Starting his saxophone journey, he commenced at that moment. At the age of nine, he developed a fascination with the performing arts. Coming from a military background, Cathey extensively traveled, although his formative years were spent on a rural farm in West Germany, where he watched English-dubbed American TV. He had a sister named Donza Cathey. His father, Red Cathey, served as an Army colonel, while his mother worked for the Department of Defense and pursued a career in education. Reg Cathey, whose legal name was Reginal Eurias Cathey, was born on August 18, 1958, in Huntsville, Alabama.
He felt that living in the city of New York, where he developed his skills, was emotionally distressing. Despite spending ten years working in Los Angeles, California, he found his true passion for theater in New York. He then pursued acting at the Yale School of Drama and obtained a Masters in Fine Arts in 1982. At the age of eighteen in 1976, he left Alabama to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree four years later. Cathey completed his high school education at J.O. Johnson High School in Huntsville, Alabama, where he participated in the production of To Kill a Mockingbird. After returning to the United States, his family relocated to Huntsville, Alabama.
In the Steven King’s production of “Redemption Shawshank,” Morgan Freeman later played the role of Prospero in the musical version of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” He joined the world of theatre in 2009, playing the character Redding “Red” in the London production of “The King’s Speech.” His first film appearance was in the 1984 movie “A Doctor’s Story,” starring Howard Rollins.
Cathey’s career spanned three decades, appearing on television, screen, and stage. He played diverse and non-stereotypical characters, becoming a figure of authority. In a 2016 article in The Guardian, he mentioned that his career took off after Barack Obama was elected president because people could accept the idea of a well-spoken black man. Among his many TV roles, he portrayed Baron Samedi in Grimm (2011). He also played Rice Rutherford in 30 Rock (2010), Barry Querns in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order (1999), and Sheriff Giles in Oz. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017), he appeared as Henrietta’s father, King Don in Hands of Stone (2016) (uncredited), and Franklin Storm in Fantastic Four.
Linda Powell, Donza Cathey Friende, Maureen Davis Cathey (his stepmother), and two stepbrothers Jerry Davis and Maureen Davis are the surviving family members of him. He passed away in New York City on February 9, 2018, at the age of 59 due to lung cancer. Cathy was well-known for his deep baritone voice and his understated sense of humor.