Sunday, May 16, 2010

Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid

Daphne Maxwell Reid, the wife of actor and "WKRP in Cincinnati" alumnus Tim Reid, is best known for playing Will Smith's aunt Vivian in the three latter seasons of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," replacing Janet Hubert in that same role.

Wait a minute, you must be asking yourself, in case you're not familiar with that sitcom's first three seasons, Janet Hubert was Aunt Viv too?

No, Daphne Maxwell Reid was Aunt Viv Two. Janet Hubert was Aunt Viv One!

Seriously, Mrs. Reid has had a distinguished career as a television actress beyond "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." She was in "Hill Street Blues" for six seasons, and she also starred with her husband in the critically acclaimed but short-lived restaurant drama series "Frank's Place." Today she owns and operates New Millennium Studios in Petersburg, Virginia with her husband and also serves on the Board of Visitors at Virginia State University.

Fun fact: Before she got into acting and married Tim Reid, the former Daphne Maxwell was a model and became the first black woman to appear on the cover of Glamour.

No comments: