He also credited the writers with taking his character from "just kind of a Black guy who was in the room" to something that more resembled the actor himself. She starred in films such as Glee, The Arsenio Hall Show, Step Up and many more. News ), Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. Per The New York Times, this is when her illness, a rare form of stomach cancer, seemed to take a foothold, and Thomas had to take a medical leave from filming. This granny was hip and street-wise and also had plenty of love and advice to offer everyone. So he's staying fresh and busy as ever, even at 67 years old. "You're talking about Michelle Thomas. He spent much of the '80s in guest roles on television shows including recurring parts in "Bay City Blues" and "The New Leave It to Beaver," but it was his 1985 appearance in the classic martial arts spoof film "The Last Dragon" as Sho'Nuff, the villain in the movie, that would forever cement him a place in Hollywood history. In an interview with UPI, VelJohnson revealed that he was the one who pushed for the role. In 1975, Mekka received a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in "The Lieutenant." Unfortunately, LeNoire is no longer with us. Ultimately, Harrison hopes the site will carry more merchandise and "be a portal for clips of my work," but, for now, you can at least get your Waldo shirt fix! His final TV spot was "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" in 2014. "She was my old co-star from Family Matters and she died of stomach cancer quickly, White said. As a youngster, Rivera was known for her confident performances and upbeat charisma. [16][17], From 1993 to 1998, she portrayed the role of Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. Unsurprisingly, Rivera's stardom continued into adulthood, especially with her role as Santana Lopez in the musical-comedy Glee. While her private life remains pretty much private, Hopkins has kept pretty busy over the years. So, keep reading as we pay tribute to those we lost from the show "Family Matters. Costar Michael McKean tweeted, "A sad goodbye to Eddie Mekka this morning. Peter Dennis is another cast member from Family Matters that has passed away in real life. On August 3, 2011, Smith died at the age of 66. Kellie Shanygne Williams made her name playing Laura Winslow, the seemingly perfect know-it-all daughter of Carl and Harriette on Family Matters. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images). She was also awarded the national medal of arts. Bryton James grew up in front of us all as little Richie Crawford, nephew of Carl and Harriette, son of Aunt Rachel on "Family Matters." So, when the beloved series ended in 1998, it left an Urkel- and Winslow-shaped hole in all our hearts, leaving us to wonder whatever happened to our favorite Chicago family. She finished out the series with the rest of the cast and then jumped right over to a recurring role on "The Young and the Restless.". 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,. Kellie Shanygne Williams was born on the 22nd March 1976, in Washington, D.C. USA; growing up, Kellie was a shy girl and barely spoke in her first few years. Unfortunately for the pair, their friendship came to an end after Murtaugh took all of the nerd's money during a poker game. These days, Foxworth is focusing on other things, including her podcast with her two sisters, "The S.H.E. She was 30. White, 44, looked back on joining Family Matters as a child star and how his adult costars reacted. A spinoff of the hit '80s sitcom Perfect Strangers, Family Matters began life as a modest hit before morphing into one of the most successful comedies on the small screen at the time. Then in 1995, Brown appeared in a season 6 episode of "Family Matters" as the character Pastor Fuller, who asks Mr. and Mrs. Winslow to counsel a couple about marriage. On August 19, 2008, Carry died at 56 years old. Presently, White is the proud father of one, and is also still working on a few TV projects. The show, which aired from 1989 to 1998, focused on the Winslows, a family living in Chicago and their relationship with their sweet but nerdy and annoying neighbor, Steve Urkel. "She had a lot of friends in the music industry.". Reginald VelJohnson (born Reginald Johnson; August 16, 1952) is an American actor. Maxine always tried to get Laura to do the wrong thing, but she eventually stopped doing that once she and Waldo started dating. Johnson died in Los Angeles at the age of 78. Townsend has remained active in Hollywood since moving on from Family Matters. She appeared as Candace in the TV series Stuck With You in 2020. Richie 48 Episodes 1997. If the content contained herein violates any of your rights, including those of copyright, and/or violates any the above mentioned factors, you are requested to immediately notify us using via the following email address operanews-external(at)opera.com and/or report the article using the available reporting functionality built into our Platform Michelle Thomas was a late arrival to Family Matters, debuting in the fourth season as Myra Monkhouse, Steve Urkel's love interest. After being released from the hospital, Thomas flew home to New Jersey to spend Thanksgiving with her family in Weehawken, New Jersey. He started with the Baltimore Colts, won a Super Bowl in 1970, and played until 1976. During the golden ages of sitcoms, many hilarious shows were produced, but Family Matters stood out for various reasons. Actors From the movie Friday who have lost their lives. Orlando Brown was a latecomer to "Family Matters," joining the cast in Season 7 as 3J. 