Ja'net Dubois
| Ja'net Dubois | |
|---|---|
|
Dubois as Willona Woods with her boyfriend (played by J.A. Preston) on Good Times (1975) | |
| Born |
Jeannette Dubois August 5, 1945 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Known for | Willona Woods (Good Times) |
| Children | 3 |
Jeannette "Ja'net" Dubois (/dʒɑːnˈeɪ djbwˈɑː/; born August 5, 1945) is an American actress and singer. Dubois is best known for her portrayal of Willona Woods on the CBS sitcom Good Times which originally aired from 1974 to 1979. She also co–wrote and sang the theme song of the sitcom, The Jeffersons (1975–85).[1]
Life and early career
Jeannette Dubois was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her early acting credits include the 1969 TV movie J.T. and the long-running television soap opera Love of Life. In 1970, Dubois appeared as Vera in the film Diary of a Mad Housewife.[2]
Career
Norman Lear saw Dubois in a play at the Mark Taper Forum, which led to her being cast in Good Times.[3]
She appeared in former Good Times co-star Janet Jackson's 1987 "Control" music video as her mother. In 1992, she co-starred alongside Clifton Davis in And I Still Rise, a play written and directed by Maya Angelou.[4] Dubois won an CableACE Award for her work on the TV movie, Other Women's Children, based on the novel by Perri Klass, and she also two Emmy Awards for her voiceover work on the animated program The PJs (1999). She co-starred in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003), and on television in Moesha, The Steve Harvey Show, A Different World, and The Wayans Bros..[2]
Personal
Dubois has three children: Rani, Yovanne and Burghadt.[5] Dubois is a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
In 2000, she was honored as the grand marshal for the North Amityville Community Parade and Festival Day in Amityville, New York.[6]
Film and television
| Year(s) | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | A Man Called Adam | Martha |
| 1969 | J.T. | Rodeen Gamble |
| 1970–72 | Love of Life (unknown episodes) | Loretta Allen |
| 1972 | Sanford and Son (1 episode) | Juanita |
| 1973 | Five on the Black Hand Side | Stormy Monday |
| 1973 | Shaft (1 episode) | Diana Richie |
| 1973 | The Blue Knight | Celia Louise |
| 1974–79 | Good Times (133 episodes) | Willona Woods |
| 1974 | Kojak (1 episode) | Paula Thomas |
| 1975 | Caribe (1 episode) | Melinda Jameson |
| 1977 | A Piece of the Action | Nellie Bond |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Sally Harvey |
| 1980 | The Love Boat (1 episode) | Evelyn Hopkins |
| 1981 | Hellinger's Law | Dottie Singer |
| 1981 | The Facts of Life (1 episode) | Ethel (Tootie's grandmother) |
| 1981 | The Sophisticated Gents | Onetha Wiggins |
| 1983 | The Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour | Mrs. Gorman |
| 1986 | Stranded | Bettina |
| 1987 | Kids Like These | Mrs. Page |
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Ma Bell |
| 1989 | Nearly Departed (1 episode) | Clerk |
| 1990 | Penny Ante: The Motion Picture | Aunt |
| 1990 | Heart Condition | Mrs. Stone |
| 1990 | New Attitude (1 episode) | Irma |
| 1990 | Doctor Doctor (1 episode) | Ella Wilkes |
| 1990 | Hammer, Slammer, & Slade | Joanne Wilson |
| 1991 | A Different World (1 episode) | Brenda Hanes |
| 1991 | True Colors (1 episode) | May Freeman |
| 1991 | Dream On (1 episode) | June |
| 1992 | Beverly Hills, 90210 (1 episode) | Arlene |
| 1992-93 | The Golden Palace (2 episodes) | Louise Wilson |
| 1993 | Harlan & Merleen | Maxine |
| 1994 | Sister, Sister (1 episode) | Mother O'Dantelle |
| 1994 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1 episode) | Dorothy Cooper |
| 1991/1995 | Home Improvement (2 episodes) | Carol |
| 1995 | ER (1 episode) | Macy Chamberlain |
| 1995 | Magic Island | Lucretia |
| 1996 | Sophie & the Moonhanger | Agnes |
| 1996 | Don't Look Back | Mrs. Lawson |
| 1997 | Moesha (1 episode) | Mrs. Moss |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel (1 episode) | Esther Hamilton |
| 1996–1998 | The Wayans Bros. (10 episodes) | various roles |
| 1995 | Martin: All The Players Came | Herself |
| 1998 | Best Friends for Life | Katie Pegues |
| 1998 | Hard Time | Lefty |
| 1999 | Waterproof | Viola Battle |
| 1999 | Clueless (1 episode) | Mrs. Davenport |
| 1999 | Hard Time: Hostage Hotel | Lefty, Logan's Assistant |
| 1999–2001 | The PJs (42 episodes) | Mrs. Florence Avery |
| 2000 | The Steve Harvey Show (1 episode) | Delores |
| 2000 | Everybody Loves Raymond (1 episode) | Dottie |
| 2000/2002 | As Told by Ginger (2 episodes) | Mrs. Patterson |
| 2003 | Boomtown (1 episode) | Denise Smith |
| 2003 | One on One (1 episode) | Queen Esther |
| 2003 | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle | Momma Bosley |
| 2004 | Waterproof | Viola Battle |
| 2006 | Crossing Jordan (1 episode) | Mrs. Jones |
| 2007 | Random! Cartoons (1 episode) | Mom |
| 2007 | Cold Case (1 episode) | Edna Johnson |
| 2011 | G.I. Joe: Renegades | Grams Hinton |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Touched by an Angel | Nominated |
| 1999 | Primetime Emmy | Outstanding Voice-Over Performance | The PJs | Won[7] |
| 2001 | Primetime Emmy | Outstanding Voice-Over Performance | The PJs | Won |
| 2006 | TV Land | Image Award | Good Times | Won[8] |
References
- ↑ "TV Actress Ja'Net Dubois To Appear On 'Arsenio'". 82 (6). Jet. June 1, 1992: 60. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- 1 2 Ja'net Dubois at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ McCann, Bob. Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland & Company. p. 103-04. ISBN 0786458046. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Actor Clifton Davis Stars in Maya Angelou's New Musical". 82 (20). Jet. September 7, 1992: 60. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Adrienne Brown Mourned, After Mysterious Death Following Liposuction Surgery". 89 (11). Jet. January 29, 1996: 58. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ↑ "A Grand Lady as a Grand Marshal". July 31, 2000. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Ja'Net Dubois And Judith Jamison Win Primetime Emmy Awards". Jet. September 20, 1999: 34. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ↑ Christian, Margena A. (January 28, 2008). "The Cast of 'Good Times'?". 113 (3). Jet: 31. Retrieved 19 April 2015.