Maxine Sneed: The Untold Story of Tommy Chong’s First Wife and Her Journalism Career

Maxine Sneed is best known as the first wife of comedian Tommy Chong, but her story extends far beyond this connection. As a former editor at Black Radio Magazine and the mother who raised two successful actresses, she built a meaningful career and family life while maintaining privacy throughout decades of public interest. This article examines her background, marriage, professional work, and lasting influence on her daughters and the media industry.

Who Is Maxine Sneed?

Maxine Sneed was born on September 23, 1940, into a family of mixed Afro-Canadian and Cherokee heritage. Her younger brother, Floyd Sneed, would later become the drummer for the successful rock band Three Dog Night. Floyd’s first drum kit came as a gift from Maxine on the same day she married Tommy Chong in 1960.

Details about Maxine’s parents, Napoleon Sneed and Willa Carothers, remain limited, though they were both descendants of African-American families who immigrated to Canada from the southern United States. Her family roots trace back to communities like Amber Valley, Alberta, where Black Americans settled in the early 1900s after leaving Oklahoma and Texas.

Little is publicly known about Maxine’s education or early life in Canada. She holds both Canadian and American citizenship.

Marriage to Tommy Chong

Maxine Sneed met Tommy Chong in 1959 through mutual connections in the music scene. They married on September 23, 1960, in Canada at a time when interracial marriages faced significant social challenges. Tommy, born Thomas Bing Kin Chong on May 24, 1938, in Edmonton, Alberta, is of Chinese and Scots-Irish descent.

During their marriage, which lasted from 1960 to 1970, the couple welcomed two daughters. However, the circumstances surrounding their family were complicated from the start.

The Complex Story of Rae Dawn Chong

Rae Dawn Chong was born on February 28, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta. According to multiple sources, Rae Dawn is the biological daughter of Tommy Chong and Gail Toolson (also referred to as Gail Lewis in some accounts), who was reportedly underage at the time of the relationship.

After a custody battle, Tommy gained full custody of Rae Dawn, and Maxine agreed to raise the child as her own. Maxine showed remarkable compassion by accepting Rae Dawn into her family and providing her with a loving home. Rae Dawn didn’t learn about her biological mother until she was approximately 12 years old.

Rae Dawn has publicly expressed gratitude for how Maxine and Tommy raised her, crediting them both for providing a stable and caring environment.

Robbi Chong (Their Biological Daughter)

Robbi Lynn Chong was born on May 28, 1965. She is the biological daughter of both Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong. Like her sister, Robbi pursued an entertainment career, working as both an international model and actress. She has appeared in television shows including Murder One, The Cosby Show, and Only God Can.

Career at Black Radio Magazine

Maxine Sneed worked as an editor for Black Radio Magazine, a publication dedicated to highlighting African American voices in the radio broadcasting industry. Her role involved editing articles, managing content, and helping ensure accurate representation of Black professionals in the media.

The exact timeline of her association with Black Radio Magazine is unclear, but her contributions were significant during a period when representation of African Americans in media was often limited. Through her editorial work, she helped amplify voices that were frequently overlooked in mainstream publications.

Before her work at Black Radio Magazine, Maxine worked as a proofreader and editor for various corporate entities. This experience in corporate editing honed her attention to detail and prepared her for her more impactful role in specialized journalism.

Unlike her ex-husband and daughters, Maxine never ventured into acting or public entertainment, preferring to work behind the scenes throughout her career.

Divorce and the Reasons Behind It

Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong divorced in 1970 after a decade of marriage. Multiple sources cite Tommy Chong’s infidelity as the primary reason for their separation. During their marriage, Tommy became involved with Shelby Fiddis, who would later become his second wife.

Tommy married Shelby Fiddis in Los Angeles in 1975, five years after his divorce from Maxine. Together, Tommy and Shelby had three biological children: Precious Chong (born 1968, though some sources suggest she was born before Tommy’s marriage to Shelby), Paris Chong (born 1974), and Gilbran Chong (born 1981). They also adopted Marcus Wyatt (born 1967) in 1978.

Despite the circumstances of their divorce, Maxine and Tommy maintained an amicable relationship. Tommy has publicly referred to Maxine as a “saint” and praised her kindness. Reports indicate that Maxine even provided financial support to Tommy during difficult times and maintained cordial relations with his second family.

Life After Divorce

After her divorce in 1970, Maxine Sneed chose a path of privacy and dignity. She reportedly moved to Detroit before eventually settling in Los Angeles, California, where she has lived quietly away from media attention.

Maxine never remarried and has maintained a deliberately low profile for over five decades. She is not active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and rarely appears in public or communicates with the press.

