Who Is Maxine Sneed? Her Life, Career & Family
Maxine Sneed is best known as the first wife of comedian, actor and musician Tommy Chong. Their marriage lasted from 1960 to 1970, and they had two daughters, Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong, who later pursued careers in entertainment. Unlike her former husband and daughters, Maxine has maintained a relatively low public profile.
Although many online biographies describe her as an editor, historical magazine records provide a more specific detail: a 1987 issue of Black Radio Exclusive lists Maxine Chong-Morrow as its production director. A family obituary also identifies Maxine Morrow as the sister of drummer Floyd Sneed, helping connect the names found in these historical records.
Her story is therefore best understood through documented family history, evidence of her professional work and the limits of what is publicly known about her private life.
Who Is Maxine Sneed?
Maxine Sneed is a Canadian woman known for her former marriage to Tommy Chong and her connection to the Chong family. She married Chong in 1960, and their marriage ended in divorce in 1970. Their daughters, Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong, both developed careers in the entertainment industry.
Maxine also has a documented connection to magazine production. Historical issues of Black Radio Exclusive list Maxine Chong-Morrow as production director, providing evidence of professional work beyond her association with a famous family.
Much of her personal history remains difficult to verify through reliable public sources. Details such as her exact birth date, education, finances and current residence should not be treated as established facts simply because they appear on multiple biography websites.
For readers interested in celebrity families and personal backgrounds, explore our article about Johanna Samberg to learn more about her background and connection to comedian Andy Samberg.
Maxine Sneed: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Maxine Sneed |
| Best known for | Her former marriage to Tommy Chong |
| Former husband | Tommy Chong |
| Marriage year | 1960 |
| Divorce year | 1970 |
| Children | Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong |
| Reported professional background | Magazine production and publishing |
| Historical professional listing | Production director, Black Radio Exclusive |
| Brother | Floyd Sneed, according to his family obituary |
| Exact birth date | Not independently established by the strongest sources reviewed |
| Net worth | No reliable public figure established |
| Current residence | Not reliably established in the sources reviewed |
The table distinguishes documented biographical information from details that remain uncertain. In particular, Maxine’s personal finances and current circumstances should not be inferred from Tommy Chong’s public career or wealth estimates.
Early Life and Family Background
Maxine Sneed’s early life is less thoroughly documented than the careers of the entertainers in her family. Reliable public information about her childhood, education and early ambitions is limited, so a detailed account of those years would require evidence that is not currently available.
One useful source is the 2023 obituary for Floyd Sneed, the drummer best known for his work with the rock band Three Dog Night. The obituary identifies Maxine Morrow, née Sneed, as his sister and recounts how she bought him a drum set in the early 1960s. It also explains that Tommy Chong, who was married to Maxine at the time, invited Floyd to join his band, Little Daddy and the Bachelors.
This account offers a specific glimpse into Maxine’s family connections during that period. It also documents her later use of the surname Morrow. However, the obituary does not establish a complete account of her personal history or explain the circumstances behind the name change.
Beyond these details, claims about her birth date, educational background and ancestry should be approached cautiously unless supported by dependable biographical or historical records.
Maxine Sneed’s Career in Magazine Publishing
Maxine’s professional background is one of the most interesting aspects of her story because it offers a glimpse of her life outside celebrity-family coverage.
An archived February 13, 1987, issue of Black Radio Exclusive lists Maxine Chong-Morrow as the publication’s production director. Other archived issues from the late 1980s also list her under that title.
Black Radio Exclusive was a trade publication covering radio and the music industry. A production director’s listing provides evidence that Maxine Chong-Morrow held a role in the magazine’s production operation.
This historical record is more precise than the broad descriptions found in many online biographies. Some websites call Maxine an editor at Black Radio Magazine, but the records reviewed here specifically identify her as production director at Black Radio Exclusive. Those titles should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
The available material does not establish the full length of her employment, her complete responsibilities or every publication she may have worked for. It is therefore reasonable to describe her as having a documented connection to magazine production without claiming a more extensive editorial career than the evidence supports.
Her professional listing is a useful reminder that Maxine’s identity is not limited to her former marriage. Historical records preserve at least one concrete detail about her working life, even though a comprehensive career biography remains unavailable.
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Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong’s Marriage
Maxine Sneed married Tommy Chong in 1960. At the time, Chong was developing his career in music and entertainment. He would later become widely recognized for the comedy partnership Cheech & Chong, formed with Richard “Cheech” Marin.
Their marriage lasted until 1970, according to biographical reference sources. They had two daughters, Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong, both of whom later pursued entertainment careers.
The relationship belongs to an earlier chapter of Chong’s life, before much of the public recognition associated with his comedy films and television appearances. As his career expanded, interest in his family history also grew.
However, a famous person’s public career does not make every detail of a former spouse’s life public knowledge. Maxine’s own perspective on the marriage is not comprehensively documented in the sources reviewed, and there is insufficient reliable evidence to reconstruct their private relationship in detail.
