She broke into the world of sitcoms with the early '80s series Bosom Buddies, continued on with Gimme A Break! The network TV landscape of the 1980s and the 1990s was all about family-oriented sitcoms, with the occasional exception such as Married with Children, which was about a family but courted controversy with its more risque episodes. She married former U.S. army reservist Hannibal Jackson that same year, and together they welcomed a daughter, Hannah, in 2010 and a son, John, in 2012. Reginald VelJohnson got his big break in 1988, when he played LAPD sergeant Al Powell in the action classic Die Hard. Actor Natalie Desselle-Reid, known for her roles in "Madea's Big Happy Family," "Eve" and "B*A*P*S*," died Monday at the age of 53. VelJohnson was born Reginald Johnson on August 16, 1952, in the Queens borough of New York City, the son of Eva, a nurses aid, and Dan, a hospital attendant. Thomas died December 22 in Manhattan,. But many "Family Matters" have not stayed on the small screen and others have sadly passed on. By Variety. Sadly, some of those famous faces are no longer delivering lines and laughs. Shawn Harrison played Waldo Faldo, who was Eddie Winslows best friend. Carl Winslow - Family Matters. He has also appeared in the comedy film, The Formula, starring alongside Brandon Baker and Sasha Jackson. Following the adventures of the Winslow family (and their friends and neighbors), the sitcom starred (pictured from left in this 1992 photo) Bryton James, Telma Hopkins, Reginald VelJohnson, Rosetta Lenoire (she played Estelle "Mother" Winslow, and died in 2002), Darius McCrary, Jo Marie Payton, Jaimee Foxworth (who played daughter Judy Winslow but was written out of the show in the middle of season 4 and not mentioned again), Shawn Harrison, Kellie Shangyne Williams and Jaleel White. According to the story, White took his own life after becoming obsessed with the Steve Urkel character he'd played on "Family Matters" and growing despondent, presumably over the cancellation of the show. Thomas would eventually end up as the real life girlfriend of the actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo. Maxine always tried to get Laura to do the wrong thing, but she eventually stopped doing that once she and Waldo started dating. His character was described as totally dim-witted, and he often annoyed Steve Urkel by saying the silliest things. But during the fourth season, Judy seemingly vanished and was never mentioned by anyone again. After "Good Times," he continued his sweep through television roles, including a stint as a voice on the "Alvin & the Chipmunks," animated series. Thenthe 21-year-old psychic claimed that he didnt even know who Jaleel White a.k.a. [5][8][10] Since the end of Family Matters, VelJohnson has done mostly voice and guest star work. Opera News does not consent to nor does it condone the posting of any content that violates the rights (including the copyrights) of any third party, nor content that may malign, inter alia, any religion, ethnic group, organization, gender, company, or individual. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reginald_VelJohnson&oldid=1137928866, Episodes: "Face Lift" and "Gentle, Gentle", Episode: "11 Cut to 10 & 10 Directors Complete", Principal/Superintendent Cornelius Strickland, Episode: "McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century", Episode: "Audrey Hepburn and a Jalepeo Pepper", Denotes films that have not yet been released, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 03:24. Payton also lent her voice to The Proud Family Movie, and she can be heard as Suga Mama in the show's 2023 Disney+ revival. Characters who have died in the Family Matters. Jo Marie was a main cast member since day one, having first appeared on the show in the Season 1 premiere airing on Sept. 22, 1989, titled "The Mama Who Came to Dinner." As Harriette, the family matriarch, Jo Marie played a strong character who was able to exert a positive influence on her police officer husband, Carl (Reginald VelJohnson . After "Barney Miller," he continued to secure role after role, including portraying an actor named Buddy Goodrich in a 1989 episode of "Family Matters." So he's staying fresh and busy as ever, even at 67 years old. Actor Matt Landers was in dozens of television shows and 20 motion pictures over his thirty-year career in show business. Rosetta Lenoir was one of the main cast members of the comedy sitcom Family Matters. His latest acting role was in the 2019 TV movie Fanatic where he played Officer Hardaway. ", When you think of Sherman Hemsley it might just draw an image of him getting out of a cab in front of a high-rise in Manhattan, strutting toward the door, or doing some fancy footwork in his living room as he did in the famously fun opening theme of his hit sitcom "The Jeffersons.". Family Matters - Full Cast & Crew 51 Metascore 1989 -2021 9 Seasons CBS Family, Comedy TVG Watchlist Where to Watch A suburban Chicago family is pestered by nerdy, nosy neighbor Steve Urkel. 'In Living Color' Cast: Where Are They Now? A still shocked Jaleel wrestled with the information, before finally accepting it. Her most notable role on television was that of Santana Lopez on the musical comedy series "Glee." That said, he also had a memorable guest role in Family Matters, playing Carl's boss, Captain Marion Savage, in a few episodes between 1994 and 1995. After playing the Winslow family matriarch, Harriette, on Family Matters, Jo Marie Payton continued her television career with recurring and lead roles on several other primetime shows. Stars Who Think They Have a Psychic Ability. After the show wrapped, White stated that he never wanted to step back into Urkel's shoes again, though he later revised the claim over a decade later. Naya Rivera was a child star when she appeared in Family Matters as Gwendolyn, a young child who asked Urkel, of all people, for love advice. Jaleel White, who played . They even developed a bond over root beer and romantic woes. In 2017, VelJohnson took part in a "Family Matters" reunion alongside the rest of the cast. His most notable on screen part was in the Bruce Willis blockbuster film "Die Hard," in which he played Captain Mitchell, an officer on scene who directs the SWAT team during the hostage situation. In October of that year, she underwent a second surgery to have another growth removed. His comedic talent on shows "Modern Family" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" earned him multiple Emmy noms, and he was a fixture of Christopher Guest's mockumentary troupe. The former TGIF star has garnered widespread acclaim for his performance on the show: he's a two-time Emmy winner and a two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award. Tom Poston popularly known as Mr Lonely by fans of the family sitcom show Family Matters, is another actor that has passed away in real life. May Michelle Thomas continue to rest peacefully. Jaleel seemed to then believe Henry, based on what happened next: Dont worry about that part. Jo Marie Payton portrayed elevator operator Harriette Winslow on that show, and Family Matters depicted her home life with husband Carl, their three kids, plus Aunt Rachel and Mother Winslow,. Most recently, the former TGIF star played Reggie in the 2020 Australian comedy The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, which was Olivia Newton-John's last film before her death in 2022. On March 17, 2002, LeNoire died from complications from diabetes. Landers passed away on March 12, 2015, at the age of 62 from cancer. Sherman Hemsley is probably one of the funniest actors in the sitcoms. She was 53 . Unfortunately for the pair, their friendship came to an end after Murtaugh took all of the nerd's money during a poker game. Mekka continued getting roles in TV and movies, including small ones in 1992's "A League of Their Own" and 2006's "Dreamgirls." In 1994 and 1997, she played Urkel's aunt, Oona Urkel, who according to Urkel is "a little odd." Thomas moved on from Family The show, centered around a middle-class Black family living in Chicago, was a spin-off of the sitcom "Perfect Strangers," in which the Winslows were introduced Harriette as an elevator operator and husband Carl a police officer. The actress, a former child model, remained a fixture on TV post . Powell in the GameCube video game title, Die Hard: Vendetta, in 2002. Kellie Shanygne Williams played Laura Winslow, the middle child of the family and the object of Steve Urkels obsession. Michelle Thomas (September 23, 1968 - December 22, 1998) was an American actress and comedian who portrays the role of Myra Monkhouse as Steve Urkel's (Jaleel White) girlfriend on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters from 1993 to 1998. On December 22, 1998, she passed away, surrounded by friends and family in New York City, including her then long-time boyfriend/ Cosby Show actor, Malcolm Jamal Warner ("Theo"). Opera News furthermore does not condone the use of our platform for the purposes encouraging/endorsing hate speech, violation of human rights and/or utterances of a defamatory nature. He also appeared in an episode of the show, Mom in 2019. The sitcom starred Reginald Vel Johnson (Carl Winslow), Jo Marie Payton (Harriet Winslow), Darius McCray (Eddie. Under that theory, the "news account" of the former child star's suicide serves as the set-up for that line. Rosetta LeNoire's turn as Mother Winslow in Family Matterswas critically acclaimed, and she was central to some of the sitcom's most memorable moments during its nine-season run. His work ranged from Avengers to Sideways. LeNoire's championing of diversity in the arts ultimately led to the prestigious Rosie Award being created in her honor, forever cementing her legacy as one of the all-time greats. One of the cornerstones of ABC's TGIF lineup, Family Matters ran from 1989-1997 and spawned at least one of the '90s most indelible catchphrases. She was buried on boxing day, following Muslim rights as she requested. Harrisons latest role was in 2018 when he played Reverend Ike in Uncle Eds Bucket List. But, the actor isn't done with Hollywood yet. Luckily, Tyler's pop culture knowledge isn't very vast. Come on, man. The classic TGIF sitcom Family Matters had a consistent main cast until mom Harriette Winslow was abruptly recast during the final season. Actress Natalie Desselle Reid, who starred in the 1997 film "B.A.P.S." and played Janie Egins in the 2003-2006 sitcom "Eve," died Monday. Audiences watched her grow up during the first few seasons. The cast of "Laverne & Shirley is seen above in a publicity photo. Michelle Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, who was introduced as a love interest for Urkel. 