Ja'Net DuBois

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Ja'Net DuBois
Ja'net DuBois, Good Times 1976.JPG
DuBois as Willona Woods on the CBS television series Good Times circa 1976.
Born
Jeannette Theresa Dubois

(1932-08-05)August 5, 1932
(1938-08-05)August 5, 1938
(1945-08-05)August 5, 1945
(sources differ)
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
(sources differ)
Died(2020-02-17)February 17, 2020
Glendale, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active1962–2016
Known forWillona Woods – Good Times
Ma Bell – I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Ms. Avery – The PJs
Spouse(s)Sajit Gupta
(m. 1950–?; divorced)
Children4

Jeannette Theresa Dubois (August 5, 1932,[1][2][3] 1938[4][5] or 1945[6][7] (sources differ) – February 17, 2020[8][9]), known professionally as Ja'Net DuBois,[10][11] Ja'net DuBois,[7] and Ja'Net Du Bois[4][12][n 1] (/dʒɑːˈneɪ duːˈbwɑː/), was an American actress and singer-songwriter. DuBois 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 originally aired from 1974 to 1979.[13]

DuBois additionally co–wrote and sang the theme song "Movin' on Up" for The Jeffersons, which originally aired from 1975 until 1985.[14] After beginning her career onstage in the early 1960s, DuBois went on to appear on television shows and films into the mid-2010s.

Biography[]

Early life and career[]

Born Jeannette Theresa Dubois on August 5, 1932 (other sources state her birth year as 1938[4][5] or 1945[6][7]), in the Brooklyn borough of New York City[2] or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (sources differ),[1] DuBois was the daughter of Lillian Gouedy (1910–1984)[15] and Gordon Adelbert Dubois (1915–1960).[16][2][14] DuBois was raised in Amityville, New York, on Long Island.[17]

DuBois began her acting career onstage during the early 1960s, making her Broadway debut with a small role in the short-lived play The Long Dream, which ran four days in February 1960.[18] She appeared in the drama A Raisin in the Sun with Louis Gossett Jr., though not the original Broadway production.[18][19][20] After appearing in the play The Blacks in October 1963, she became an understudy for the housekeeper role, portrayed by Gertrude Jeannette, in the comedy Nobody Loves an Albatross, which ran through June 1964.[21][22][23][24] Thereafter, DuBois appeared in the Broadway musical Golden Boy with Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Daniels, Lola Falana and Johnny Brown. DuBois portrayed Anna, the sister of Davis' character, through the entire original run from October 1964 to March 1966.[18][25][26]

Career[]

DuBois's early television acting credits include the 1969 television movie J.T. and the long–running television soap opera Love of Life. From 1970 until 1972, DuBois portrayed Loretta Allen in the soap opera, in which she was noted as one of the first African–American female regular cast members on a daytime series. Before this role, DuBois appeared in her first film, portraying Vera in Diary of a Mad Housewife, released in 1970. Following the appearance in her first film, DuBois landed the role of Stormy Monday in the 1973 comedy Five on the Black Hand Side with Clarice Taylor, D'Urville Martin and Glynn Turman.[27] In 1973, DuBois appeared in Lanford Wilson's play The Hot l Baltimore.[citation needed]

During her time in the play, television producer Norman Lear saw her performance at the Mark Taper Forum. Lear, being impressed with DuBois's performance, then cast her in his CBS sitcom Good Times as Wilona Woods, the Evans family's friend and Florida Evans's (portrayed by Esther Rolle) best friend and neighbor.[28] DuBois appeared in the series from February 1974 until the conclusion in July 1979.[12] DuBois began the series as a co–star, alongside Rolle and John Amos (who departed the series in 1976). In 1977, DuBois became the series' lead during the beginning of its fifth season owing to the temporary departure of Rolle. DuBois returned to her co–starring role once Rolle returned in the sixth and final season in 1978.[29]

After the conclusion of Good Times in 1979, DuBois recorded the album Again, Ja'Net DuBois on her Peanuts and Caviar label in 1983.[30] DuBois appeared in former Good Times co-star Janet Jackson's 1987 "Control" music video as her mother. In 1992, she co-starred with Clifton Davis in And I Still Rise, a play written and directed by Maya Angelou.[31] DuBois co-starred 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, Touched by an Angel, and The Wayans Bros.

