She was 74. A cause of death has yet to be determined. Her role as Willona is probably her most lasting legacy, considering she brought another fiery female perspective to the Evans family. According to family, DuBois died unexpectedly in her sleep at her home in Glendale, California. What do you think of Janet and Rani handling their roles? In addition to being the Evans family's lovable neighbor, Willona, Dubois composed and sang "Movin' on Up" the iconic theme song for "The Jeffersons." Like our content? As an honorary member of the Evans household, Willona is the steady tower of strength that everyone can rely on. DuBois famously played Willona Woods, the beloved next-door neighbor to the Evans family on the seminal 1970s sitcom Good Times. Stanis said Dubois appeared to be in good health and they had appeared two weeks ago at a signing event. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Yet another veteran actress died and this time it was 74 years old Ja'Net Dubois, a star from Good Times. Dubois showed off more of her dramatic skills when a young Janet Jackson joined the show as the abused child Penny; DuBois' character would go on to adopt Penny, and the storyline also forged a long, close relationship with Jackson, who would go on to become a multiplatinum superstar; she cast DuBois as her mother in her 1986 "Control" video. Jimmie Walker, Who Played J.J. on Good Times, Disses Cast Mates Badly: We Were Never Friends. She even made an appearance at a fan event in Hollywood a few weeks ago. Always a star in my eyes, and I also dont hear about my uncle private. With Ja'net DuBois, Ralph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Johnny Brown. (Photo by Getty Images), American actresses Janet Jackson (left) and Janet DuBois in a scene from the television series Good Times, Los Angeles, California, late 1970s. Besides being an actress and a style icon for many, Dubois was a singer. The woman who played iconic Willona and wrote the theme to 'The Jeffersons' died Monday Nobody made an entrance like Ja'Net DuBois. That would have been difficult to guess, especially with their roles on Good Times.. Willona's ex-husband returns to town to help celebrate her birthday. She also attended a fan event at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel on Feb. 1 in Burbank, California. actress passing. She was 74 and will be missed.: @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/j1TdcuA0q9, Dubois' career started in theater, where she appeared in Broadway productions of "Golden Boy" and "A Raisin in the Sun," according to a biography on her website. Ray suddenly returns on "proverbial doorstep" after six years, just in time for Willona's birthday, and both she and Florida are very distrustful of his motives - especially since Ray had a mistress - and was . TV Land remembers "Good Times" star Ja'net Dubois. In the episode, she was the girl who got stood up to Dwayne and threw a drink in his face. Her family told TMZ the actress died. In addition to being the Evans familys lovable neighbor, Willona, Dubois composed and sang Movin on Up the iconic theme song for The Jeffersons. She was 74 and will be missed., The actress is survived by three children: Yovanne DuBois, Burghardt DuBois and Rani DuBois, who had roles on Good Times and Whats Happening! She was 74 and will be missed.: @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/j1TdcuA0q9, TV Land, the nostalgia-fueled network that airs reruns of Good Times, tweeted the following tribute to DuBois Tuesday: TV Land remembers Good Times star Janet Dubois. In March 1960, she was included as a centerfold in Jet Magazines issue. For other inquiries, Contact Us. TMZ has learned. Apart from television she had contributed in the film industry and music industry as well. JaNet Dubois, circa 1975. With Esther Rolle, Ja'net DuBois, Ralph Carter, BernNadette Stanis. I will miss you and all of your cast family will miss you.. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser. Dubois also released an album titled Queen of the Highway in 1980 and another LP in 2007 titled Hidden Treasures.. Jeannette Dubois was born on the 5th August 1945, in Brooklyn, New York City, USA of African and American ancestry. scene involved her rushing upstairs with a butcher knife to come after Tre in his daughters room. The cause of death has yet to be revealed, and, according to TMZ, Dubois, who reportedly was 74, didnt complain of any ailments recently. In the late 70s she also featured in the film A Piece of the Action (1977). But the singer-songwriter is also known for co-writing and singing the theme song, Movin' on Up for The Jeffersons. Janet DuBois, who played Willona Woods on the classic Norman Lear sitcom Good Times, was found dead Tuesday. She is excited about the opportunity. She won two Emmy awards for lending her voice to The PJs as well. Dubios was living in Glendale, California and died naturally on 18th February 2020. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The iconic actress was best known for her role as Willona Woods on the sitcom Good Times, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). In remembrance of Janet DuBois, you can check out some beautiful photos of the actress below. Speaking about her personal life, Janet Dubois is a single mother of three children; one of them is actress Rani Dubois. Of course, on Good Times, as Willona, she played the neighbor of the Evans family and eventually adopted the character Penny, played by Janet Jackson. Janet transferred the momentum from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, appearing in the film Waterproof alongside April Grace and Burt Reynolds, and Charlies Angels: Full Throttle (2003), with Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz, increasing further her net worth. When Penny finds out, she runs away because she thinks she is ruining Willona's life. