Reggie McFadden Dead at 57: ‘In Living Color’ Star’s Cause of Death & Career Highlights

Brooklyn-born actor and stand-up comedian Reggie McFadden, best known for his breakout run on Fox’s sketch series “In Living Color,” has died at the age of 57. According to a family statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, the U.S. State Department informed relatives that McFadden passed away in Tanzania, where he had been living and running a gold-mining and entertainment venture for several years; no cause of death has been released. McFadden’s quick-fire wit and rubber-faced characters made him a standout during the 1993–94 season of “In Living Color,” opening doors to guest spots on hit ’90s sitcoms such as “Martin,” “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper,” “Coach,” “Moesha,” “Getting Personal” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” On the big screen, he appeared in cult favorites “Jacob’s Ladder” and Adam Sandler’s “Little Nicky,” and later headlined a Comedy Central half-hour that cemented his reputation on the Las Vegas club circuit. Tributes poured in across social media as news of his death spread. Fellow comic Tony Luewellyn remembered him as “another fallen veteran comedy brother,” while scores of fans reposted vintage “Def Comedy Jam” clips that showcased McFadden’s razor-sharp observations on ’90s urban life. Born on August 25, 1969, McFadden honed his craft in New York clubs before landing a coveted slot on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” where his high-energy sets caught the attention of Keenen Ivory Wayans. Industry friends say he quietly relocated to East Africa in the late 2010s to pursue business interests but continued developing TV and film projects through his Tanzanian production shingle. McFadden is survived by his sister, award-winning novelist Bernice McFadden, and several extended family members. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, but colleagues are planning a stateside celebration of life to honor the performer who “never stopped hustling for the next laugh.” Search interest in McFadden’s legacy surged overnight as fans revisited his classic sketches and TV cameos, underscoring the enduring impact of a comedian whose fearless characters and magnetic stage presence helped define a golden era of Black comedy on mainstream television.