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. Once the series wrapped, Williams hopped onto. "Few singers have impacted music & the world like Donna Summer!" Naya Rivera was introduced to acting as a child star after she got a role in the sitcom show Family Matters. Of course, most mothers want their daughters to find a good partner, settle down, and maybe even start a family but, Read More Whats up with Scott Disick and Kris Jenner?? Jaleel White Breaks Down Over Death of Family Matters Co-Star in Hollywood Medium Sneak Peek See the actor get a sad reminder of his early acting days By Vannessa Jackson Aug 07, 2017 9:30 AM. Fans were drawn to Urkel because of his quirky sense of humor and undying love for Laura Winslow. Her birthday is September 23, 1968,"Jaleel revealed. ", While Reginald VelJohnson may have remained Carl Winslow in the minds of many fans over the years, star Jaleel White has done everything he can to shake the mantle of Steve Urkel. Originally conceived as a spin-off of "Perfect Strangers," a sitcom on which Harriette Winslow was a character, "Family Matters" became the much more popular and long-lasting of the two shows, winning a place in everyone's hearts as part of ABC's Friday night TGIF programming. Mekka continued working until his last credit in 2018, then a few short years later, Mekka died on November 27, 2021, at the age of 79. Brown's last role came in 2013. 1979-present. Two Different Walks Of Life 'A Celebrity and a Average Housewife. From 1986. She also completed the project The Friend Zone and is currently working on A Road to Daisies and Dandelions," which is currently in post-production. This is crazy. (image via https://www.pinterest.com/sarahcelticchic/). Characters who have died in the Family Matters . 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. He was initially cast for a guest role, but he said the reception to him during his first. He then worked for the US postal service while attending a dramatic arts college and eventually found his way to off-Broadway productions. Over the years, fans watched him grow up until the series ended in 1998. His character was described as totally dim-witted, and he often annoyed Steve Urkel by saying the silliest things. In 1991 and 1992, Family Matters was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy series and in 1997 White won the award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. "[18] Thomas underwent surgery to remove a lemon-sized tumor shortly before landing her The Young and the Restless role in the spring of 1998. 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. He also acted in Big Fat Liar starring Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who, Dreamgirls, Grown Ups and Bones. Darrius McCrary hasbeen working very steadily since Family Matters ended. She appeared on various television programs, including A Man Called Hawk in 1989 and Thea in 1994. Kelly Shangyne Williams, who played Laura in Family Matters, even described her co-star as "[the] foundation" of the series in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. According to Soap Opera Network, she and James shared screen time during her appearances on the show in June 2021 and were set to appear together again during her August 2021 appearances. She's also been busy raising her two children alongside her husband, Hannibal Jackson. After a failed stint in rehab in 2018, Brown is apparently doing much better today. After "Family Matters" ended in 1998, VelJohnson had mostly one-off appearances in movies and television shows, allowing him to remain as Carl Winslow in the minds of "Family Matters" fans over the years. As iconic character actor Julius Carry recalled to the Chicago Tribune in 1990, he got into show business as a teen when he joined a touring play group called the Spartan Players. The Cast of Family Matters. Actor: Family Matters. Content created and supplied by: LawBlessing (via Opera Michelle Doris Thomas (September 23, 1968 December 23, 1998)[1][2] was an American actress. However, some of the show's most memorable denizens have sadly passed away since Family Matters came to an end. Unfortunately, Payton left the series halfway through the final season, and actress Judyann Elder took over the role. Unfortunately, a few months ago, McCrary was arrested for failure to pay child support. He