However, some of the show's most memorable denizens have sadly passed away since Family Matters came to an end. 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 Powell in the films Die Hard and Die Hard 2. White was pronounced dead on arrival after admission to an LA hospital early Monday morning. 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. Carmine Ragusa was the bright-faced, dancing, on-again-off-again boyfriend of Shirley Feeney. Actress Kellie Williams Laura Winslow on the series described White as a consummate professional actor. Portrayed by Jaimee Foxworth, the precocious youngest member of the family was adorable and a great way to reel in younger viewers. Family Matters is an American television sitcom that originated on ABC from September 1989 to 1997 and later was moved to CBS from 1998. Thomas joined the cast team later in the fourth season and appeared in several seasons as Steve Urkel's lover Myra Monkhouse. On July 8, 2020, Rivera died at the age of 33. From 2006 to 2008, he voiced Timber Wolf in Warner Brothers' animated adaptation of DC Comics' Legion of Super Heroes. Ironically, Landers was on the other side of the law in his first appearance on "Family Matters," playing a robber at a convenience store. Of course, most Family Matters fans remember Steve Urkels fascination with Laura Winslow and how his special bond with the Winslow family was one of the most memorable dynamics of the show. He went on to star in UPN's sitcom Grown Ups and hosted the Syfy competition show Total Blackout from 2013 to 2014. Al Powell - Die Hard. "Who is that?" According to CNN, Rivera had gone out on a rented boat with her then-four-year-old son. Thomas would eventually end up as the real life girlfriend of the actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo. The sitcom show was created by William Bickley and Michael Warren. May 13 2020, Updated 10:30 p.m. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. [4] He later obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater from New York University, where he had a chance to work with Joseph Papp's Black/Hispanic Shakespeare Company, in which Morgan Freeman and CCH Pounder were among his fellow actors. Thomas died Tuesday in Manhattan, according to her publicist, Kahdijah Bell. Barry played Carl's buffoonish boss, Lieutenant Lou Murtaugh. Sherman Hemsley is perhaps best known for playing George Jefferson in bothAll In the Family and The Jeffersons, the latter of which gained him earned him Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations. Then: James start playing Richie Crawford, Rachel's daughter, in the second season of 'Family Matters,' when the character miraculously aged from an infant to a three-year-old. Family Matters attracted a lot of cast members but this article will feature some of the cast members who died in real life. She was known for her singing voice, her eccentric hats and how driven she was to become an entrepreneur. The cast of "Family Matters" (Warner Bros. Television) On Sept. 22, 1989, "Family Matters" debuted on ABC with the pilot "The Mama Who Came to Dinner" as After the sitcom ended in 1998, Thomas portrayed Callie Rogers, an aspiring singer and love interest of Malcolm Winters, on the daytime soap The Young and the Restless. She spent her remaining years dealing with health-related complications caused by diabetes. Shawn Harrison played Waldo Faldo, who was Eddie Winslows best friend. Payton got married to her third husband Leonard Downs in 2007 and she has a daughter named Chantale France from a previous relationship. 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. Tyler questioned. Her former boyfriend, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, was at her side. 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." Unfortunately, LeNoire is no longer with us. Tragedy struck in 2020, however, when her body was found in a river after she disappeared during a boating trip with her son, Josey. 'In Living Color' Cast: Where Are They Now? [12] The following year, he appeared as the "Sgt. The classic TGIF sitcom Family Matters had a consistent main cast until mom Harriette Winslow was abruptly recast during the final season. Per USA Today, years later it was discovered he suffered from CTE, a brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. Family Matters. Luckily, Tyler's pop culture knowledge isn't very vast. But they have been an essential function of some of the most iconic family units in small-screen comedies. She appeared in the show as Gwendolyn and was popularly known as the young child who asked Urkel for love advice. After leaving the series, Foxworth grew up struggling with mental health and controlled substance issues. Landers passed away on March 12, 2015, at the age of 62 from cancer. (per Today), White broke down in tears as he fondly remembered Thomas, who passed away in 1998 at the young age of 30. We'll talk about that part later. 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. Apart from Family Matters, Jenner had notable roles in Star Trek, Deep Space and many more. Oscar-winning producer dead at 101. _taboola.push({ Peter Dennis is another cast member from Family Matters that has passed away in real life. 1979-present. She was 90 years old at the time, and she left behind an impressive body of work in television, film, music, and theater. He diedon March 2, 2022, at the age of 84. 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. He would also play an ambulance driver in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) in which he was credited by the stage name Ivory Ocean. Per Broadway World, his film debut was alongside Sammy Davis Jr., whom he also appeared with on Broadway, in the 1966 movie "A Man Called Adam." But during the fourth season, Judy seemingly vanished and was never mentioned by anyone again. "This is embarrassing, I don't even recognize you," Tyler tells him. The golden age of sitcoms produced many hilarious shows, but Family Matters stands out from the pack for a couple of reasons. Actor. Has She Died? The actor is set to do it again in Cartoon Network's 2023 TV film Did I Do That to the Holidays? 