1. Overview
Reggie Rock Bythewood (born July 7, 1965) is an American filmmaker, actor, and producer, known for his significant contributions to both film and television. He is particularly recognized for directing the film Dancing in September and for creating the critically acclaimed television series Shots Fired and Swagger. Bythewood's work often explores complex social issues, reflecting his long-standing engagement with community organizations and advocacy for social change.
2. Early Life and Education
Reggie Rock Bythewood's early life in The Bronx, New York City, and his subsequent educational pursuits significantly influenced his path into the entertainment industry.
2.1. Childhood and Upbringing
Born on July 7, 1965, Reggie Rock Bythewood grew up in The Bronx, New York City. During his childhood, he enjoyed visiting movie theaters and attending Yankees baseball games with his father. However, his primary passion was boxing. This changed when his parents separated, and his mother, concerned for his safety, prohibited him from continuing the sport and banned him from the local boxing gym. During this period, hip hop culture, while seen as a passing trend outside of New York, was burgeoning as an art form in The Bronx. Bythewood fully immersed himself in this movement, becoming a rapper in a local hip hop crew. He and his schoolmates were often given the opportunity to perform break dancing routines during junior high school assemblies.
2.2. Education
After junior high, Bythewood shifted his primary focus to acting. He enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, majoring in drama. However, the school's policy did not permit students to work as professional actors. During his senior year, Bythewood was cast in the television soap opera Another World. To pursue this opportunity, he left the High School of Performing Arts and transferred to Quintanos School for the Young Professionals. While on the set of Another World, he worked alongside notable actors such as Morgan Freeman, Joe Morton, and Kyra Sedgwick. Following high school, Bythewood appeared in The Brother from Another Planet, a film directed by John Sayles. Sayles' work inspired Bythewood to explore writing and directing, prompting him to gradually shift his career focus away from acting. He later earned a BFA in theater from Marymount Manhattan College. During his time there, he co-founded "The Tribe", a New York City-based theater company that staged plays written and directed by Bythewood. The company's mission was to entertain while simultaneously raising social consciousness. Several activists, including Black Panther member Jamal Joseph, frequently attended Bythewood's plays, with Joseph becoming one of his close friends.
3. Career
Reggie Rock Bythewood has established a diverse and impactful career in the entertainment industry, spanning acting, screenwriting, film and television directing, and producing. His work reflects his versatile talents and commitment to compelling storytelling.
3.1. Acting Career
Reggie Rock Bythewood began his career as an actor, appearing in both television and film. One of his early significant roles was as R.J. Morgan in the television soap opera Another World for six episodes between 1982 and 1983. In film, he appeared as Floyd Turner in Fight for Your Life in 1977. In 1984, he had two film roles: Rickey in John Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet and Spidey in Exterminator 2. His other film acting credits include a Church Bystander in The Beat (1988) and Danny Lambeaux in Vampire's Kiss (1989).
3.2. Screenwriting Career
In 1990, Bythewood declined an acting offer for the soap opera One Life To Live to move to Los Angeles and pursue screenwriting. He became one of the inaugural members of Walt Disney's prestigious Writers Fellowship Program. His professional screenwriting career commenced when he was hired as a writer for the popular NBC comedy series A Different World, where he met his future wife, Gina Prince-Bythewood. He went on to write and produce for Dick Wolf's drama series New York Undercover, for which he penned 16 episodes between 1994 and 1997. Bythewood also performed production rewrites for action films produced by Joel Silver. Following his attendance at the Million Man March, he wrote the screenplay for Spike Lee's independent film Get on the Bus (1996), also serving as one of its investors. Leading up to the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, Bythewood was hired to rewrite the script for Notorious (2009). He completed several drafts, leading to the film's greenlight. After the strike concluded, he returned to the project for further revisions and remained involved until the film wrapped production. He received a "written by" credit alongside the initial writer, Cheo Hodari Coker. He also wrote five episodes for Swagger (2021-2023) and three episodes for Shots Fired (2017).
3.3. Film Directing
Bythewood made his feature film directorial debut with the critically acclaimed independent film Dancing in September (2000), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film was subsequently acquired by HBO and released as an HBO original movie. He also directed the feature film Biker Boyz (2003). His directorial work extends to documentaries, including "Daddy's Girl" (2007), a film starring boxer Laila Ali, and "One Night in Vegas" (2010), an episode for ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series. In 2014, he directed Gun Hill, a two-hour pilot movie, for which he received the 2014 NAACP Image Award.
3.4. Television Series Creation and Directing
Reggie Rock Bythewood has played a significant role in the creation and direction of several television series. In 2017, he co-created the ten-hour event series Shots Fired alongside his wife, Gina Prince-Bythewood. He also directed the season one finale of Shots Fired, an episode titled "Hour Ten: Last Dance", which featured actors such as Sanaa Lathan, Richard Dreyfuss, Helen Hunt, and Stephan James. From 2021 to 2023, Bythewood served as the creator, writer, and director for the television series Swagger, helming five episodes of the show.
3.5. Producer Career
Beyond his roles as a writer and director, Reggie Rock Bythewood has also accumulated significant experience as a producer in both film and television. He contributed to the production of Dick Wolf's drama series New York Undercover, where he also served as a writer. In 2007, he was a co-producer for the television short film Reflections. His executive producer credits include the 2017 series Shots Fired and the 2021-2023 series Swagger. He also acted as an investor for Spike Lee's 1996 film Get on the Bus.
4. Personal Life
Reggie Rock Bythewood resides in Southern California with his wife, filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood, and their two sons. The couple first met on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and later both worked on the series A Different World, where their relationship developed. They married in 1998.
5. Social Activism and Impact
Reggie Rock Bythewood is deeply committed to social activism and community engagement, reflecting his belief in the power of media to drive positive social change. He served as the chairman of the B-Dads organization, a group of fathers who actively participated in charitable work, including providing meals for homeless families in Los Angeles and raising thousands of dollars for the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation. The organization also conducted workshops focused on fatherhood. Bythewood has frequently spoken on various panels addressing police reform, notably at the annual conventions for NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), demonstrating his advocacy for systemic change within law enforcement.
6. Awards and Recognition
Reggie Rock Bythewood has received recognition for his contributions to film and television. In 2014, he was honored with the NAACP Image Award for his directorial work on the two-hour pilot movie Gun Hill.