3 min read In the interview set to air on Sunday, White opens up about his past on the show and also remembers his late co-star, Michelle Thomas In a recent interview,. So much so that Jaleel was brought to tears. cancer-related complications. In 1986, he would go on to star in another series, "Amen," where he played a deacon who was also a lawyer. Naya Rivera was introduced to acting as a child star after she got a role in the sitcom show Family Matters. Born in 1952 to an Armenian father and an Italian mother, Eddie Mekka told Broadway.comhegot the performing bug when he was asked to be the emcee of their variety school, so of course his next stop was the stage. He assumed Henry had done research to know a bit more about him, so hed know what to say. After the sitcom ended in 1998, Thomas portrayed Callie Rogers, an aspiring singer and love interest of Malcolm Winters, on the daytime soap The Young and the Restless. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Johnson died in Los Angeles at the age of 78. Once the series wrapped, Williams hopped onto another ABC show, What About Joan?, to play Alice Adams, a coworker and friend of the protagonist, played by Joan Cusack. On the big screen, he held small roles in films like Like Mike and You Again in 2002 and 2010, respectively. Ironically, Landers was on the other side of the law in his first appearance on "Family Matters," playing a robber at a convenience store. Five-year-old Naya Rivera already had a series ("The Royal Family") under her belt when she was cast in "Family Matters" as Gwendolyn, a new neighbor who had a crush on Richie. But by the end of the series, Urkel finally won Laura Carry continued acting in the 1990s and through early 2000, garnering roles in such shows as "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr," "Murphy Brown," and "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place." In his latest work, the former child star starred as Connor on the drama series Monogamy, which aired its third season in 2021. As a three-year-old in real life, it was his screen debut. He appeared in a few episodes of the show. nerdy comedic neighbor of the Winslows who was always trying and failing to win Beyond TV, Williams appeared in Usher's 2005 crime-dramedy In The Mix and in the 2009 film Steppin: The Movie. Then: James start playing Richie Crawford, Rachel's daughter, in the second season of 'Family Matters,' when the character miraculously aged from an infant to a three-year-old. Johnson was popularly known for his role in Shaft, My Demon Lover and many more. Her career however was short-lived as she passed away in 1998 at the young age of 30 years after battling with stomach cancer for a while. "We have all lost a dear, dear brother," said Reginald VelJohnson, who played Carl Winslow. On stage, the young actress starred in . But most will probably agree that his relationship with the beautiful Myra Monkhouse portrayed by actress, Michelle Thomas -was just as special. Shawn Harrison followed his role as Eddie Winslow's friend Waldo on Family Matters with appearances on shows INCLUDING Moesha and Girlfriends. Thomas died Tuesday in Manhattan, according to her publicist, Kahdijah Bell. Michelle Thomas dies of cancer at 29, CBS Website, Dec. 1998. Thomas L. Miller produced some of the most memorable television shows in TV history including hits like "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley," "Family Matters," and "Full House." Carmine Ragusa was the bright-faced, dancing, on-again-off-again boyfriend of Shirley Feeney. To Be or Not to Be (Part 1) To Be or Not to Be (Part 2) We're Going to Disney World (Part 1) During the golden ages of sitcoms, many hilarious shows were produced, but Family Matters stood out for various reasons. "We feel privileged to have known him and worked with him. In the years after, he provided the voices for Jazz in the original Transformers movie and Tarix in the animated film Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. Family Matters Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. He replaced twin actors Joseph and Julius Wright, who alternated in the infant role during the show's first year. Per Beaumont Enterprise, when it came time for college ball, he ended up leaving his homestate for Michigan State because the University of Texas teamwas not yet integrated. It gives me joy that you dont know who I am. Then Jaleel broke down. We loved him so very much.". Following his nine seasons on the show, VelJohnson made guest appearances on series including The Equalizer, Will & Grace, Monk, CSI, The Parkers and That's So Raven. He said, "So actually we ended up with a really really, totally well-rounded, totally wonderful character to play.". One of his earliest television roles was, of course, the one that would forever brand him as "The Big Ragoo." Also an accomplished dancer, he was in the original cast of "The Music Man" on Broadway and appeared in several musical adaptations, including "Hello,Dolly!"
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