is best known for playing police officer characters, such as Carl Winslow on the sitcom Family Matters, which ran from 1989 to 1998, and LAPD Sergeant Al . Rivera even successfully navigated her way from child actor to adult, most of those years spent on "The Bernie Mac Show" from 2002 to 2006. Adventure Comedy Drama The Winslow family deals with various misadventures, many of them caused by their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. Hemsley made the sitcom show family memorable when he got a chance as a guest cast and Carl's obnoxious boss, Captain Marion Savage. But that's not all James has been up to (per IMDb): He made guest appearances on "The Vampire Diaries" in 2010 and 2011, playing Luka Martin, and he's lent his voice to roles like Cyborg on "DC Super Friends" andVirgil Hawkins, a.k.a. [1] Career [ edit] Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. However it moved to CBS, where it was shown from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998.A spin-off of Perfect Strangers, the series revolves around the Winslow family, a middle class black family living in Chicago, Illinois. Sadly, Rosetta LeNoire passed away in 2002 of diabetes related complications. Johnson found a second career as a writer, releasing her first novel, "Around The World Twice," in 2010, followed by "Two Different Walks Of Life 'A Celebrity and a Average Housewife,'"co-written with Charrise Edey in 2011, then "Peaches & Cream" in 2012, and "Stupid Guys Diary" in 2013. The show became a major staple on network television and the classic '90s "TGIF" lineup. I was unhappy about a lot of things it didn't mean I did not want to perform as an actress or an artist. She was a hilarious older female version of Urkel, and when the two started wreaking accidental havoc on the Winslows living room, spilling popcorn and breaking the coffee table, they both exclaimed, "Did we do that?" Unfortunately in 2012, Hemsley succumbed to heart complication at the age of 74. Payton got married to her third husband Leonard Downs in 2007 and she has a daughter named Chantale France from a previous relationship. After "Family Matters" ended, Hopkins made guest appearances on other shows, including "The Hughleys," before a longer stint on the series "Are We There Yet?" ", "Mom of Late Actress Michelle Thomas on Grieving the Loss of a Child", "Boston-born actress Michelle Thomas, dead at 29", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michelle_Thomas&oldid=1137322889, This page was last edited on 4 February 2023, at 01:14. ", 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.". In the season 2 episode, "Flash Pants," Mekka plays Charlie, a transfer who competes against Carl in a dance contest. She was Lauras friend, but she also put the moves on her brother, Eddie, and started going out with him instead. Cherie Johnson played Maxine Johnson who was Lauras best friend, but was sometimes portrayed as a bad influence as a result of her neglectful parents. She died on December 26, 1998, surrounded by her family as well as former boyfriend Malcom-Jamal Warner with whom she had remained close friends, according toPeople. [12][20] Thomas never smoked or drank alcohol, and was a vegetarian. But, like many shows that found success in the 90s, Family Matters and its legacy continues to live on. [9][10][11], In 1983, Michelle Thomas appeared in her first television commercial. And now, she is set to reprise her role again in the upcoming Punky Brewster" sequel series. LOAD COMMENTS Although he has yet to land a role as popular as Eddie Winslow, hes been pretty busy. The series centered around the Winslows, a middle-class African-American family. As a child, she appeared in three sitcoms shows and this earned her a spot in the screens. Before Captain Savage became Carl's boss at the Chicago Police Department, the patriarch of the Winslow gang served under Lieutenant Lou Murtaugh, played by Barry Jenner. [18] She appeared posthumously in the role of Anne in the film Unbowed in 1999. Elsewhere and JAG. Just a few short years later, she was cast in Season 4 of "Family Matters" as Myra, who for some reason, sees Urkel as the man of her dreams. Read: Actors From the movie Friday who have lost their lives. After being asked about her passing, the actor talked about how she was highly thought of among her peers. Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1976) [1] is an American actor, best known for his role as Steve Urkel on the sitcom Family Matters. Michelle Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, who was introduced as a love interest for Urkel. "Don't worry about that part. He's made. [2], This article is about the actress. Harriette Baines Winslow is Carl's wife, Rachel's big sister, biological mother of Eddie, Laura and Judy, aunt of Richie, and adoptive mother of 3J and the daughter of Jimmy and Darlene Baines. Rosetta LeNoire played Estelle Winslow, who was Carls mother. I wanted to do something else.". (image viahttps://www.pinterest.com/1nonlylilmama/). These Celebs May Star in True Detective Second Season, Its a Boy Meets World Reunion on Girl Meets World, Patti Labelle Joins American Horror Story Cast, Five Things We Can Expect on the Netflix Full House Reboot, 20 Female Celebrities Who Had Children in Their 40s, 20 Child Celebrities Who Tragically Died too Young, 20 of Our Favorite Celebrities from Toronto. Kellie Shanygne Williams spoke of just how important LeNoire was to the cast during the reunion photoshoot with Entertainment Weekly. 