Reggie McFadden, the stand-up comic and actor who rose from HBO's 'Def Comedy Jam' to a season on Fox's 'In Living Color,' has died at 57. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his sister Bernice McFadden said the U.S. State Department notified the family that he died in Tanzania, where he had lived for roughly the past 18 years. The family does not yet know when he died or the cause of death, she told the outlet. Media Take Out separately reported the news, citing a tribute from fellow comedian Guy Torry that called McFadden 'a great writer, comedian, actor, father, and friend.'

Both outlets sketch a résumé that stretched well past sketch comedy. The Hollywood Reporter lists small roles on 'Martin,' 'Hangin' With Mr. Cooper,' 'Moesha' and 'Coach,' a lead turn on Fox's short-lived 1998 comedy 'Getting Personal,' film work in 'Jacob's Ladder' and 'Little Nicky,' and a remembered turn as Officer Burt, Larry David's neighbor, on a 2001 episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' Media Take Out adds that he toured the stand-up circuit for decades and mentored younger comics. He also had a Comedy Central special and performed regularly at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Perhaps the least-known chapter, and the one devotees will talk about: McFadden spent his final years building a business far from Hollywood. The Hollywood Reporter, citing his Facebook page, says he owned Olduvai Records, a gold-mining and entertainment production company in Tanzania, whose website states the label is signed with Sony Music's The Orchard for global distribution. He released an album, 'ENJOY, Vol. 1,' on the label in May 2025. Hampton University film studies professor Rel Dowdell praised his 'diverse choices and dedication to his profession' in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

With the date and cause of death still unknown, per the family's account to The Hollywood Reporter, more formal arrangements and official statements remain pending. Tributes continue to spread, with Media Take Out noting fans are flooding social feeds with favorite clips and memories of his sitcom and stand-up work. McFadden is survived by his sisters Bernice and Misty, his sons Jaron and Myles, his mother Vivian and his brother Kris, according to The Hollywood Reporter — a family now awaiting answers from halfway around the world.