Maxine Sneed is a woman who spent most of her life out of the spotlight. As a magazine editor, she led a quiet life away from the public eye.
Yet, this all changed when she met Tommy Chong.
Chong was a prominent Canadian comedian and actor with countless credits. He’s appeared in several incredible TV hits like Dharma & Greg and That 70s Show.
Even though Sneed’s association with Chong put her in the spotlight, the public knows little about her story. So, if you’re looking for more information on the magazine editor, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the life of Maxine Sneed.
Maxine Sneed Profile Summary
Full Name | Maxine Sneed |
Gender | Female |
Date of Birth | 23rd of September |
Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Nationality | American and Canadian |
Ethnicity | Afro-Canadian |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
Partner | Tommy Chong (ex-husband) |
Children | Robbi Chong and Rae Dawn Chong |
Net Worth | $8 million |
Maxine Sneed’s Early Life
Maxine Sneed was born on the 23rd of September. While her birth year is a mystery, many sources speculate it was around 1940.
Growing up, Sneed was an inquisitive child with a curious nature. That’s likely what led to her future career in journalism.
Besides that, the public doesn’t know much about Maxine. She has stayed under the radar for most of her childhood and early adulthood.
Sadly, that means there isn’t much information about Sneed’s upbringing or educational background. We don’t even know who her parents are or if she has siblings.
However, Maxine has shared a few tidbits about her heritage. According to many sources, Sneed is of Afro-Canadian descent, with roots in Cherokee tribes.
On top of that, Maxine holds both American and Canadian citizenship. Although, it’s unclear when she received the dual status.
Maxine Sneed’s Career
As I mentioned, Maxine preferred to live away from the media. So, she never shared many details about her professional background.
However, while she was married to Tommy Chong, we learned that Sneed worked for Black Radio Exclusive Magazine (BRE). It was a journal focused on urban music and black artists.
Some sources state that Maxine was an editor, while others cite her as a proofreader. Either way, this meant Sneed had a way with words.
Aside from that, her career is a mystery. The public doesn’t even know how long Maxine was with BRE.
Yet, a few reports indicate that Sneed has worked at multiple publishing houses throughout her career.
Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong
Shelby Fiddis
Maxine rose to fame when she met Tommy Chong in the late 1950s. The two fell for each other and began a romance that would last over a decade.
At the time, Chong was starting his career and trying to secure his place as a comedian in the entertainment industry. As you can guess, this significantly strained his relationship with Maxine.
However, the couple did end up tying the knot in 1960. After about a year of wedded bliss, the couple announced that they were welcoming their first daughter, Rae Dawn Chong.
Not long after that, Maxine and Tommy had another baby girl, Robbi Lynn Chong. From the outside, it seemed like the couple had the perfect life and family.
Yet, as we all know, looks can be deceiving. For a while after their second daughter’s birth, Maxine and Tommy led a quiet life.
Then, news of Chong’s alleged infidelity began circulating. The actor-turned-cannabis-activist was constantly surrounded by rumors about his affair with joke artist and maker Shelby Fiddis.
On top of that, there was a lot of gossip surrounding the birth of their first child, Rae. This proved too much for Sneed to handle, and the couple eventually filed for divorce in 1970.
Despite their breakup, Maxine and Tommy remain friends to this day.
Tommy told Maxine, “Maxine really was, and still is, a saint. She is the most decent, beautiful woman I have had the privilege of being married to.”
Maxine Sneed’s Children
By this point, you know that Maxine had two children. Yet, the public was questioning the legitimacy of this statement.
After news of Chong’s infidelity broke, people started looking deeper into the couple’s history. That’s when the story of their eldest daughter’s birth came to light.
According to the media, Rae was born through Tommy’s extramarital affair with Gail Toulson. Since Toulson was underage at the time, Maxine agreed to take in the child and raise her as her own.
Thankfully, Rae never allowed these stories to affect her relationship with her parents. Today, she’s a successful actor with credits in movies like Time Runner, Commando, and The Color Purple.
Finally, Maxine’s second daughter, Robbi, is also an actress and has dabbled in modeling.
Wrapping Up
Maxine Sneed is a former magazine editor and has spent most of her life away from the spotlight. Yet, this all changed when she married Tommy Chong.
Even though the couple seemed to be happy for a while, infidelity rumors and gossip about the origins of their first daughter proved otherwise.
Lastly, Maxine leads a quiet life in private after her divorce from Tommy.