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. Jo Marie Payton played the familys matriarch, Harriette Winslow. But Jaleel wasn't biting just yet. In a 2014 Boston Globeinterview, Mekka mused, "I got to do a great jitterbug number with Madonna in 'A League of Their Own.'" Actor Natalie Desselle -Reid, known for her roles in " Madea 's Big Happy Family," "Eve" and "B*A*P*S*," died Monday at the age of 53. 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. Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. 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. He was 29 years old. He was 29 years old. One of the cornerstones of ABC's TGIF lineup, Family Matters ran from 1989-1997 and spawned at least one of the '90s most indelible catchphrases. 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. Family Matters was a popular sitcom of the 90's and was a key part of ABC's TGIF lineup. Michelle Thomas is another cast member from the show Family Matters that has passed away. 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 From 1993 to 1998, she portrayed the role of Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. Desperate for help and with no other options, she researched a spell on the internet and cast it in a hurry, accidentally binding herself into a ritual with a demon. In 2010, VelJohnson started a recurring role as Principal, later Superintendent, Strickland on the Disney sitcom I'm in the Band and also Funnyordie.com's short HBO film titled Just 3 Boyz starring Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, and Zach Galifianakis. But Jaleel wouldnt give in. Michelle Thomas was a late arrival to Family Matters, debuting in the fourth season as Myra Monkhouse, Steve Urkel's love interest. One year later, he landed the role of Carl Winslow, another police officer, in the beloved ABC series Family Matters. 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 He was more interested in cars, dating girls and pulling silly pranks. Once the series wrapped, Williams hopped onto another ABC show, What About Joan?, to play Alice Adams, a coworker and friend of the protagonist, played by Joan Cusack. Simply known as Urkel, the nerdy, accident-prone neighbor of the Winslows tripped his way into America's heart with catchphrases like, "Did I do that?" Known for. ET If you were a faithful Family Matters viewer between 1989 and 1993, you may remember the character of little Judy Winslow. teacher in Urkel's swim class. His final TV spot was "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" in 2014. Per NPR, he was an activist and member of the board of directors for Los Angeles' AL Wooten Jr. Heritage Center. The series centered around the Winslows, a middle-class African-American family. "Family Matters" was a popular American television sitcom that aired nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. Reginald VelJohnson (born Reginald Johnson; August 16, 1952) is an American actor. The Cast of 'Shameless' : Where Are They Now? After the show wrapped, White stated that he never wanted to step back into Urkel's shoes again, though he later revised the claim over a decade later. In addition to Family Matters, Jenner had a notable role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, portraying Starfleet Admiral William Ross in 12 episodes of the beloved sci-fi series. So much so that Jaleel was brought to tears. It gives me joy that you dont know who I am. Then Jaleel broke down. Bubba Smith's character on Family Matters, Bones, is an intimidating muscle to the loan shark the guys got in deep with, complete with a hilarious growling match between Urkel and Bones. When Donna Summer died of lung cancer on May 17, 2012, many singers and industry professionals mourned her, some attending her service, others voicing their feelings on social media. On March 17, 2002, LeNoire died from complications from diabetes. The cast of "Laverne & Shirley is seen above in a publicity photo. He assumed Henry had done research to know a bit more about him, so hed know what to say. joke. In the end, she saved the day singing her iconic song "Last Dance" at a talent show. LeNoire, who played Mother Winslow on "Family Matters," started with the first episode of the series when her character moved in with the Winslows after the death of her husband. Dennis died in April 2009 in Shadow Hills Los Angeles. He recently completed the comedy film The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee which is scheduled for release in 2020. Miller died on April 5, 2020, from complications related to heart disease. Williams married President and CEO of the IT firm Y-Tech, Hannibal Jackson in 2009. VelJohnson was hired after Gene Hackman, originally hired to play the role, became unavailable, and producers decided to hire a relatively unknown actor for the part. A Steve Urkel Story. The quintessential hoax of this ilk is the "Paul is dead" belief attaching to Paul McCartney it began in 1969 and at least among some continues to this day. VelJohnson had his breakthrough role[5] as Sgt. White is far from the first celebrity to be made the butt of a "He's dead!" Read: Actors From the movie Friday who have lost their lives. At the time of this writing, no further details are available regarding Brown's death. She passed away in 2002. nerdy comedic neighbor of the Winslows who was always trying and failing to win 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. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. Their mother subsequently married John Reilly. He also joined fellow Family Matters alumni Kellie Williams, Jo Marie Payton and Darius McCrary at the 2022 '90s Con event. A genuinely good guy and purveyor of cheer whenever things got cheerless.". While he was quite incompetent at his job, he had the patience of a saint, being that he was one of the few characters who tolerated Urkel. 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 Darius McCrary played Eddie Winslow, the handsome, eldest brother to Laura and Judy and cousin to Richie. Shes reportedly filming the movies Heart of a Champion and Conundrum: Secrets Among Friends.. Jo Marie Payton, who played the . Years active. With the exception of The Golden Girls, grandparents are never the main stars of sitcoms. 