Maxine Sneed is an enigmatic figure primarily known as the first wife of counter-culture icon Tommy Chong and the mother of actresses Rae Dawn and Robbi Chong. Despite her proximity to fame, she has remained a subject of public fascination, prompting numerous online searches filled with misinformation. Her story is one of quiet resilience and independence, as she deliberately forged a private life of professional achievement and dignity away from the spotlight she was once so near.
Maxine Sneed: Quick Bio
| Attribute | Detail |
| Full Name | Maxine Sneed |
| Known For | First wife of Tommy Chong; mother of Rae Dawn and Robbi Chong |
| Ethnicity | Black Canadian and Cherokee |
| Ex-Spouse | Thomas Tommy B. Kin Chong |
| Marriage Years | 1960–1970 |
| Children | Rae Dawn Chong, Robbi Chong |
| Daughter (Elder) | Rae Dawn Chong (born 1961) |
| Daughter (Younger) | Robbi Chong (born 1965) |
| Known Professions | Editor, Black Radio Magazine; Executive Assistant, Exxon Oil |
| Estimated Birth Year | circa 1943–1944 |
| Public Profile | Extremely private; has avoided the public spotlight for over 50 years |
| Wikipedia Status | No official page due to privacy and lack of independent sources |
| Current Status | No reliable public record of her passing |
The Early Years and a Counter-Culture Union
Maxine Sneed’s story enters the public record in 1960, the year she married Thomas Tommy B. Kin Chong in Canada. Their union lasted a decade, ending in divorce in 1970, just before the Cheech & Chong comedy duo would catapult Tommy to international stardom. This ten-year period represents the entirety of her life lived alongside a public figure, yet it was a time of immense personal significance, laying the groundwork for the family and legacy that would follow.
Even the most basic biographical details about Maxine Sneed are shrouded in confusion, a testament to her private nature. The question of her birthdate, for instance, has multiple conflicting answers online. Many sources repeat the date September 23, 1940, though this appears to be an unverified fact replicated across various websites. Another date, September 26, 1946, is tied to an obituary for a different woman of the same name from Cincinnati, Ohio. Perhaps the most compelling clue comes from a biographical entry for her daughter, Rae Dawn Chong, which notes that Maxine was just 17 years old at the time of Rae Dawn’s birth in 1961. This would place her birth year around 1943 or 1944, painting a picture of a teenage wife and mother navigating the complexities of adulthood at a very young age. This context makes her subsequent journey of self-reliance all the more impressive.
A Rich and Complex Heritage: Understanding the Maxine Sneed Ethnicity
A central point of interest for many is the Maxine Sneed ethnicity, which is a cornerstone of her family’s unique identity. Multiple sources consistently describe Maxine Sneed as a woman of Black Canadian and Cherokee heritage. This rich background, combined with Tommy Chong’s own mixed ancestry of Chinese, Scottish-Irish, and French descent, created a profoundly multicultural family.
Their marriage in 1960 was more than just a personal commitment; it was a quiet but powerful statement. In an era when interracial unions faced significant societal friction across North America, the joining of a woman of Black and Indigenous descent with a man of Chinese and European heritage was an act of defiance against the prevailing racial norms of the time.
This diverse lineage was passed down to their daughters, Rae Dawn and Robbi, who have both spoken about their complex identities. Their heritage a blend of Black, Cherokee, Chinese, and European roots has shaped their lives and careers. Rae Dawn, in particular, has been vocal about the challenges of navigating Hollywood as a woman of color, noting the industry’s struggles with colorism and the hurdles she faced as an ethnic actress.
Maxine Sneed ethnicity is therefore not just a biographical detail; it is a living legacy that informs the experiences of her children and highlights the intricate tapestry of identity in North America.
Forging Her Own Path: A Career of Substance
While her marriage to Tommy Chong is her most public association, the story of Maxine Sneed as an independent professional is where her personal strength truly shines. Following her divorce in 1970 and the family’s move to Los Angeles a year prior, she embarked on a career that demonstrated her intelligence and capability, entirely separate from the world of entertainment.
One of her most significant roles was as an editor for Black Radio Magazine. In the 1970s and 1980s, publications like this were culturally vital, providing a crucial platform for Black artists, musicians, and voices that were often marginalized in mainstream media. Her work there was not merely a job; it was a contribution to a vibrant cultural movement, showcasing a sharp intellect and an appreciation for artistic expression.
Furthermore, her daughter Rae Dawn Chong has shared that upon arriving in Los Angeles, Maxine worked as an executive assistant to the chairman of Exxon Oil. This position in a high-powered corporate environment underscores her versatility and professionalism. That these career milestones appear to have occurred
after her marriage ended speaks volumes. She was not just an ex-wife; she was a single mother who built a successful and meaningful professional life on her own terms, a powerful narrative of post-divorce resilience and self-actualization.
A Complicated and Enduring Legacy: The Matriarch of a Creative Family
The most visible legacy of Maxine Sneed is undoubtedly her two daughters, Rae Dawn Chong (born 1961) and Robbi Chong (born 1965), both of whom have carved out successful careers in acting. Rae Dawn became a 1980s film icon with roles in classics like
The Color Purple, Commando, and Soul Man, and continues to work today. Robbi is also an accomplished actress and former model, best known for her starring role in the series
Poltergeist: The Legacy.
