When days go by, there’s still always room for Reginald VelJohnson.
And the Family Mattersalum delighted fans when he stepped out for a rare public appearance at the premiere of Onslaughton Aug. 26 in Los Angeles, marking his first red carpet in two years.
For the occasion, VelJohnson looked ever stylish in white pants and a cream-colored tee bearing the image of a lion. He accessorized the look with a baseball cap, a cane and cow-print clogs.
While the bulk of the now 74-year-old’s biggest onscreen appearances occurred before 2000—with roles in films such as Die Hard, Turner & Hooch and Crocodile Dundee—he’s acted in a number of projects in the years since, last appearing in three episodes of the series Invincible.
But a newer generation of fans may know VelJohnson best from when he took reality TV out for a spin on Dancing with the Starsseason 33, where he was partnered with pro Emma Slater.
While dancing proved not to be the TV alum’s forte, VelJohnson won over the hearts of viewers with his big smile and earnest effort before being eliminated in week three.
Most importantly, he and Slater developed a close bond.
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Jaleel White & More Family Matters Cast Members Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Drama
As he told Good Morning America following his elimination, “Saying goodbye is going to be hard, because I love her.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Slater, who called VelJohnson a “forever friend” and said she planned to keep him in her life even though their time on the dance floor had come to an end.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
And beyond the joy dancing with the Die Hardalum, Slater relished the positive reception VelJohnson’s time on DWTSgarnered.
“People have missed having Reggie on their TV screens, and this has been a perfect opportunity for him to do something regularly,” she reflected. “Every week he’s been gracing the TV screens, and a whole new generation of people have fallen in love with him.”
After all, for countless fans, VelJohnson has been and always will be policeman Carl Winslow.
It’s an association VelJohnson bears with pride, having kept his time on Family Mattersand the people he worked with close to his heart in the decades since the sitcom came to a conclusion in 1998.
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content
In fact, when the Family Matterscast—including Jaleel White, Jo Marie Payton and Kellie Shanygne Williams—reunited for Entertainment Weekly in 2017, it felt like an actual reunion of beloved family members for VelJohnson.
“I love these people, every one of them,” VelJohnson said at the time. “I didn’t realize I was going to see everybody. To see them now, the way they are, is wonderful. It’s heartwarming. It makes me cry.”
For more cast member reunions that have warmed hearts over the years, read on.
Instagram / Fran DrescherThe NannyOver 25 years after The Nanny aired its final episode, Fran Drescher cheered on her onscreen mom Renée Taylor and her TV stepdaughter Nicholle Tom as she watched their play, Dying Is No Excuse!, in August 2025. Lea Michele / InstagramGleeAlums Lea Michele, Dianna Agron and Darren Criss reunited in New York City in April 2025 to celebrate Darren—a.k.a. Warblers heartthrob Blaine Anderson—in his musical Maybe Happy Ending during its Broadway run.VW/NBCSaturday Night LiveSeries alums Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader and Fred Armisen reunited as “The Californians” in a February 2025 ad for Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz electric bus—just in time to celebrate SNL’s 50th anniversary.Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesFull HouseFormer onscreen spouses Lori Laughlin and John Stamos—joined by his IRL wife Caitlin McHugh—as well as their TV nieces Candace Cameron Bure and Jodie Sweetin honored a cause close to late costar Bob Saget’s life as they posed for photos at a 2024 event benefitting the Scleroderma Research Foundation.Instagram / Lauren GrahamGilmore GirlsLauren Graham, who played Lorelai Gilmore on the show, shared this selfie with Kelly Bishop, who portrayed her mom Emily Gilmore, in June 2024, writing, “Here’s to the ladies who lunch. #Kelly”Instagram / William DanielsBoy Meets WorldWilliam Daniels (Mr. Feeny), 97, shared this pic of himself and his wife Bonnie Bartlett Daniels with his former costars Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) and Will Friedle (Eric Matthews) in June 2024. Class undismissed!Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com/ShutterstockDawson’s CreekKatie Holmes and Michelle Williams reunited Feb. 7, 2024 at the opening of Chanel’s first watches and fine jewelry flagship store, on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The event took place more than 20 years after Dawson’s Creek ended its six-season run and more than five years since the last time the two actresses were photographed together (at Entertainment Weekly’s 20th anniversary cast reunion cover shoot in 2018).PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty ImagesGame of ThronesIan Beattie, Daniel Portman, Natalia Tena and Ian McElhinney reunited on Feb. 2 ahead of the opening of Warner Bros’ GOT Studio Tour, located at one of the HBO show’s original shooting spots in Banbridge, Northern Ireland.Presley Ann/Getty Images for Pair of ThievesThe BacheloretteMike Johnson and Rachel Lindsay catch up at a private Kendrick Lamar concert event hosted by Pair of Thieves in Los Angeles. Instagram / Kevin McHaleGleeIn May 2021, Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz partied at her bachelorette party ahead of her wedding to boyfriend David Stanley.MediaPunch/ShutterstockThe Office LadiesThe Office alums Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, and Kate Flannery pose for a photo at Thirst Project Gala benefit on September 28, 2019. Instagram / Shannen DohertyBeverly Hills, 90210Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley, Christine Elise, Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering and Gabrielle Carteris hang out on the set of the 2019 reboot, BH90210.Jim Smeal/BEI/ShutterstockDrake & JoshJosh Peck and Drake Bell reunited with their onscreen parents Nancy Sullivan and Jonathan Goldstein at Nostalgia Con 2025, marking the first time in more than 10 years that the four actors came together as a group.Instagram / Michael RosenbaumSmallvilleTom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk reunited at the Fan Expo Dallas 2019 event.Instagram / Danielle FishelBoy Meets WorldRider Strong, Will Friedle and Ben Savage were bumping along with pregnant former co-star Danielle Fishel at the Fan Expo Dallas 2019 event.Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tribeca Film FestivalIn Living ColorTommy Davidson, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Kim Wayans and David Alan Grier reunite at the show’s 25th anniversary event during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
InstagramSaved by the BellMark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley brought their spouses along for a quadruple dinner date in April 2019.Instagram/Jennifer GarnerAlias”A mini reunion in New York City—former castmates, favorite dinner dates, forever playmates. ♥️♥️♥️ Photographed by my favorite artist, @rainerarts,” Jennifer Garner wrote on Instagram of this pic with Victor Garber and Ron Rifkin. Instagram/Courteney CoxFriends”Saturday night with a friend,” Courteney Cox captioned this pic of Monica and Phoebe back together, but Lisa Kudrow took a little issue.
“I guess I would have looked at you if I could have OPENED MY EYES,” she commented. She also posted her own selfie with the caption “My eyes! My eyes!” Jordin Althaus/ E!Cougar TownCourteney Cox guested on Busy Tonight for a little Cougar Town reunion, and Philipps took it even farther by doing a bit with the show’s biggest fan and costars Christa Miller, Josh Hopkins, and Ian Gomez. InstagramBuffy the Vampire Slayer”Witches, demons, vampires, watchers, slayer, Gods, and Scoobies oh my!” Nicholas Brendon wrote on Instagram.InstagramThat’s So Raven”Happiness is spontaneously running into old pals from my That’s So Raven days!!! @anneliesevanderpol & @rondellsheridanoffical,” Rose Abdoo shared on Instagram after meeting with Anneliese van der Pol and Rondell Sheridan. TwitterWonder Years”I got to see these guys for lunch yesterday – it was so much fun to catch up and hear how their beautiful families are doing,” Danica McKellar shared on Twitter. “And yes, @joshsaviano, I totally agree – *you guys* are like family… I mean, we DID grow up together, after all. #memories #TheWonderYears”Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for New York MagazineScrubsReunited and it feels so good! Donald Faison, Judy Reyes, Neil Flynn, Sarah Chalke, Zach Braff and Ken Jenkins attend the Heineken Green Room during Vulture Festival presented by AT&T at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for CoachGame of ThronesHee’s the story, of the Stark family…Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington and Richard Madden came out to support Maisie Williams and her new play.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for UCLA Semel InstituteFriendsFriends’ Monica and Phoebe reunite at the the UCLA Semel Institute’s 2018 Open Mind Gala. Cast members from the hit show have reunited several times over the years.
InstagramFlavor of LoveYou know what time it is! Exes Flavor Flav and Tiffany “New York” Pollard found themselves together again while filming an episode of Braxton Family Values. TwitterLostIn August 2018, Henry Ian Cusick and Sonya Walger, who played fan-favorite couple Desmond and Penny, reunited at the place where their characters first met. She posted on her Twitter page a photo of her and the actor standing together outside St. Andrew’s Priory School in Honolulu, which was used to depict a monastery in Eddington, Scotland on the touching season four episode “The Constant.”InstagramThe West WingJoshua Malina, who played Will Bailey on the NBC series, posted in July 2018 a photo on social media of him having dinner with friends, including fellow former co-stars Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman) and Janel Moloney (Donna Moss) and show creator Aaron Sorkin.InstagramBoy Meets WorldBen Savage attended former co-star Matthew Lawrence and Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke’s engagement party in July 2018.photos
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