Reginald Hudlin was born in Centreville, Illinois, grew up in East St. Louis, graduated from Assumption High School and attended Harvard University where he directed a short film that was the basis for his 1990 film, House Party. According to Variety magazine, House Party was one of the most profitable movies of the decade. Hudlin also directed Boomerang with Eddie Murphy, served as president of BET, Black Entertainment Television, and has produced the Academy Awards.