Ja'Net DuBois obit

Good Times star Ja'Net DuBois dies at 74

She was not on the list.

Actress and singer Ja’Net DuBois has died at her Glendale, Calif. home. She was 74. According to the Associated Press, police responded to a call at her home Monday night; she appears to have died in her sleep overnight of natural causes.

DuBois most famously portrayed the sexy and sassy Willona Woods on the popular 1970s sitcom Good Times, developed by Norman Lear for CBS. The character’s presence increased as the series said goodbye to leads John Amos during the show’s third season and Esther Role, who did not appear on the show’s fifth season.

Janet Jackson joined the sitcom during the show’s fifth season, where she portrayed Woods’ adopted daughter, Penny. Jackson and DuBois enjoyed a longtime friendship in real life, with Jackson sharing photos of the pair throughout the years.

In December, DuBois reunited with her former castmates Amos, Bern Nadette Stanis, and Jimmy Walker for ABC’s Live in Front of A Studio Audience. Although she didn’t reprise the role that made her a household name, she was dancing and clapping at a dress rehearsal attended by EW as audience members cheered to see them all together again on the recreated set.

“My dear Ja’Net,” Stanis wrote a tribute to her friend DuBois on Instagram on Tuesday. “You were like an aunt to me. We shared so many things, from my early days on Good Times to just two weeks ago at the Hollywood Show. I will miss you and all of your cast family will miss you. Rest in peace beautiful soul. We are praying for your family.”

On Feb. 1, DuBois, Stanis, Walker, and Good Times costars Ralph Carter and Johnny Brown met with fans and posed for photos at the 2020 Hollywood Show.

DuBois famously sang and co-wrote The Jeffersons theme song “Movin’ On Up.” Her credits include a variety of television and film projects, including A Man Called Adam, Sanford and Son, Kojak, The Facts of Life, Roots: The Next Generations, A Different World, Beverly Hills, 90210, and Everybody Loves Raymond.

She won two Emmy Awards during her career, both for her voiceover work on The PJ’s.

DuBois has three surviving children: Burghardt, Rani, and Yovanne DuBois. Her son Raj Kristo Gupta died in 1987 after a three-year battle with cancer; he was 36.


Film and television

Year(s) Title Role Notes

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 Grismore

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) Mom O'Danielle

1994 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1 episode) Dorothy Cooper

1995 Martin (1 episode) Herself

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) Grandma Ellington

1998 Best Friends for Life Katie Pegues

1998 Hard Time Lefty

1999 Clueless (1 episode) Aunt Liddy

1999 Hard Time: Hostage Hotel Lefty, Logan's Assistant

1999–2001 The PJs (42 episodes) Mrs. Florence Avery

2000 Waterproof Viola Battle

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

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

2016 She's Got a Plan Betty Angelo