audiences across stages and screens.

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