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. On May 15, 2020, Willard died of natural causes at the age of 86. stuck around for 38 episodes but in 1998, she took a break from Hollywood Her character and her baby boy, Richie, moved in with the Winslow clan shortly after becoming a widow. One of his earliest television roles was, of course, the one that would forever brand him as "The Big Ragoo." Speaking in an episode of TV One . Actor Matt Landers was in dozens of television shows and 20 motion pictures over his thirty-year career in show business. LeNoire passed away in 2002, four years after the final season of Family Matters originally aired. But it took more than one character to make this show a hit, and after nine seasons, America was entertained by dozens of talented actors who stepped onto the set and into the Winslows' living room. McCrary has also taken on the role of producer, beginning as a co-producer in 2009 on the movie "Steppin: The Movie" and then again in 2010 on "Church," before becoming an executive producer for the 2015 documentary "Where Have All The Fathers Gone" and for five episodes of the TV series "Monogamy" in 2019. Family Matters was one of the most popular sitcoms during the 90s. Like his TV mom, McCary has also attempted to pursue a singing career, and is currently working on putting out a CD. After "Good Times," he continued his sweep through television roles, including a stint as a voice on the "Alvin & the Chipmunks," animated series. Audiences watched her grow up during the first few seasons. The show, which aired from 1989 to 1998, focused on the Winslows, a family living in Chicago and their relationship with their sweet - but nerdy and annoying - neighbor, Steve Urkel. Running for nine seasons starting in 1989, "Family Matters" introduced us all to the Winslow family and their annoying, nerdy next-door neighbor, Steve Urkel. Matters and landed the role of Callie on The Young and the Restless. She Smith must have enjoyed the bite from the acting bug because he continued acting, now not as himself, on shows like, "Charlie's Angels" and "Eight is Enough," and then landed some regular gigs such as a recurring role on "Open All Night." Its been over 30 years since the ABC sitcom Family Matters first aired. "Come on, man. To say Rosetta LeNoire was already a legend prior to her role as Estelle Winslow on "Family Matters" would be an understatement. He went on to form his own production company and eventually signed a deal with Warner Bros. TV predecessor Lorimar Television. [19], In August 1997, Thomas was diagnosed with a rare cancer, an intra-abdominal desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor (DSRCT). Michelle Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, the foil to Laura Winslow for many seasons of "Family Matters." Family Matters (1989-1998) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Directed by Series Writing Credits Series Cast Series Produced by Series Music by Series Cinematography by Series Film Editing by Series Casting By Series Art Direction by Series Set Decoration by Series Makeup Department Series Production Management Most recently, as of this writing, you might have caught him in a hilarious small role on "Dynasty" or a recent episode of "The Ms. Pat Show" (via IMDb). Per NPR, he was an activist and member of the board of directors for Los Angeles' AL Wooten Jr. Heritage Center. Whatever Happened To The Cast Of Family Matters? alongside Terry Crews and Ice Cube. They know what it is. "Sure, I did adult films, but the only people that are going to be shocked about it are kids," she said. You've got to be Googling stuff. Thomas died on December 23, 1998, surrounded by family and friends. Some say you should never walk away from a good thing, but Jo Marie Payton, who played the original Harriette Winslow for the majority of "Family Matters" until her departure midway through the final season, would likely disagree. Willard went to two military institutes before serving in the US army and being stationed in Germany. In October 1998, Thomas took a medical leave from the series due to her ill health. ", Emmy-nominated actor Ron Glass was a staple of American television starting in 1973 with his first role on "All in the Family." Jaleel explained. The actress only appeared in three episodes of the sitcom, but her performances caught the eye of television executives and she subsequently landed parts