Other ventures and accolades[]

During the 1980s, DuBois operated the Ja'net DuBois Academy of Theater Arts and Sciences, a performing arts school for teenagers in Long Island, New York.[11] In 1992, DuBois, Danny Glover and Ayuko Babu co-founded the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles.[32][33] In 1995, DuBois won a CableACE award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Lifetime movie Other Women's Children.[34] DuBois won Emmy Awards for her voice-over work on the animated program The PJs in 1999 and 2001. DuBois along with the cast of Good Times received The Impact Icon Award at the 2006 TV Land Awards.[35] In 2000, DuBois served as Grand Marshal for the North Amityville Community Parade and Festival Day in Amityville, New York.[36] DuBois was an honorary member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.[37]

Personal life[]

DuBois married Sajit Gupta in 1950.[38] According to her Brazilian consular document, DuBois was divorced from Gupta by April 1959,[2][39] but another source states she was still married in 1964.[24] Together DuBois and Gupta had four children: Provat Gupta, Rani Gupta, Kesha Gupta-Fields,[9] and Raj Kristo Gupta, who died of cancer in 1987 at age 36.[11] Provat is a basketball coach based in California.[40] In 1959, DuBois was romantically involved with actor Brock Peters.[41]

Death[]

DuBois died on February 17, 2020, of cardiac arrest at her residence in Glendale, California.[9][8][42]

Discography[]

  • Queen of the Highway (Som Livre, 1980)
  • Again, Ja'Net DuBois (Peanuts & Caviar Internationale, 1983)
  • Hidden Treasures (Peanuts & Caviar Internationale, 2007)

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1966 A Man Called Adam Martha
1969 J.T. Rodeen Gamble
1973 Five on the Black Hand Side Stormy Monday
1977 A Piece of the Action Nellie Bond
1983 The Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour Mrs. Gorman TV movie
1986 Stranded Bettina TV movie
1987 Kids Like These Mrs. Page TV movie
1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Ma Bell
1990 Heart Condition Mrs. Stone
1990 Hammer, Slammer, & Slade Joanne Wilson TV movie
1990 Penny Ante: The Motion Picture Aunt
1993 Harlan & Merleen Maxine TV movie
1995 Magic Island Lucretia
1996 Sophie & the Moonhanger Agnes TV movie
1996 Don't Look Back Mrs. Lawson TV movie
1998 Best Friends for Life Katie Pegues TV movie
1998 Hard Time Lefty TV movie
1999 Hard Time: Hostage Hotel Lefty, Logan's Assistant TV movie
2000 Waterproof Viola Battle
2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Momma Bosley
2016 She's Got a Plan Betty Angelo

Television[]

