Daphne Maxwell-Reid

Poised, pretty, and personable TV lead and host who often worked with her husband actor-producer Tim Reid, most notably in the acclaimed but regrettably short-lived sitcom "Frank's Place" (CBS, 1987-88), an irreverent but classy look at some of the intricacies of the African-American experience. Elected Northwestern University's first Black Homecoming Queen, Reid entered showbiz as a model with the Eileen Ford modeling agency, appearing in numerous magazines and landing a Glamour cover. This exposure led to TV commercials and acting lessons under the tutelage of actor-teacher Robert Hooks, the co-founder of the Negro Ensemble Company. Reid made her acting debut in an off-Broadway production of "The Skin of Our Teeth" while attending the workshop. TV guest spots followed a few years later on the likes of "Cagney and Lacey," "Hill Street Blues," and "WKRP in Cincinnati."