In Living Color Comedian Reggie McFadden Dies at 57 in Tanzania, Cause Unknown

Reggie McFadden, the comedian and actor best known for his run on Fox's In Living Color, has died at 57. His sister, best-selling author Bernice McFadden, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter.

According to Bernice McFadden, the U.S. State Department notified the family that Reggie died in Tanzania, where he had been living for roughly 18 years. As of early October 2026, the family had not been told the exact date of his death or the cause, according to The Hollywood Reporter and tuko.co.ke.

McFadden was born November 30, 1968, and grew up in Brooklyn. He broke into comedy in 1991 with an appearance on HBO's Def Comedy Jam, a show that launched a generation of Black stand-up comedians. After moving to Los Angeles, he picked up small roles on Martin, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, Moesha and Coach.

His most recognized work came on In Living Color, where he appeared in 23 episodes of the sketch show's fifth and final season from 1993 to 1994. He showed up in recurring bits like Wheel of Dozens and the Dirty Dozens Tournament of Champions, and tuko.co.ke reports he also worked as a writer on the show, not just a performer.

McFadden kept working through the 1990s and 2000s. He starred in Fox's short-lived 1998 sitcom Getting Personal, appeared in the films Jacob's Ladder, Minor Adjustments and Little Nicky, and played Officer Burt, Larry David's neighbor, in a 2001 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. He had his own Comedy Central special and performed regularly at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

At some point roughly 18 years ago, McFadden relocated to Tanzania and built a second career far from Hollywood. His Facebook page listed him as owner of Olduvai Records, described as a gold-mining and entertainment production company. The label's website says it was signed with Sony Music's The Orchard for global distribution, and McFadden released an album, ENJOY, Vol. 1, through that deal in May 2025.

Tributes came in fast once news spread. Comedian Tony Luewellyn wrote on Facebook, "Rest in peace, fellow comedian, Reggie McFadden. Another fallen veteran comedy brother!" Comedian Loni Love posted on X that she'd hoped rumors of his death weren't true, writing, "we had some funny times, Reggie... make God laugh." Guy Torry, who Media Take Out identified as the one who first confirmed the death publicly on social media, called McFadden "a great writer, comedian, actor, father, and friend."

Hampton University film studies director Prof. Rel Dowdell offered a formal statement to The Hollywood Reporter: "Reggie McFadden was a very talented, veteran comedian and actor whose diverse choices and dedication to his profession were highly evident."

McFadden is survived by his sisters Bernice and Misty, his sons Jaron and Myles, his mother Vivian, and his brother Kris.

Kenya-based outlet tuko.co.ke reported that "the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation," a claim that does not appear in The Hollywood Reporter's, Deadline's, or MEAWW's reporting. All of those outlets state plainly that no cause of death has been determined or released. Whether that reflects an actual open investigation by Tanzanian or U.S. authorities, or simply reflects the unresolved cause of death, is not clear from the available reporting.

No U.S. or Tanzanian authority has publicly announced an investigation into McFadden's death as of this writing. His family has said only that they're waiting on information from the State Department. Until Bernice McFadden or U.S. officials release more details, the timeline of his final days and what killed him remain unknown.