Her decision to step away from the spotlight stands in stark contrast to her family’s public visibility. While her ex-husband and daughters have spent decades in entertainment, Maxine has consistently chosen personal privacy over public recognition.

Rae Dawn Chong’s Successful Acting Career

Rae Dawn Chong has built a substantial acting career spanning over four decades. She made her film debut in the 1978 musical drama Stony Island before landing her breakthrough role in Quest for Fire (1981), which earned her the Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 1983.

Her notable film credits include:

• The Color Purple (1985) as Squeak, earning an NAACP Image Award nomination
• Commando (1985) alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger as Cindy
• Beat Street (1984)
• Soul Man (1986)
• Choose Me (1984)
• American Flyers (1985)

Rae Dawn also appeared in Cheech & Chong films with her father, including The Corsican Brothers (1984) and Far Out Man (1990). She played a recurring role on the science fiction series Mysterious Ways from 2000 to 2002.

In 2021, she received the “Invisible Woman Award” from the Women Film Critics Circle for her performance in The Sleeping Negro. More recently, she portrayed Florence de Pointe du Lac in the AMC series Interview with the Vampire in 2022.

Rae Dawn has been married three times: to stockbroker Owen Baylis (1982-1983), with whom she has a son named Morgan Baylis; to actor C. Thomas Howell (1989-1990); and to Nathan Ulrich (2011-2014).

Robbi Chong’s Career

While less widely known than her sister, Robbi Chong established herself in modeling and acting. She worked internationally as a model before transitioning to acting roles in television and film. Robbi has maintained a lower public profile compared to Rae Dawn but has contributed to various entertainment projects throughout her career.

The Sneed Family Connection

The Sneed family has deep roots in Canadian history. Maxine’s brother Floyd Sneed (November 22, 1942 – January 27, 2023) became a renowned drummer, best known as a founding member of Three Dog Night. The band achieved enormous commercial success in the late 1960s and 1970s, with hit songs including “Joy to the World,” “Mama Told Me (Not to Come),” and “Black & White.”

Floyd’s connection to Tommy Chong began through his sister, Maxine. After Maxine gifted him his first drum set in 1960, Floyd joined Tommy’s band, Little Daddy & the Bachelors, which included his older brother Bernie Sneed on keyboards. The band eventually evolved into Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, which signed with Motown Records.

Floyd credited Maxine for supporting his musical career from the beginning. He remained close to his sister throughout his life and passed away in January 2023 at age 80.

Maxine Sneed’s Net Worth and Financial Status

Maxine Sneed’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. However, estimates suggest her net worth is over $1 million, accumulated through her career as an editor and writer, along with any financial arrangements from her marriage to Tommy Chong.

For comparison, Tommy Chong’s net worth is estimated between $8 million and $20 million, largely from his entertainment career with Cheech & Chong, acting roles, and various business ventures.

Maxine has never sought wealth or luxury, instead focusing on financial stability and independence through disciplined living and thoughtful career choices.

Current Life and Legacy

As of 2026, Maxine Sneed is 85 years old and continues to live quietly in Los Angeles, California. She maintains close relationships with her daughters, Rae Dawn and Robbi, though she remains absent from public events and social media.

Her grandson, Morgan Baylis (son of Rae Dawn Chong and Owen Baylis), is part of her extended family.

Maxine’s legacy extends beyond her role as Tommy Chong’s first wife. She demonstrated remarkable strength by raising a child who wasn’t biologically hers with complete love and dedication. Her work at Black Radio Magazine contributed to the representation of African American voices during a critical period in media history.

Her influence on Rae Dawn and Robbi is evident in their own careers and public statements. Both daughters have spoken about their mother’s quiet strength, guidance, and unwavering support throughout their lives.

Who is Tommy Chong?

Tommy Chong, born May 24, 1938, is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, musician, and cannabis rights activist. He gained fame as one half of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong with Cheech Marin, creating marijuana-themed comedy albums and films throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Tommy also played Leo on the television series That ’70s Show and has been a vocal advocate for marijuana legalization throughout his career. He became a naturalized United States citizen in the late 1980s.

Conclusion

Maxine’s Cherokee and Afro-Canadian heritage, combined with Tommy’s Chinese and Scots-Irish background, created a uniquely diverse family. Rae Dawn Chong has spoken about the challenges of growing up in a mixed-race family, particularly noting that her paternal grandfather experienced shame about his Chinese heritage.

This cultural complexity shaped the family’s identity and influenced how Rae Dawn and Robbi navigated their own careers and personal lives in the entertainment industry.