Ja'Net DuBois

Jeannette Theresa Dubois (August 5 – February 17, 2020), known professionally as Ja'Net DuBois, Ja'net DuBois, DuBois additionally cowrote and sang the theme song "Movin' On Up" for The Jeffersons, which aired from 1975 until 1985. After beginning her career on the stage in the early 1960s, DuBois appeared on television shows and in films into the mid-2010s.

Biography Early life and career DuBois was born Jeannette Theresa Dubois in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In the early 1960s, DuBois moved to Brooklyn She appeared in the drama A Raisin in the Sun with Louis Gossett Jr., though not the original Broadway production. 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. DuBois next 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's character, through the entire original run from October 1964 to March 1966.

Career DuBois's early television acting credits include the 1969 television film J.T. and as Loretta Allen on the soap opera Love of Life from 1970 until 1972, becoming one of the first African-American female regular cast members on a daytime series. DuBois's first film appearance was her portrayal of Vera in Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970). She landed the role of Stormy Monday in the 1973 comedy Five on the Black Hand Side and appeared in Lanford Wilson's play The Hot l Baltimore that same year.

During her time in the play, television producer Norman Lear watched DuBois on stage at the Mark Taper Forum and was impressed with her performance. He cast her in his CBS sitcom Good Times as Wilona Woods, the Evanses' neighbor and best friend of family matriarch Florida Evans, portrayed by Esther Rolle. DuBois appeared in the show from February 1974 until the show ended in August 1979. DuBois began the show as a costar alongside Rolle and John Amos (who departed the show in 1976). In 1977, DuBois's role became more prominent during the fifth season after Rolle had left the cast. DuBois returned to her costarring role when Rolle returned in the sixth and final season in 1978.

After Good Times ended in 1979, DuBois recorded the album Again, Ja'Net DuBois on her Peanuts and Caviar label in 1983. She appeared in former Good Times co-star Janet Jackson's 1987 "Control" music video as her mother. In 1992, she costarred with Clifton Davis in And I Still Rise, a play written and directed by Maya Angelou. 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 on Long Island, New York. In 1995, DuBois won a CableACE award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Lifetime film Other Women's Children. DuBois won Emmy Awards for her voiceover work on the animated program The PJs in 1999 and 2001. DuBois, along with the other cast members of Good Times, received the Impact Icon Award at the 2006 TV Land Awards. In 2000, DuBois served as grand marshal for the North Amityville Community Parade and Festival Day in Amityville, New York. DuBois was an honorary member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

Personal life DuBois married Sajit Gupta in 1950. According to her Brazilian consular document, DuBois was divorced from Gupta by April 1959, but another source states that she was still married in 1964. and Raj Kristo Gupta, who died of cancer in 1987 at age 36. Provat is a basketball coach based in California. In 1959, DuBois was romantically involved with actor Brock Peters.

Death DuBois died on February 17, 2020, of cardiac arrest at her residence in Glendale, California.

Discography Movin' On Up (theme from The Jeffersons, 1975) 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 Television film 1973 Five on the Black Hand Side Stormy Monday 1973 The Blue Knight Celia Louise Television film 1977 A Piece of the Action Nellie Bond 1981 Hellinger's Law Dottie Singer Television film 1983 The Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour Mrs. Gorman Television film 1986 Stranded Bettina Television film 1987 Kids Like These Mrs. Page Television film 1988 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Ma Bell 1990 Heart Condition Mrs. Stone 1990 Hammer, Slammer, & Slade Joanne Wilson Television film 1990 Penny Ante: The Motion Picture Aunt 1993 Harlan & Merleen Maxine Television film 1995 Magic Island Lucretia 1996 Sophie & the Moonhanger Agnes Television film 1996 Don't Look Back Mrs. Lawson Television film 1998 Best Friends for Life Katie Pegues Television film 1998 Hard Time Lefty Television film 1999 Hard Time: Hostage Hotel Lefty, Logan's Assistant Television film 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 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 The Facts of Life Ethel 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/Willona Woods 11 episodes 1999 Clueless Aunt Liddy 1 episode 1999–2001 The PJs Mrs. Florence Avery Voice, 43 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, episode: "Samsquatch" 2007 Cold Case Edna Johnson 1 episode 2011 G.I. Joe: Renegades Grams Hinton Voice 2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience Herself Episode: "All in the Family and Good Times"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Series Result 1998 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Touched by an Angel 1999 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Voice-Over Performance The PJs 2001 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Voice-Over Performance The PJs: Let's Get Ready to Rumba 2006 TV Land Image Award Good Times