Reggie Bythewood

Reggie Bythewood is a film director, writer, actor and producer, who grew up in the Bronx, New York. Growing up in the Bronx, Reggie was heavily influenced by hip hop as an emerging art form, and formed a neighborhood hip hop rap crew. However, by his mid teens, Reggie’s main focus became acting.

During his senior year of high school, Reggie was cast in the television soap opera, Another World, where he acted with Morgan Freeman, Joe Morton and Kyra Sedgwick. After high school, Reggie got a role in a John Sayles film titled, The Brother from Another Planet. His work with Sayles inspired Reggie to become a writer and director.

In 1990, Reggie was offered a role in the soap opera One Life To Live. However, he turned down the role and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in screenwriting. In Los Angeles, Reggie became one of the first members of Walt Disney’s prestigious Writers Fellowship Program. From there, he was hired as a writer on the hit sitcom, A Different World, where he met his future wife, Gina Prince-Bythewood. Reggie went on to write and produce Dick Wolf’s drama series, New York Undercover.

Reggie’s Hollywood career also included doing the screenplay for Spike Lee’s indie film, Get on the Bus, and Notorious. He also directed Biker Boyz, the documentary, Daddy’s Girl (starring Laila Ali), the 30 for 30 documentary, One Night in Vegas, and Gun Hill. 

Outside of the film industry, Reggie has always been active in the community, and he has a special interest in working with fathers. As a board member of the Oscar Grant Foundation, Reggie provides guidance for the organization’s youth mentorship programs and our law enforcement equity training program.