Neil Reagan

Who was Neil Reagan?

John Neil Reagan was a radio station manager, CBS senior producer and senior vice president of McCann Erickson. He was the older brother of Ronald Reagan.

Neil "Moon" Reagan was baptized as a Roman Catholic at birth. As an infant, Neil attended his mother's Disciples of Christ church, but became affiliated with his father's Catholic faith in his youth. He was described as a boisterous and gregarious personality in his youth. In 1933, Neil graduated Eureka College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He followed his brother to California and established a career as a television producer and advertising executive.

From the '30s through the '50s, Neil Reagan directed the radio series Dr. Christian, starring Jean Hersholt. In between he launched a brief Hollywood career as a supporting actor in films such as Tugboat Annie Sails Again and Doughboys in Ireland. Neil Reagan directed Ronald Reagan in the television series Death Valley Days.

He served as president of both the Hollywood and Los Angeles advertising clubs, as well as served on numerous community and professional boards including: the Crippled Children's Society of Los Angeles, the Kennedy Child Study Center in Santa Monica, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.