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Y'all done tricked me again. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. She most recently played the role of Bridget, one of. 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Independent, generous, and always up for fun, Willona can also be nosy at times and a little gossipy, but as Florida's best friend, Willona is always there with a helping hand in good and bad times. DuBois rose to fame as Florida. While they have good times, she is not interested in marrying him. ", She also won two Emmy awards for her voice-over work on "The PJs.". In the final episode, after learning Thelma and Keith are expecting a baby, she's overjoyed at becoming a godmother and that she, Penny, and the Evans Family will remain neighbors. She appeared to have died of natural causes and no investigation is ongoing, police Sgt. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Have you ever wondered how rich Janet Dubois is, as of mid- 2016? She also co-wrote and sang the sitcom The Jeffersons' theme song that originally aired from 1975 until . She starts to accept him, but then Ray starts flirting with Thelma, proving he is still the same sleaze. Ja'net's family confirmed that she passed away on February 18, 2020. 6.2K views 4 months ago Willona (Ja'Net DuBois) finds a new job as a security guard at a department store where she has to check on clients through a one-way mirror, but she's not so keen on. Some seemed to learn about Dubois passing through Stanis message and left comments. The actress was found deceased on Tuesday in her home in Glendale, California. Leona Belle Helton (born January 7, 1943, in Vienna, Missouri, United States) is an American country music singer known professionally as Leona Williams.Active since 1958, Williams has been a backing musician for Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard and The Strangers. A performance in "The Hot l Baltimore" in Los Angeles caught the eye of Norman Lear, who developed "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons. | The Norman Lear Effect The Norman Lear Effect 103K subscribers Subscribe 526 54K views 1 year ago Bookman's wife (Marylin Coleman) thinks that. Her family tells us Ja'Net died unexpectedly in her sleep overnight at her home in Glendale, CA. Willona's Surprise: Directed by Gerren Keith. Her cause of death is yet to be confirmed, but according to reports, the actress died "unexpectedly" in her sleep overnight while in her home in Glendale, California. Her net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. Willona Woods is one of the main characters on Good Times. Feb. 18, 2020, 3:43 PM PST. She died at age 66. Thanks for contacting us. Her career has been active since 1966. Ja'Net Dubois, who played the vivacious neighbor Willona Woods on "Good Times" and composed and sang the theme song for "The Jeffersons," has died. The CBS show made its debut in February 1974 and ended in August 1979, running for six seasons. No additional details, including her exact age, were immediately available. Advertisement One fun fact about Ja net is that she is only 2 years older than Jimmie 'JJ' Walker. Mom Finds Out Shes Pregnant with Rare Twins Just Months after Having First Set of Twins, Jack Daniel Byrne Is a Talented Musician - Meet Grabriel Byrnes Son, Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, The Life of Twins Lindsay & Sidney Greenbush 40 Years after Playing Carrie in 'Little House on the Prairie', Inside Ina Garten's Decision to Not Have Kids with Husband of 53 Years Whom She Met at 15, Martin Lawrence Is a Proud Father of 3 Beautiful Daughters Who Bear a Striking Resemblance to Him. This story has been shared 110,912 times. Jackson wrote, I am so very saddened to hear my longtime friend JaNet DuBois has passed away. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Ja'Net was best known for her role as Willona Woods on the sitcom Good Times. Wrote and sang the theme song to the Jeffersons before she ever knew what the show was about. DuBois was recently seen smiling alongside Good Times cast members Ralph Carter, Jimmie Walker, BernNadette Stanis and Johnny Brown for the 2020 Hollywood Show in Burbank on Feb. 1. Leona Gordon Edit Linella Gordon is the biological mother of Penny Gordon Woods, who Willona Woods winds up adopting. 11 more photos Quotes . She was a honourable member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Another celebrated T.V. Willona's New Job: Directed by Gerren Keith. TV Land remembers "Good Times" star Ja'net Dubois. The TV star was loved by millions and will be missed by her family, friends and fans. In fact, the star appeared to be in great spirits when she attended a fan event in Hollywood at the beginning of 2020. Billed as Jeanette DuBois, she also starred on Broadway opposite Sammy Davis Jr. in Golden Boy from 1964 to 1966. She also charted eight times on Hot Country Songs, with her only Top 40 hit . Koi Sojer/Snap'N U Photos / MediaPunch /IPX. BernNadette Stanis, who played Thelma Evans Anderson on "Good Times," said she learned of Dubois' death Tuesday from the actress' daughter. Although the show came to a halt decades ago, the award-winning star is still fondly described as the woman that played Willona on " Good Times. Appeared as a centerfold in Jet Magazine's March 24, 1960 issue. Written as a teleplay by Richard Frieman and Sid Dorfman from an original story wrtitten by Frieman, the episode, which was directed by Gerren Keith, premiered on CBS-TV, originally airing on October 19, 1977. Ja'Net had a net worth of $2 million at the time of her death. Willona's new job goes against her morals, but she decides to put her values on the . Ja'Net DuBois, known for her turn as Willona Woods on " Good Times ," was found dead in her Glendale, Calif. home on Tuesday. She was also a cast member of the film Kids Like These (1987), which also added to her net worth. Her most notable role was perhaps in the Whats Happening! Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. According to her family members, she died in her sleep unexpectedly and naturally. Ja'Net DuBois-- one of the main characters on "Good Times" -- died Monday . Ja'net DuBois, best known for her role as Good Times ' Willona Woods, died on Tuesday at the age of 74, TMZ reports. The birth mother wants Penny back. With Ja'net DuBois, Ralph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Johnny Brown. Required fields are marked *. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DuBois has appeared in various movies over the years, including Tropic Thunder, Im Gonna Git You Sucka and Charlies Angels: Full Throttle. She has been accumulating her net worth through a successful career in the entertainment industry as a professional actress. When Linella returned and tried to hurt Penny for upsetting her, Willona grabbed her arms and slammed her against the wall. (single, married, in relation or divorce), How many children does Janet Dubois had? Rani and her mom Janet still look as beautiful as ever. She was best known for her portrayal of Willona Woods, the neighborhood gossip maven and a friend of the Evans family on the CBS sitcom Good Times, which aired from 1974 to 1979. She started her acting career in theater in the 1960s, appearing in Broadway's Golden Boy with Sammy Davis Jr. and Louis Gossett Jr. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Willona, the Fuzz is the sixth episode of Season 5 of Good Times, and the 91st series episode overall. She turns him down because she now has Penny to consider. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. ", Ja'Net's acting career began on Broadway, where she was cast in a number of plays including "Golden Boy" with Sammy Davis Jr. and Louis Gossett Jr. -- plus "A Raisin In The Sun. Phil Mattingly (CNN) Wiki: Age, Height, Wife, Sala Who is Chrystale Wilson? Her net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. Janet Dubois net worth: Working as an American regular television as well film actress, she had earned lot of love and respect. Ja'Net was best known for her role as Willona Woods on the sitcom Good Times. Though the comedy had plenty of one-liners, DuBois' appearances gave an extra dose of comedic relief. Scott had an extensive career in the entertainment industry, having appeared in at least 73 movies and T.V. Its not revealed who discovered her body on Tuesday morning. She then made appearances on the small screen in series like Sanford and Son, Kojak, and Roots: The Next Generations.. - Celebritist has learned from I Love Old School Music that Janet Dubois who acted Willona on CBS sitcom Good Times still maintains a beautiful look even at 72. Ja'Net is survived by her three children. Ja'net DuBois, who played Willona Woods on the classic Norman Lear sitcom "Good Times," was found dead Tuesday. The part of Willona was played by the late Ja'Net DuBois. Willona is interested in a man who is deaf. This is largely down to her work as an actress. Thanks to her skills, Janet has received several prestigious awards, including a Primetime Emmy award in the category Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for her work on animated TV series The PJs, among others. Good Times | Bookman and Willona Are In Trouble! after moving into a new apartment building. DuBois got her start on Broadway, where she was the cast member in a number of plays including Golden Boy with Sammy Davis Jr.andLouis Gossett Jr. as well as A Raisin In The Sun. To add to her list of accolades, DuBois also won two Emmy awards for her voice-over work on the show The PJs. We are moving on uplove always, Kaseem k Gupta.. She has also done voice over jobs which garnered her two Emmy awards as well. Sources say DuBois hadnt complained of any particular ailments recently and she appeared to be in good health. DuBois is survived by three children. Other information about her personal life is kept private from the media. Willona is a close family friend and neighbor to the Evans family who's always up on the gossip of others who live in the project building. Ja'net's family confirmed that she passed away on February 18, 2020. Your email address will not be published. Penny chose Willona as her mother. Ja'Net played the Evans family's sassy neighbor Willona Woods on the classic '70s TV series. I love Good times and still watch to this day!! Albert Reed Jr. died in 1986. Good Times | Willona's Ex Wants Her Back | Classic TV Rewind Classic TV Rewind 176K subscribers Subscribe 1.9K 195K views 2 years ago #GoodTimes #BestMoments Ray (Carl Lee) is back in town. Dubois' song "Movin' on Up" provided a joyous intro to "The Jeffersons" during the show's 10-season run. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Dubois' Willona was the single, sexy neighbor and best friend to star Esther Rolle's Florida Evans. Willona gets a promotion to a buyer at work. ", She was credited in numerous other films as varied as "Basic Instinct," "Next Friday" and "Tropic Thunder," which included "Movin' on Up.". !, Janet DuBois and Janet Jackson on Good Times, Ralph Carter, JaNet DuBois, Jimmie Walker, BernNadette Stanis and Johnny Brown on Feb. 1. She died at age 66. Rani Dubois is her name and she appeared in several episodes of Whats Happening! According to, passed away a couple of days after suffering a heart attack last Tuesday. By The Associated Press. Some of the most notable roles include those in films and series such as The Sophisticated Gents (1981), The Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour (1983), and Im Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), written and directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans. This is largely down to her work as an actress. Dubois and Jackson reunited many years later in the video for the singers 1986 single Control, where the actress played her mother. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage), Ja'net DuBoisnNAACP 17th Annual Theatre Awards held at the Director's GuildnHollywood, California 19.02.07, LOS ANGELES, CA FEBRUARY 07: (L-R) Janet DuBois and Marla Gibbs attend the 27th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival Opening Night Red Carpet at Cinemark Los Angeles Baldwin Hills 15 & XD on February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. She sang the theme song to the 70s sitcom The Jeffersons., Before landing the Good Times role, Dubois started her career on Broadway. Ja'Net had a net worth of $2 million at the time of her death. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images), LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 08: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Singer-songwriter Janet Jackson meets Singer-songwriter and Actress Janet Dubois at the Janet Jacksons State Of The World Tour After Party at Lure on October 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Devastated, Linella respected Penny's decision and left, and was never seen again. But the singer-songwriter is also known for co-writing and singing the theme song, Movin' on Up for The Jeffersons. Along with being an actress, DuBois also let her musical talents shine. Follow us for weekly clips and compilations of your favorite moments and check out our. After her birth her family moved to Amityville, New York where she commenced her acting journey from Broadway productions. Yet another veteran actress died and this time it was 74 years old JaNet Dubois, a star from Good Times. TMZ reports it is not yet clear who found the star's body and sources says the star hadn't been complaining about any specific illness before she passed. Being a regular on Good Times would've boosted her bank balance considerable. All Rights Reserved. She's also the eventual adoptive mother of Penny Gordon Woods. [14] Ja'net DuBois and Janet Jackson on "Good Times" Courtesy. One fun fact about Janet is that she is only 2 years older than Jimmie JJ Walker. Her most memorable role was probably in the 1990s classic Boyz n the Hood. Janet has also been recognized as a voice actress, lending her voice to characters from such animated TV series as The PJs (1999-2001), and As Told by Ginger (2000-2004), which also added to her net worth. Ja'Net might be most famous for "Good Times," but she also composed and sang the theme song, "Movin' On Up," for "The Jeffersons" -- so, she should also be remembered for her voice. DuBois as Willona in 'Good Times' (CBS) Iconic TV actress Ja'net DuBois, still widely acclaimed for her six-season run on the CBS sitcom 'Good Times', is dead. Age has not diminished their beauty. Did you get to see Good Times or Whats Happening??. And Rani looks so much like her famous mom! Dubois played the vivacious neighbor Willona Woods on "Good Times" and composed and sang "Movin' on Up," the theme song for "The Jeffersons.". A divorcee sporting fashionable clothes and slinging unabashed advice, Willona juggles a variety of jobs while maintaining an active single life. She was, in fact, many people s crush. Having appeared on "Good Times" as dubious and disreputable local politician Fred C. Davis, Albert Reed Jr. died aged 76 in 1986 the first of the sitcom's cast to . Ja'net DuBois, who is remembered for her six-season stint on CBS sitcom Good Times, was found dead in her Glendale, California home on Tuesday. DuBois famously played Willona Woods, the beloved next-door neighbor to the Evans family on the seminal 1970s sitcom "Good Times . ", Her film credits included 1970's "Diary of a Mad Housewife," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Rani stood out more than any other extra in the late 1970s on television because of her beauty, charm, and aura. In addition to being the Evans family's lovable neighbor, Willona, Dubois composed and sang "Movin' on Up" the iconic theme song for "The Jeffersons." Rani was an uncredited extra on the shows - her face was known but no name was put to it for many years. Her big-screen appearances include Im Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988, Charlies Angels: Full Throttle in 2003 and Tropic Thunder in 2008. Bi Who is YouTuber Eugenia Cooney? Ja'Net was best known for her role as Willona Woods on the sitcom Good Times. Good Times (TV Series 1974-1979) Ja'net DuBois as Willona Woods. She brought so much love to the show and a whole lot of humor. Her daughter Rani Dubois was also an actress and appeared on several television series. She was born on 5th August 1945 in Brooklyn, New York and gained so much love and fane through her role of Willona Woods in sitcom Good Times. Willona's Mr. If you change your mind, go to Notifications in the menu to enable browser notifications. Ja'Net is survived by her three children.