Michelle Thomas, an actress in the television programs ''The Cosby Show,'' ''Family Matters'' and ''The Young and the Restless'' died on Wednesday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in . Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Matters and landed the role of Callie on The Young and the Restless. She Shes also working on other projects like The Regiment and South Beacon Hill. But aside from acting, shes also a producer, an author and a certified nutritionist who co-owns the health and beauty company Keeping It All Natural. By Variety. [8] VelJohnson again portrayed Sgt. She passed away in 2002. We'll talk about that part later. Five-year-old Naya Rivera already had a series ("The Royal Family") under her belt when she was cast in "Family Matters" as Gwendolyn, a new neighbor who had a crush on Richie. LOS ANGELES, California (AP) Jaleel White, who played 'nerdy' neighbor Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" found dead Monday. No news outlets, including the Associated Press, the purported source of the article, published accounts about Jaleel White's death. On the show, Jaleel sat down for a reading with Tyler Henry. Just before his retirement from sports, Smith got his first role on television, a guest spot playing himself on the show "The Odd Couple." over and got the girl of his dreams. One of the first additions to the "Family Matters" cast was Bryton McClure, who played the role of Richie Crawford, the son of Rachel Crawford. From Frank and Marie in Everybody Loves Raymond to Albert in The Goldbergs, the old-timers can always be relied on to share their wisdom with their younger counterparts. Soon Brown found himself garnering role after role on TV shows like, "Maude," "Chico and the Man," and in 1975 was cast in Season 2 of "Good Times" in the role of Nathan Bookman, the super for the building in the projects that the Evans family lived in. Luckily, Tyler's pop culture knowledge isn't very vast. "You're talking about Michelle Thomas. May Michelle Thomas continue to rest peacefully. In 1975, Mekka received a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in "The Lieutenant." target_type: 'mix' The classic TGIF sitcom Family Matters had a consistent main cast until mom Harriette Winslow was abruptly recast during the final season. VelJohnson is known for playing police officers in films and on television. Unfortunately, Payton left the series halfway through the final season, and actress Judyann Elder took over the role. He also had a minor role in the 2002 film Like Mike. He also joined fellow Family Matters alumni Kellie Williams, Jo Marie Payton and Darius McCrary at the 2022 '90s Con event. After playing Rachel Baines-Crawford, the younger sister of Harriette Winslow, Hopkins starred in Getting By, another TGIF show that aired from 1993 to 1994 (its second season aired on NBC). He started with the Baltimore Colts, won a Super Bowl in 1970, and played until 1976. Thomas moved on from Family So, he got his cousin, Myra, to meet with him and she and Urkel wound up hitting it off, but ultimately, it didnt work out. In the sitcom show Family Matters, he got a role as mother Winslow's husband. Of course, Thomas was much nicer than her on-screen persona. She was 53 . It seemed there was no limit to her talent, no height her star couldn't reach. White was pronounced dead on arrival after admission to an LA hospital early Monday morning. He went on to star in UPN's sitcom Grown Ups and hosted the Syfy competition show Total Blackout from 2013 to 2014. The Winslow couple's children would complete the would-be new sitcom's main cast: Eddie (Darius McCrary), Laura Lee (Kellie Shanygne Williams), and Judy (Valerie Jones in the first season and Jaimee Foxworth in the second to fifth seasons before she was eventually written off from the show). Neighbor and friend, Bradley Spencer alerted police after hearing what he described as "a loud bang" coming from White's Los Angeles apartment. Unfortunately, LeNoire is no longer with us. The cause of death at the time had been ruled acute drug intoxication and other conditions. 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. Though she spent plenty of time onscreen in her music videos and she starred in the 1978 musical comedy "Thank God it's Friday," Summer wasn't making any moves toward a career in films or television. Jaleel White, an actor best known for his portrayal of Steve Urkel, the nerdy young neighbor in the television sitcom "Family Matters" (1989-1998), was said to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. May 13 2020, Updated 10:30 p.m. On December 22, 1998, she passed away, surrounded by friends and family in New York City, including her then long-time boyfriend/Cosby Show actor, Malcolm Jamal Warner (Theo). So much so that Jaleel was brought to tears. "She was my old co-star from Family Matters and she died of stomach cancer quickly, White said. He started out in the mid-1980s getting bit parts, usually as a white-collar guy. Characters who have died in the Family Matters. ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty, Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Unique Nicole/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Rick Kern/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Alberto Rodriguez/GA/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; David Livingston/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty, Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Shawn Harrison/Instagram, Jo Marie Payton Says She Will Only Do a 'Family Matters' Reboot If Judy Winslow Is Written Back In, 'Family Matters' ' Jo Marie Payton, Reginald VelJohnson Acted Like Parents Off Set: 'They Did Not Play!'. Black-Led TV Shows. 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." She was Lauras friend, but she also put the moves on her brother, Eddie, and started going out with him instead. 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,. September birthday, sudden passing, E-L-L-ENo Google?. 9 June 2002 (p. 11). Jo Marie was a main cast member since day one, having first appeared on the show in the Season 1 premiere airing on Sept. 22, 1989, titled "The Mama Who Came to Dinner." As Harriette, the family matriarch, Jo Marie played a strong character who was able to exert a positive influence on her police officer husband, Carl (Reginald VelJohnson . He later said he changed the spelling "because I wanted a name people would remember."[7]. She was my old co-star from Family Matters and she died from stomach cancer quickly. Darius McCrary played Eddie, the eldest Winslow child, on all five seasons of Family Matters. Willard went to two military institutes before serving in the US army and being stationed in Germany. It is said that 300 years ago, in the year Bedlam, Divine Magic died. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', The sitcom show was created by William Bickley and Michael Warren. Jaleel said before breaking down. He also portrayed a member of the LAPD in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film "Commando." Following his nine seasons on the show, VelJohnson made guest appearances on series including The Equalizer, Will & Grace, Monk, CSI, The Parkers and That's So Raven. She was popularly known as Mother Winslow on the show and she added some aspect of wisdom within the TV show. Carl was seriously irritated by his pesky neighbor Urkel and his annoying antics. Jenner unfortunately passed away in 2016 at the age of 75 following a long battle with leukemia. However, as Variety noted, Jenner, passed away in 2016 at the age of 75 following a long battle with leukemia. As a youngster, Rivera was known for her confident performances and upbeat charisma. After playing the Winslow family matriarch, Harriette, on Family Matters, Jo Marie Payton continued her television career with recurring and lead roles on several other primetime shows. In the years after, he provided the voices for Jazz in the original Transformers movie and Tarix in the animated film Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. Jaimee Foxworth played Judy Winslow, Carl and Harriettes youngest daughter. Al Powell - Die Hard. Glass' decades-long acting career also included a hilarious stint as Ross Gellar's divorce lawyer on "Friends" in 1999. ", Following the cancellation of "Family Matters" in 1997, friends claim White became obsessed with the character, and grew despondent, despite further successes as star and producer of the UPN sitcom "Grownups", and as a writer for NBA.com. As of 2009, VelJohnson had homes in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, and resided primarily in Oceanside, New York. At a recent cast reunion at 90s Con, the Family Matters cast was asked about whether they'd be interested in revisiting the Winslow family with a series revival. Years active. He was also a contestant on season 14 of Dancing with the Stars, placing 8th. Speaking to PEOPLE, White explained that he wanted to be known as "a versatile actor.". Other famed personages scuttlebutt had pushing up daisies even as they themselves continued to traverse this mortal coil include William Hung of "American Idol" fame, Subway pitchman >Jared Fogel, children's television host Steve Burns of "Blue's Clues", Jon Heder of "Napoleon Dynamite," and even the dog from the Taco Bell commercials. In the season 2 episode, "Flash Pants," Mekka plays Charlie, a transfer who competes against Carl in a dance contest. Once the series wrapped, Williams hopped onto. 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. Of course, Family Matters also introduced Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) to the pop culture lexicon, turning what was originally supposed to be a one-off character into a mainstay and all-around sitcom phenomenon. Hopkins made her name in film before she signed onto Family Matters. Hes also rumored to be dating his co-star Brytni Sarpy. She wasnt a series regular but she made quite an impression on audiences. She had a lot of friends in the music industry." He was 29 years old. Barry played Carl's buffoonish boss, Lieutenant Lou Murtaugh. 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. She was buried on boxing day, following Muslim rights as she requested. }); Copyright 2015 . At the same time, Hemsley delivered a terrific performance that proved why he's regarded as sitcom royalty. In 2021, VelJohnson voiced Principal Winslow in the animated adaptation of the comic Invincible. VelJohnson was born Reginald Johnson on August 16, 1952, in the Queens borough of New York City, the son of Eva, a nurses aid, and Dan, a hospital attendant. White has also made several film appearances in movies like Big Fat Liar, Dreamgirls, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer and recently in 2022's Hustle starring Adam Sandler. She is reportedly working on a short film called Absent in the Present. She also has a YouTube channel and she is available to send messages to fans on the app Cameo. His other popular credits include St. In the late '60s, he began showing up on television and in movies, and by the time the '70s rolled around, it seemed he was bitten by the comedy bug, appearing in variety shows like "Love, American Style" and sitcoms such as "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Fernwood Tonight," in which he appeared in 44 episodes as Jerry Hubbard. 'In Living Color' Cast: Where Are They Now? Actor. Who is that? Tyler questioned. For starters, it remains one of the longest-running series in the history of television to revolve around African American characters, only exceeded by Tyler Perry's House of Payne and The Jeffersons, respectively. "On the Tail of Scooby-Doo." 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. While the rest of his career primarily consisted of supporting roles, he continued to act until 2011, making appearances in shows like Family Guy and Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Lenoir was a broadway star working as an actress, producer and even casting agent. NFL defensive end Bubba Smith was born in 1945 in Texas. Season 3 of 'The Mandalorian' is 'epic,' cast says Tom Sizemore's family deciding end of life matters, rep says James Marsden, LeVar Burton explain the power of a movie director She often portrayed the character as a tough mom with a witty sense of humor, but was also a no-nonsense wife to her husband, Carl. Davenport, Misha. According to theLos Angeles Times article, LeNoire said in 1992, "I tell people I'm against retirement, I'm for God, I believe in goodness and also luck." Per BlackPast, Sherman Hemsley dropped out of school in the tenth grade to join the air force and served four years in Japan and Korea. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. From 1993 to 1998, she portrayed the role of Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. Her last role was in Aide-de-Camp" in 2011. Where is Kellie Shanygne Williams Now? Jo Marie Payton, Now Embed from Getty Images. That adorably sweet smile and natural acting ability garnered her more roles on shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Baywatch.". According to Hello Magazine, the autopsy report revealed that "accidental drowning" was the cause of death. "Don't worry about that part. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. The poorly-written and fake Associated Press article both had the victim being found dead in his home and pronounced dead following admission to a Los Angeles-area hospital. Opera News furthermore does not condone the use of our platform for the purposes encouraging/endorsing hate speech, violation of human rights and/or utterances of a defamatory nature. But have you ever wondered what the cast is up to now?