GOOD TIMES STAR PASSES AWAY IN SLEEP RIP JA’NET DUBOIS: EVERYONE’S BEST GIRLFRIEND

RIP JA’NET DUBOIS: EVERYONE’S BEST GIRLFRIEND

By AANI Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES, CA. – She was sassy, she was fine and had the wardrobe, hairstyles and smile to turn every head in the room, no matter what age or generation you were from, who didn’t love everyone’s best friend, Willona Woods? Family, friends, and fans from all around are mourning the loss of the woman behind the iconic character, Ja’Net DuBois, who was found dead on Feb. 18. Although she never shared her age publicly, she was reportedly 74 years old.

In addition to her best-known role on “Good Times,” DuBois composed and sang the theme song “Moving on Up,” for Sherman Hemsley’s ‘70s sitcom, “The Jeffersons.”

DuBois’ role on “Good Times” transitioned from being the sexy neighbor and BFF to show matriarch Florida Evans, played by Esther Rolle, to taking on a more dramatic edge as the mother to adopted daughter Penny, played by a young Janet Jackson.

The megastar paid tribute to DuBois on her Instagram page after learning the devastating news.

“I am so very saddened to hear my longtime friend Ja’Net DuBois has passed away. I saw first hand how she broke stereotypes and changed the landscape for Black women in entertainment,” Jackson posted. “I’m grateful in recent years I had a chance to see her and create more lasting memories. I pray for comfort for all her family and friends. Thank you Ja’Net, I’ll miss you.”

Jackson, who also cast DuBois as her mother in her 1986 “Control” video, shared multiple photos of the two sharing hugs and love throughout the years.

Dubois, along with a few of her former “Good Times” co-stars, including Bern Nadette Stanis, Jimmie Walker, and John Amos – made surprise guest appearances during the recent TV special, “Live in Front of a Studio Audience.”

Stanis, who played Thelma Evans Anderson, reflected on Du- Bois’ life and huge personality.

“She used to keep us laughing all the time,” Stanis said. “She was very, very talented. If she wasn’t singing, she was creating a character to make us laugh.”

DuBois’ career started in theater, where she appeared in Broadway productions of “Golden Boy” and “A Raisin in the Sun.” A performance in “The Hot l Baltimore” in Los Angeles caught the eye of Norman Lear, who developed “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons.”

More career highlights include co-starring in the films “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.

Also, DuBois was a co-founder of the Pan African Film Festival, which since 1992 has showcased films meant to promote a greater cultural understanding of people of African descent.

The festival posted an image of DuBois, calling her “Our Founder, Now Our Angel.”

DuBois’ death caught many by surprise. She was reportedly in good health and had not been dealing with any known medical ailments. Her family said she died of natural causes, in her sleep. - AANI