The family history, however, is layered and complex. In a candid account, Rae Dawn revealed that she was placed in an orphanage for a short time as an infant and that both she and her sister Robbi were ultimately raised by their paternal grandmother, whom they called Grandma Chong. This detail, handled with care, points to a period of significant struggle, likely tied to the challenges faced by a very young mother in the early 1960s.
Rather than diminishing her story, this information adds a profound depth to it. It suggests a journey of overcoming immense adversity. To have faced such hardship and then go on to build a successful professional career and raise two daughters who achieved their own fame is a testament to an incredible inner fortitude. Maxine Sneed stands as the private matriarch of a creative, resilient, and enduring family dynasty.
Demystifying the Digital Ghost: The Maxine Sneed Wikipedia and Age Question
For anyone searching for information, the digital ghost of Maxine Sneed is most apparent when looking for two things: a definitive biography and a clear answer to her age. This has led many to wonder why there is no Maxine Sneed wikipedia page. The answer lies in Wikipedia’s strict notability guidelines, which require a person to be the subject of significant coverage in multiple reliable, independent sources. By deliberately choosing a life of privacy for over 50 years, Maxine Sneed has ensured such sources were never created, making her ineligible for a page under their rules. This article, in many ways, serves the function of a comprehensive encyclopedia entry that the public has been seeking.
This brings us to the persistent confusion surrounding the Maxine Sneed age and life status, fueled by incorrect obituaries that have been algorithmically associated with her name. To bring absolute clarity, the conflicting public records must be analyzed and debunked.
| Reported Information | Subject Details | Analysis & Conclusion |
| Born: Sept 23, 1940 | Maxine Sneed, ex-wife of Tommy Chong | This is the most widely circulated date online, but it lacks a verifiable primary source and may be an error that has been copied over time. |
| Born: Sept 26, 1946 Died: Feb 11, 2025 | Maxine Sneed of Cincinnati, Ohio | This is not the subject. The location (Cincinnati) and future death date clearly identify this as a different individual. |
| Died: Mar 11, 2019 (age 82) | Maxine Brostrom Sneed (nee Maxine Mae Guertler) of Catonsville, MD | This is not the subject. The different maiden name (Guertler), location, and family details confirm this is a separate person. |
| Born: ~1943/1944 | Maxine Sneed, mother of Rae Dawn Chong | This is inferred from a biographical source stating she was 17 at her daughter’s birth in 1961. It is the most personally-linked, though still secondary, evidence regarding her age. |
This table clarifies that the obituaries circulating online are for other women who happened to share the same name. As of this writing, there is no reliable public record of the passing of the Maxine Sneed connected to Tommy Chong. The quest to understand the Maxine Sneed, maxine sneed ethnicity, maxine sneed wikipedia, maxine sneed age puzzle reveals more about the nature of online information than it does about her.
A Life Defined by Choice, Not by Fame
Ultimately, the story of Maxine Sneed is one of quiet triumph. She is a woman who navigated a teenage marriage, motherhood, and divorce; who was a partner in a culturally significant interracial union; who built a career as a respected editor and professional; and who stood as the matriarch of a family that left its own mark on Hollywood. Her life is a powerful narrative that completely subverts the simple celebrity ex-wife label.
After a decade adjacent to the whirlwind of fame, she made a conscious choice to step away and define her existence on her own terms. The enduring mystery that surrounds her is not a void, but a testament to her success in guarding her privacy a remarkable accomplishment in our hyper-documented age. The complete picture of Maxine Sneed, maxine sneed ethnicity, maxine sneed wikipedia, maxine sneed age is that of a woman of immense substance, strength, and dignity, whose story is all the more compelling for the parts she chose to keep for herself.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was Maxine Sneed?
Maxine Sneed was the first wife of comedian Tommy Chong (from 1960 to 1970) and the mother of their two daughters, actresses Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong. After her divorce, she built her own career as an editor for Black Radio Magazine and an executive assistant.
2. What is Maxine Sneed’s ethnicity?
Maxine Sneed was of Black Canadian and Cherokee heritage. Her multicultural background, combined with Tommy Chong’s Chinese and Scottish-Irish ancestry, gave their children a unique and diverse lineage.
3. Is Maxine Sneed still alive?
There is no reliable public record of her passing. The obituaries found online for “Maxine Sneed” have been confirmed to belong to other women with the same name from different locations and with different family histories.
4. How old was Maxine Sneed?
Her exact birthdate is unconfirmed, leading to conflicting information online. The most credible estimate places her birth year around 1943 or 1944, as a biographical source notes she was 17 years old when her daughter Rae Dawn was born in 1961.
5. Why doesn’t Maxine Sneed have a Wikipedia page?
Maxine Sneed does not have a Wikipedia page because she chose to live an extremely private life for over 50 years after her divorce. This lack of significant coverage in multiple, reliable, and independent sources means she does not meet Wikipedia’s notability guidelines for a biography.
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