Year(s) Title Role Notes
1970–72 Love of Life Loretta Allen unknown episodes
1972 Sanford and Son Juanita Grismore 1 episode
1973 Shaft Diana Richie 1 episode
1973 The Blue Knight Celia Louise
1974–79 Good Times Willona Woods 133 episodes
1974 Kojak Paula Thomas 1 episode
1975 Caribe Melinda Jameson 1 episode
1979 Roots: The Next Generations Sally Harvey 1 episode
1980 The Love Boat Evelyn Hopkins 1 episode
1981 Hellinger's Law Dottie Singer
1981 The Facts of Life Ethel (Tootie's grandmother) 1 episode
1981 The Sophisticated Gents Onetha Wiggins TV miniseries
1989 Nearly Departed Clerk 1 episode
1990 New Attitude Irma 1 episode
1990 Doctor Doctor Ella Wilkes 1 episode
1991 A Different World Brenda Hanes 1 episode
1991 True Colors May Freeman 1 episode
1991 Dream On June 1 episode
1992 Beverly Hills, 90210 Arlene 1 episode
1992-93 The Golden Palace Louise Wilson 2 episodes
1994 Sister, Sister Mom O'Danielle 1 episode
1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Dorothy Cooper 1 episode
1995 Martin Herself 1 episode
1991/1995 Home Improvement Carol 2 episodes
1995 ER Macy Chamberlain 1 episode
1997 Moesha Mrs. Moss 1 episode
1997 Touched by an Angel Esther Hamilton 1 episode
1996–1998 The Wayans Bros. Grandma Ellington 10 episodes
1999 Clueless Aunt Liddy 1 episode
1999–2001 The PJs Mrs. Florence Avery (voice) 42 episodes
2000 The Steve Harvey Show Delores 1 episode
2000 Everybody Loves Raymond Dottie 1 episode
2000/2002 As Told by Ginger Mrs. Patterson (voice) 2 episodes
2003 Boomtown Denise Smith 1 episode
2003 One on One Queen Esther 1 episode
2006 Crossing Jordan Mrs. Jones 1 episode
2007 Random! Cartoons Mom (voice) 1 episode
2007 Cold Case Edna Johnson 1 episode
2011 G.I. Joe: Renegades Grams Hinton (voice)
2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Good Times Herself

