Reg E. Cathey Biography: Wife, Age, Death, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Movies & TV Shows, Emmy

Reginald Eurias Cathey, known professionally as Reg E. Cathey, was an esteemed American character actor, celebrated for his commanding presence and resonant baritone voice.

He earned widespread acclaim for deeply human roles such as Norman Wilson in The Wire, Martin Querns in Oz, and Freddy Hayes in House of Cards, the latter earning him an Emmy Award in 2015.

Over a career spanning stage, film, and television—from PBS’s Square One Television to major Hollywood productions—Cathey distinguished himself as a versatile and impactful performer.

Profile

• Full Name: Reginald Eurias Cathey Jr.
• Stage Name: Reg E. Cathey
• Born: August 18, 1958
• Died: February 9, 2018
• Age: 59 years old
• Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama, USA
• Death Place: New York City, New York, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor (stage, film, television), Voice Actor
• Height: 1.84 m
• Parents: Red (Reginald) Cathey Sr., Eva Erline (née Mobley) Cathey
• Siblings: Donza Cathey Friende
• Girlfriend: Linda Powell
• Children: None
• Relationship Status: Not Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life and Education

Reginald Eurias Cathey Jr. was born August 18, 1958, in Huntsville, Alabama, to Army Colonel Red Cathey Sr. and his mother Eva Erline Cathey, a Department of Defense worker and educator. He had one sister, Donza.

During his childhood, the family lived on a rural farm in West Germany where Cathey first felt a calling for theatre after attending a USO performance at age nine.

He returned to Huntsville at 14, attended J.O. Johnson High School, and performed in school plays like To Kill a Mockingbird. Cathey earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan (1980) and later completed an MFA in Acting at Yale School of Drama (1982). He was African‑American, and his religious beliefs remain known.

Career

Reg E. Cathey began his professional journey in 1984 with the TV movie A Doctor’s Story. He became known to younger audiences through Square One Television (1987–1992), where he served as announcer and performer in math-centric comedy sketches.

His early career also included guest roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Homicide: Life on the Street.

Cathey then transitioned to impactful dramatic roles: he was Martin Querns on Oz, Norman Wilson on The Wire (2006–2008), and Freddy Hayes on House of Cards (2013–2016), winning an Emmy for the latter in 2015.

His film roles included Freeze in The Mask (1994), appearances in Se7en, American Psycho, Tank Girl, and Dr. Franklin Storm in Fantastic Four (2015). He also contributed voices to animated shows like Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure and live‑action series such as Luke Cage.

Up until his passing, Cathey remained active in both theatre and screen. He portrayed Red Redding in the West End production of The Shawshank Redemption (2009) and appeared in acclaimed series like Outcast, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Grimm, The Blacklist, Banshee, and Inside Amy Schumer.

His final screen role was Reverend James Lucas in Luke Cage (2018), posthumously dedicated to his memory.

Social Media

Reg E. Cathey does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Reg E. Cathey lived a private life enriched by his passion for theatre, music, and community. He was long‑time partner to Linda Powell, with whom he remained until his death. Cathey had no children.

His warmth, generosity, and mentorship were consistently praised by colleagues and fans.

Filmography

Film

• A Doctor’s Story (TV Movie, 1984) – Richie
• The Mask (1994) – Freeze
• Se7en (1995) – Coroner
• American Psycho (2000)
• Pootie Tang (2001) – Dirty Dee
• Fantastic Four (2015) – Dr. Franklin Storm
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017 TV film) – Zakariyya Lacks

Television

• Square One Television (1987–1992)
• Oz (2000–2003) – Martin Querns
• The Wire (2006–2008) – Norman Wilson
• House of Cards (2013–2016) – Freddy Hayes
• Outcast (2016–2017) – Chief Byron Giles
• Luke Cage (2018) – Reverend James Lucas
• Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure (2018) – Voice of Captain Quaid

Net Worth

Reg E. Cathey’s net worth was not publicly disclosed. His financial legacy stems from an enduring and diverse acting career across television, film, theater, and voice-over work, highlighted by his Emmy-winning role in House of Cards.