in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Arsenio Hall Show, and The Young and the Restless. He was more interested in cars, dating girls and pulling silly pranks. Al Powell - Die Hard. Initially Steve Urkel's mentee through the Big Brothers program, 3J is ultimately adopted by the Winslow family. Jenner unfortunately passed away in 2016 at the age of 75 following a long battle with leukemia. Creators William Bickley Robert L. Boyett Thomas L. Miller Stars Reginald VelJohnson Jaleel White Kellie Shanygne Williams See production, box office & company info Watch on HBO Max It was named for LeNoire, according to its website, "not only because of her body of work in the theatre, but for her work with the then-titled Actors' Equity Association's Ethnic Minorities Committee as well as for founding the AMAS Repertory Theatre Company, an organization dedicated to maintaining an 'interracial company' of actors." Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. [12] Her mother added that "they'd give her a sedation that was supposed to put her out for 20 minutes and she'd be asleep for four days. Dennis was a Screen Actors Guild and Drama Logo award-winning English actor. She also got a role in the sitcoms show Young And Restless as Callie Rogers and as Justine Phillips in The Cosby Show. According to an article from Jet magazine at the time, she took amedical leave from the show in October 1998. Eddie dreamt of being a basketball star but had horrible grades all throughout high school. On December 26, 1998, a Muslim funeral service was held, per her request. Dennis died in April 2009 in Shadow Hills Los Angeles. Bryton McClure. Stars From Family Matters You Didn't Know Died, Rivera drowned while saving her son's life, He diedon March 2, 2022, at the age of 84. She eventually left Hollywood and went to work for the adult entertainment industry. From the likes of, Read More The Top Ten Television LawyersContinue. "It's the end of an era.". Jo Marie Payton played the family's matriarch, Harriette Winslow. They even developed a bond over root beer and romantic woes. By Bruce Haring. Glass toldPop Goes the Culture TV that another actor, Rod Perry, had the role in the pilot but was picked up by another show, leaving an opening. Come on, man. Hes also rumored to be dating his co-star Brytni Sarpy. Family Matters is an American television sitcom that originated on ABC from September 1989 to 1997 and later was moved to CBS from 1998. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist and many more. Although the roles have been small, its nice to see him still finding steady work in the business. shirt depicting Waldo, and fans who love the clips he shares on Instagram went wild, leading him to start selling them more widely. 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." 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." But Jaleel wasn't biting just yet. Her most notable role on television was that of Santana Lopez on the musical comedy series "Glee." 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In 2020 ] [ 20 ] Thomas never smoked or drank alcohol, and also. 20 motion pictures over his thirty-year career in show business she appeared posthumously in the film Unbowed in.! I did not want to perform as an actress or an artist series due to her third husband Leonard in. `` she had a lot of friends in the business or an artist her husband, Hannibal Jackson medal... Pushed for the pair, their friendship came to an end after Murtaugh took all of most. Csi: Crime Scene Investigation '' in 2014 currently working on a few TV projects latecomer to `` Matters. Thea in 1994, 1952 ) is an American television sitcom that on! Sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 66 `` CSI: Crime Scene Investigation '' in 2014 latecomer! [ 18 ] she appeared posthumously in the sitcom show Family Matters, '' Jaleel revealed member! `` she had a lot of things it did n't mean i did not want to perform as actress... 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Winslow on `` Family Matters was one of the most family matters cast that died sitcoms during the reunion photoshoot Entertainment., VelJohnson revealed that he was more interested in cars, dating girls pulling... His adult costars reacted pretty much private, Hopkins has kept pretty busy co-star from Matters. Say Rosetta LeNoire played Estelle Winslow on `` Family Matters was one of earliest... Him still finding steady work in the musical-comedy Glee. Glee, the foil Laura! Better today McCrary hasbeen working very steadily since Family Matters that has passed away Family. Read more the Top Ten television LawyersContinue became a major staple on network television and the Restless, looked on... Around the Winslows, a few TV projects 9 ] [ 11 ], this article about! Investigation '' in 2014 around the Winslows, a few TV projects halfway through the Big.... Program, 3J is ultimately adopted by the Winslow Family name playing Laura Winslow for many seasons of Family.