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Series 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[43]
2001 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Voice-Over Performance The PJs: Let's Get Ready to Rumba Won[44]
2006 TV Land Image Award Good Times Won[45]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Capitalization of "n" in first name is uncertain in Good Times title card, which credits her in capital letters "JA'NET du BOIS". Last name is given as two words, with "du" lowercase.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Immigration Cards, 1900-1965, Jeannette Du Bois Gupta". Familysearch.org. July 3, 1959 – via Imgur.com.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Brazilian consular document". Familysearch.org. April 24, 1959 – via Imgur.com.
  3. ^ "Jeannette Du Bois Gupta Arrival document". Familysearch.org. July 5, 1959 – via Imgur.com.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ja'Net Du Bois". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Windsor, Carl D. (2006). On This Day: Daily Inspiration for the History Buff, the Trivia Lover, and the Innately Curious. Howard Books. ISBN 978-1582296548.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Berry, S. Torriano; Berry, Venise T. (2015). "DUBOIS, JA'NET (1945– )". Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema (2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 142. ISBN 9781442247024. This native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c LoBrutto, Vincent (2018). "Good Times". TV in the USA: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas. Greenwood. p. 39. ISBN 978-1440829727. ...Ja'net DuBois (1945– )...
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Good Times Actress Ja'Net DuBois Dies At 74". BET. February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c Garcia, Sandra E. (February 19, 2020). "'Good Times' Actress Ja'Net DuBois Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Ja'Net DuBois". TV One. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ja'Net DuBois' Son Dies of Cancer, in New York". Jet. Vol. 73 no. 5. Johnson Publishing Company. October 26, 1987. p. 61. ISSN 0021-5996. Raj Kristo Gupta, the son of popular TV and movie actress Ja'Net DuBois, died recently in New York following a three-year battle with cancer. He was 36. At the time of his death, Gupta was producing a training workshop with his family's organization, Ja'net DuBois Academy [of] Theater Arts and Sciences for teenagers in Long Island, N.Y.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b McCann, Bob (December 21, 2009). "Du Bois, Ja'Net". Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland & Company. pp. 103–04. ISBN 978-0786458042. Retrieved April 19, 2015. Jeannette Dubois, better known as Ja'Net Du Bois (Ja-Nay Doo-Bwah)...
  13. ^ The Redd Foxx Encyclopedia of Black Humor, Redd Foxx, Norma Miller, 1977.Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "TV Actress Ja'Net DuBois To Appear On 'Arsenio'". Jet. Vol. 82 no. 6. Johnson Publishing Company. June 1, 1992. p. 60. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  15. ^ "Lillian Gouedy (1910-1984)". Ancestry.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 for Gordon Adelbert Dubois". FamilySearch. 1940–1947 – via Imgur.
  17. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (September 19, 1976). "People: Rookie Who Looks Good". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2020. (abstract of page on subscription site)
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Jeannette DuBois". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "A Raisin in the Sun". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  20. ^ "'Good Times' actress Ja'Net Dubois Dies". The Chicago Crusader. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "New York Beat". Jet. Vol. XXV no. 17. Johnson Publishing Company. February 13, 1964. p. 63. Retrieved February 24, 2020 – via Google Books. Jeanette DuBois, who joined the cast of The Blacks last October and soon thereafter won the understudy slot to the housekeeper in the comedy hit Nobody Loves an Albatross...
  22. ^ "Nobody Loves an Albatross Opening-Night Cast". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  23. ^ "Golden Boy Opening Night Cast". Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Negros on Broadway". Ebony. Vol. XIX no. 6. Johnson Publishing Company. April 1, 1964. p. 63. Retrieved February 26, 2020 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "Golden Boy". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  26. ^ "Why Can't Negro Male Star Win White Girl In End?". Jet. Vol. XXVII no. 8. Johnson Publishing Company. November 27, 1964. p. 64. Retrieved February 24, 2020 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ Weiler, A.H. (October 26, 1973). "Film: 'Black Hand Side': Stage's Brooks Family Arrives on Screen The Cast". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  28. ^ Campbell, Sean (December 24, 2014). "Good Times (1974-1979)". The Sitcoms of Norman Lear. McFarland & Company. p. 98. ISBN 978-1476602554. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  29. ^ Forbes, ‘Good Times’ Star Ja’net DuBois Dies at 74, Feb 18, 2020.Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  30. ^ "Celebrity Beat – New York to Hollywood". Jet. Vol. 64 no. 10. Johnson Publishing Company. May 16, 1983. p. 53.
  31. ^ "Actor Clifton Davis Stars in Maya Angelou's New Musical". Jet. Vol. 82 no. 20. Johnson Publishing Company. September 7, 1992. p. 60. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  32. ^ "2019 Highlights". Pan African Film & Arts Festival. 2019. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019.
  33. ^ Kelley, Sonaiya (February 7, 2018). "The Pan African Film Festival aims to correct misconceptions about African and Caribbean countries". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019.
  34. ^ "Ja'net DuBois, Chris Rock win CableAce Awards". Jet. Vol. 87 no. 13. Johnson Publishing Company. February 6, 1995.
  35. ^ Christian, Margena A. (January 28, 2008). "Where Is... The Cast of 'Good Times'?". Jet. Vol. 113 no. 3. p. 31.
  36. ^ "Newsmakers". Jet. Vol. 98 no. 8. Johnson Publishing Company. July 31, 2000. p. 32.
  37. ^ "Heritage: Notable Zetas > Entertainment". Zeta Phi Beta Sorority International Website. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  38. ^ "Sajit Gupta". New York City Marriages, 1950-2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020 – via MyHeritage.
  39. ^ "Ja'Net DuBois Dead: 'Good Times' & 'Charlie's Angels' Star Dies at 74". Entertainment. Heavy. February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  40. ^ Gary, Parrish (July 30, 2015). "The Ball family -- coming to a basketball court (and TV) near you". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  41. ^ "New York Beat". Jet. Vol. XVII no. 3. Johnson Publishing Company. November 12, 1959. p. 64. Retrieved February 19, 2020 – via Google Books.
  42. ^ "'Good Times' Star Ja'Net DuBois's Cause Of Death Revealed". Essence. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  43. ^ "Ja'Net DuBois And Judith Jamison Win Primetime Emmy Awards". Jet. Vol. 96 no. 16. Johnson Publishing Company. September 20, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  44. ^ Elaine Dutka (August 14, 2001). "Morning Report". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  45. ^ Christian, Margena A. (January 28, 2008). "The Cast of 'Good Times'?". Jet. Vol. 113 no. 3. p. 31. Retrieved April 19, 2015.

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