The most dependable account is therefore straightforward: they married in 1960, had two daughters and divorced in 1970.
Why Did Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong Divorce?
Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong divorced in 1970, but reliable sources reviewed for this biography do not establish a definitive explanation for the separation.
Various online biographies repeat claims about relationship difficulties and alleged infidelity. Repetition alone, however, does not make those claims verified facts. Without strong independent reporting or a reliable first-hand account, assigning a specific cause to the divorce would be speculative.
It is also important to distinguish the documented end of a marriage from assumptions about what either person experienced privately. A responsible biography should not turn unverified allegations into a dramatic narrative simply because readers are curious about a celebrity relationship.
The available evidence supports the divorce year. It does not support presenting one particular explanation as conclusively established.
Who Are Maxine Sneed’s Daughters?
Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong had two daughters: Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong. Both entered the entertainment industry, giving their family connections a continuing place in public biographies.
Rae Dawn Chong
Rae Dawn Chong is an actress born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on February 28, 1961, according to biographical reference sources. She is known for film and television work, including roles in Quest for Fire, The Color Purple and Commando.
Her career brought wider public attention to the family. Reference biographies identify Tommy Chong and Maxine Sneed as her parents, connecting Maxine’s name to Rae Dawn’s personal and professional history.
Rae Dawn’s acting career should be understood on its own merits rather than treated solely as an extension of her parents’ lives. Her film and television work spans several decades and provides a separate subject for readers interested in the Chong family’s entertainment history.
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Robbi Chong
Robbi Chong, whose full name is Robbi Lynn Chong, is an actress and former model. Biographical records identify her as the younger daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong.
Her acting credits include Poltergeist: The Legacy, Shelter and Ellie Parker. She also worked in modeling, establishing a professional path distinct from her sister’s career.
Rae Dawn and Robbi are part of Tommy Chong’s wider family, which expanded after his marriage to Maxine ended. Tommy later married Shelby Chong in 1975, and his later family includes additional children. These relationships should be distinguished clearly when discussing the family tree.
The careers of both daughters help explain why people continue to search for Maxine Sneed. Readers researching either actress often want to understand their parents and family background.
What Is Known About Maxine Sneed’s Life Today?
Maxine Sneed has a much smaller public profile than Tommy Chong and their daughters. The historical records discussed above establish parts of her family and professional history, but they do not provide a comprehensive account of her recent life.
Her brother’s obituary identifies her as Maxine Morrow, née Sneed, in 2023. That is useful evidence of the name associated with her later family history, but it does not establish where she currently lives, whether she is working, or what her everyday life looks like.
Similarly, the absence of frequent public appearances or detailed interviews should not be taken as proof of any particular personal circumstance. It would be misleading to invent a current occupation, a precise residence, a remarriage date or financial details without reliable evidence.
For readers asking where Maxine is now, the most accurate answer is that her current circumstances are not sufficiently documented in the reliable public sources reviewed for this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maxine Sneed?
Maxine Sneed is best known as Tommy Chong’s first wife and the mother of actresses Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong. Historical magazine records also identify Maxine Chong-Morrow as a production director at Black Radio Exclusive.
When did Maxine Sneed marry Tommy Chong?
Maxine Sneed married Tommy Chong in 1960. Biographical reference sources record their marriage as taking place that year.
When did Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong divorce?
They divorced in 1970, ending a marriage that had lasted approximately a decade.
How many children does Maxine Sneed have?
Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong had two daughters, Rae Dawn Chong and Robbi Chong. Both pursued careers in entertainment.
What did Maxine Sneed do for a living?
Historical issues of Black Radio Exclusive list Maxine Chong-Morrow as production director in the late 1980s. This supports a professional connection to magazine production, although her complete employment history is not publicly established.
Why did Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong divorce?
The marriage ended in 1970, but the sources reviewed do not establish a definitive reason. Claims about the private circumstances of their separation should not be presented as confirmed without reliable supporting evidence.
Where is Maxine Sneed now?
Her current residence and daily activities are not reliably established in the sources reviewed. It is better to acknowledge this gap than to repeat unverified claims about her private life.
What is Maxine Sneed’s net worth?
No reliable public documentation establishes Maxine Sneed’s personal net worth. Financial estimates associated with Tommy Chong should not be attributed to her.
Conclusion
Maxine Sneed’s publicly documented story connects family history with a professional life that extended beyond her marriage to Tommy Chong. She married Chong in 1960, divorced him in 1970 and had two daughters, Rae Dawn and Robbi Chong, who later pursued careers in entertainment.
Historical issues of Black Radio Exclusive provide evidence of Maxine Chong-Morrow’s work as a production director, while Floyd Sneed’s obituary documents her connection to the Sneed family. These records add useful detail to a biography that otherwise contains substantial gaps.
Many aspects of Maxine’s personal life remain private or insufficiently documented. A trustworthy account should respect those limits and focus on what the available evidence actually establishes.