Reginald VelJohnson made a name for himself for his roles as the hefty cop in various movies and television shows. Now 74, he hasn’t slowed down at all. His career is thriving, thanks to a boost from a popular reality show. The beloved actor showed off his shocking weight loss during a rare public appearance. Stay on this page to see the photo of the drastic change.
Beloved 90s Star Competed On DWTS
Reginald VelJohnson’s most memorable role was as an LAPD officer who helped hero John McClane during the terrorist takeover in Nakatomi Plaza. He starred alongside Bruce Willis in the 1988 flick. That role actually led to him being cast as Chicago police officer Carl Winslow on Family Matters.
The TGIF sitcom aired for nine seasons. It remains extremely popular nearly 30 years after it went off the air for good. Fans can stream Family Matters and several other shows from ABC’s TGIF lineup on Hulu.
Reginald VelJohnson continued his television and movie work after Family Matters ended. However, he wasn’t nearly as prominent as he was in the 1990s. But he gained new fans and delighted old ones by competing on Season 33 of Dancing With The Stars.
He was paired with pro dancer Emma Slater. Sadly, he didn’t stay in the competition long. They were sent home in a double elimination in week 3. 90s movie star Eric Roberts and his partner, Britt Stewart, were also eliminated. Bachelor star Joey Graziadei took home the Mirrorball trophy that season.
Despite his short stint in the ballroom, fans loved seeing Reginald VelJohnson on their screens again. Now, he’s back on the big screen with his latest movie role.
Reginald VelJohnson, 74, Reveals Shocking Weight Loss, Pic
Reginald VelJohnson stars in the upcoming slasher movie Onslaught. The synopsis of the movie is an Army sniper fighting to protect her daughter from genetically engineered soldiers who escaped a government facility. The Family Matters alum played a character named Josiah. Onslaught hits theaters on September 4, 2026.
Reginald VelJohnson made a rare public appearance on the red carpet of the movie’s Los Angeles premiere earlier this week. The actor was nearly unrecognizable. And not just because he was in casual clothes instead of a police uniform.
The actor, 74, looked thinner than he ever has after a drastic weight loss. Reginald VelJohnson showed off his slimmer figure in white pants and a light pink shirt with the face of a lion on it. He used a cane for mobility. The beloved star smiled for the cameras. Fans couldn’t believe how much healthier and happier he looked.
His Family Matters co-star, Bryton James, shared plans several years ago for an animated reboot of the beloved sitcom. He told Entertainment Weekly in 2025 that the whole cast, including Jaleel White and Reginald VelJohnson, were on board with the project. However, it’s currently still on the shelf, waiting for Warner Bros. to make it happen.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger