• American actor Roy ‘Reno’ Wilson was born in Brooklyn, New York City USA
• Starred as Officer Carl McMillan in all 127 episodes of the romantic comedy series “Mike & Molly”
• Voiced characters in seven video games and has four producing credits
• Married to American non-celebrity Coco Fausone and they have two children together
• Net worth estimated at over $1 million
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Who is Reno Wilson?
American actor Roy ‘Reno’ Wilson was born in Brooklyn, New York City USA, on 20 January 1969, meaning that his zodiac sign’s Aquarius. He’s appeared in close to 100 movies and TV series, and is perhaps best known for starring as Officer Carl McMillan in all 127 episodes of the popular romantic comedy series “Mike & Molly”, created by Mark Roberts, and which also starred Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy. It follows a man and a woman who’ve met at an Overeaters’ Anonymous meeting, the series aired from 2010 to 2016, and won seven of its 23 award nominations.
Education and early life
Reno was raised in Brooklyn by his mother Shirley and father Roy Wilson, but hasn’t shared any details about his parents with the public, nor has he spoken about having siblings.
He studied at a local high school, and it was there that he fell in love with acting, after having appeared in a school play; Reno went on to appear in nearly all the plays performed at the school, but he was also into sports, excelling in football.
Upon matriculating in 1987, he enrolled at State University of New York at Purchase, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1991.
Roles in TV series
Reno’s debut TV series role was in 1988-’89, playing Howard in 10 episodes of the critically acclaimed romantic family comedy “The Cosby Show” which Michael Leeson created, and which starred Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Phylicia Rashad as well as Bill Cosby. It follows the lives of members of a wealthy African-American family, the series aired from 1984 through 1992, and won 62 of its 121 award nominations.
Reno’s following role came in 1994, when cast to play Steve in the episode “The Philadelphia Story” of the comedy “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, and the remainder of the decade saw him appear in an episode or two of various series, such as the sports comedy “Coach”, the drama “Under One Roof”, and the crime mystery “NYPD Blue”.
In 2001 and 2002, he starred as Wes Freewald in the science fiction horror comedy “The Chronicle”, alongside Rena Sofer and Chad Willett; it follows a highly qualified reporter who’s begun working for a tabloid, and the series was nominated for two awards. In 2006, Reno played Tyrese Evans in six episodes of the crime action “Heist”, and some of his other notable performances in the decade were in the crime drama “Las Vegas”, the family drama “Lincoln Heights”, and the crime mystery “Life”.
He remained focused on shooting for “Mike & Molly” from 2010 through 2016, appearing in no other TV series; most recently, from 2018 through 2021, Reno starred as Stan Hill in all the 50 episodes of the crime comedy “Good Girls”, which Jenna Bans created, and which also starred Mae Whitman, Retta and Christina Hendricks. It follows the lives of three mothers who’ve realized that they’re losing control over their lives – the series won one of its three award nominations.
Roles in movies
Reno’s debut film role was playing Radio DJ in the 1996 comedy “Sgt. Bilko”, directed by Jonathan Lynn, and which starred Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman. It follows conman Sergeant Bilko who’s running an army base’s motor pool, and has been tasked with developing a hover tank; the movie ‘won’ a Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Resurrection of a TV Show. The remainder of the decade saw Reno appear in the 1996 sports comedy “The Great White Hype”, the ‘97 crime thriller “City of Industries”, and the ‘99 comedy “Whiteboyz”.
What marked the 2000s for him was perhaps portraying Orlando in the 2006 crime action thriller “Crank”, written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, and which starred Jason Statham, Amy Smart and Carlos Sanz. It follows professional assassin Chev Chelios, who’s been injected with a poison and will die if his heart rate drops; the movie won two of its four award nominations. Reno could then have been seen playing and voicing characters in the 2007 drama “TV Virus”, the 2009 crime action thriller “Crank: High Voltage”, and the 2009 action adventure science fiction “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (voice role).
The year 2015 saw him play the lead character Money Maker in the action comedy “Tooken”, written and directed by John Asher, and which also starred Lee Tergesen and Lauren Stamile; the movie parodies the “Taken” franchise.
Some of Reno’s most recent film roles have been in the 2021 sports action “Born a Champion”, and in 2022 the drama “Tyson’s Run” and thecomedy “A Snowy Day in Oakland”.
We had a little fun on this movie. The one and only @renzograciebjj @spflanery @edsonbarbozajr @mauricecompte #dennisquaid
‘Born A Champion’ premieres THIS WEEK 1/22 in select theaters and streaming and On Demand.
🙏🏿👊🏿❤️#bjj @ufc #seanpatrickflannery #edsonbarboza #mma pic.twitter.com/u47M7TdZpg— Reno Wilson (@RenoWilson) January 18, 2021
Other credits
He’s voiced characters in seven videos games, including the “Operation Flashpoint: Red River”, the “Final Fantasy XIII-2” both in 2011, and the 2013 “Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII”.
Reno has four producing credits, including the 2004 comedy movie “Fronterz”, the 2014 short action comedy film “The Courier”, and the 2015 short comedy movie “The Empty Morning”.
He sang the song “Calypso” in the 2013 episode “Molly’s Out of Town” of the series “Mike & Molly”, and the song “Push It” in the 2020 episode “Nana” of the series “Good Girls”.
Some of Reno’s recent talk-show appearances have been in “Home & Family”, “Today”, and “Celebrity Page”.
Awards and nominations
Reno was nominated for a Behind the Voice Actors (BTVA) Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film, for he and his colleagues’ performance in “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”, and a 2015 BTVA Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game, for “Raitoningu Ritanzu: Fainaru Fantaji XIII”.
Love life and wife
Reno shies away from speaking about his love life in public, but it’s widely known that he’s been married to American non-celebrity Coco Fausone for more than two decades now. Reno and Coco exchanged vows in a private ceremony on 6 July 1998, attended by only their closest family members and friends; Coco’s today working as a yoga instructor, and has since 2017 been running her own yoga studio – The Cycling Pigeon.
In 2001, Coco gave birth to their daughter Deni, and their second child, son Renzo followed in 2006. Deni’s interested in sports, and is today playing on the University of California, Santa Barbara’s volleyball team.
Reno hasn’t spoken of other women whom he’s dated, and he’s married to Coco Fausone as of January 2023, and they have two children together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
There are more than 100,000 people following Reno on Instagram today, and he’s posted nearly 1,800 pictures and videos onto the social media network.
He’s a huge lover of dogs, and has recently shared with his fans the news of Suzy Q’s passing, the dog which appeared in the series “Mike & Molly”.
Reno enjoys being physically active, and besides playing various sports with his friends, including tennis and soccer, also works out at the gym nearly every day.
He’s passionate about cooking, and has shared some of his recipes with his fans on Instagram.
One of Reno’s favorite musicians is Lionel Richie, and he’s had a chance to meet him in person.
He spends nearly all his spare time with his children, and doesn’t usually miss on his daughter’s volleyball games.
Reno’s favorite actors are Chris Rock and Morgan Freeman, and some of his favorite movies include “Top Five”, “Death at a Funeral” and “I Think I Love My Wife”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Reno’s age is 53. He has brown eyes and short black hair, is 6ft 1in (1.85m) tall, and weighs about 180lbs (83kgs).
Reno’s net worth’s been estimated at over $1 million, as of January 2023.