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. That said, he also had a memorable guest role in Family Matters, playing Carl's boss, Captain Marion Savage, in a few episodes between 1994 and 1995. ABC/Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images. His latest acting role was in the 2019 TV movie Fanatic where he played Officer Hardaway. "I love these people Every one of them," a teary-eyed VelJohnson stated at the time. At the same time, Hemsley delivered a terrific performance that proved why he's regarded as sitcom royalty. He also portrayed a member of the LAPD in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film "Commando." Audiences watched her grow up during the first few seasons. Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Unfortunately, Payton left the series halfway through the final season, and actress Judyann Elder took over the role. They got divorced in 2019, and have a daughter together named Zoey. Before she was on Family Matters, Johnson was on another sitcom called Punky Brewster where she played Punkys best friend, Cherie. Family Matters - Full Cast & Crew 51 Metascore 1989 -2021 9 Seasons CBS Family, Comedy TVG Watchlist Where to Watch A suburban Chicago family is pestered by nerdy, nosy neighbor Steve Urkel. Michelle Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, who was introduced as a love interest for Urkel. Menteer passed away on January 18, 2016, at the age of 72. Though his character, often referred to as "Booger" by character Willona, was meant to be an antagonist, Bookman soon became a fan favorite and Brown would always be remembered for this role. Murtaugh was a recurring character in Family Matters between 1990 and 1992, and he was able to make a big impact with his silly antics. They even developed a bond over root beer and romantic woes. The network TV landscape of the 1980s and the 1990s was all about family-oriented sitcoms, with the occasional exception such as Married with Children, which was about a family but courted controversy with its more risque episodes. In addition to his longtime work on the CBS soap opera, McClure has lent his voice for several animated series including Nickelodeon's Zevo-3, Cartoon Network's Young Justice: Invasion and in Disney+'s 2022 miniseries Tales of the Jedi. Point is! In 1998, Michelle passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Eddie Mekka, top right, died in Newhall on Nov. 27, 2021, at age 69, according to a friend's social media post. She was also awarded the national medal of arts. Unsurprisingly, Rivera's stardom continued into adulthood, especially with her role as Santana Lopez in the musical-comedy Glee. Naya Rivera was introduced to acting as a child star after she got a role in the sitcom show Family Matters. tweetedGloria Estefan. It has been over 16 years but the show still remains one of the greatest show of its time. 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. 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. Unfortunately in 2012, Hemsley succumbed to heart complication at the age of 74. He started with the Baltimore Colts, won a Super Bowl in 1970, and played until 1976. 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. ", 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.". You've got to be Googling stuff. 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. His work ranged from Avengers to Sideways. Brown's last role came in 2013. It was a spinoff of the popular show Perfect Strangers on which he appeared only once, though Harriette appeared as a re-occurring guest star. NFL defensive end Bubba Smith was born in 1945 in Texas. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. White was pronounced dead on arrival after. She was just 30 years old. "Family Matters" was a popular American television sitcom that aired nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. However, as Variety noted, Jenner, passed away in 2016 at the age of 75 following a long battle with leukemia. Unfortunately, Payton left the series halfway through the final season, and actress Judyann Elder took over the role. stuck around for 38 episodes but in 1998, she took a break from Hollywood NEW YORK (AP) -- Actress Michelle Thomas, who had television roles in The Young & The Restless, The Cosby Show and Family Matters, has died of cancer at age 29. This material may not be reproduced without permission. He was also a contestant on season 14 of Dancing with the Stars, placing 8th. We loved him so very much.". The show was filled with fond memories that most fans will probably never forget. She also got a role in the sitcoms show Young And Restless as Callie Rogers and as Justine Phillips in The Cosby Show. 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. Gary Menteer, a writer, director, and producer, actually started out as an actor. Jaleel White played the Winslows' obnoxious, ever-present neighbor Steve Urkel for all nine seasons of Family Matters. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Still baffled, Jaleel went on to share more details about Michelle. 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 . 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!'. 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. [8] VelJohnson again portrayed Sgt. 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. [14] VelJohnson also voices several minor characters in the series. She wasnt a series regular but she made quite an impression on audiences. He went on to form his own production company and eventually signed a deal with Warner Bros. TV predecessor Lorimar Television. His character was described as totally dim-witted, and he often annoyed Steve Urkel by saying the silliest things. She was buried on boxing day, following Muslim rights as she requested. 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 is crazy. On the show, Jaleel sat down for a reading with Tyler Henry. 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?" Johnson was popularly known for his role in Shaft, My Demon Lover and many more. The show, centered around a middle-class Black family living in Chicago, was a spin-off of. Beyond TV, Williams appeared in Usher's 2005 crime-dramedy In The Mix and in the 2009 film Steppin: The Movie. Youve got to be Googling this stuff before you come in here. Jaleel said dumbfounded. On May 15, 2020, Willard died of natural causes at the age of 86. They have two kids, John Ervin and Hannah Belle Jackson. Adventure Comedy Drama The Winslow family deals with various misadventures, many of them caused by their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel.