Ja’Net DuBois, known for her turn as Willona Woods on “Good Times,” was found dead in her Glendale, Calif. home on Tuesday.

The Pan African Film Festival, which she co-founded, said she “would be deeply missed.” Her family told TMZ the actress died unexpectedly in her sleep. She was believed to be 74.

In addition to her role as the Evans family’s neighbor in the ’70s sitcom, she also appeared in a number of notable films and TV programs including “Roots,” Keenan Ivory Wayans’ “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” as Momma Bosley. DuBois was also known for her legendary voice. She composed and sang “Movin’ On Up,” the theme song for “The Jeffersons.” She also voiced the character of Mrs. Avery in “The PJs” (for which, she won two Emmys) as well as Mrs. Patterson in “As Told by Ginger.”

DuBois started her acting career in the 1960s. She starred in the 1966 film “A Man Called Adam” alongside Sammy Davis Jr. From there, she went on to act in the TV film “J.T.” and “Diary of a Mad Housewife.” Her 1970-72 stint as Loretta Allen on the TV soap opera “Love of Life” made her the first African American woman who was a regular cast member on a daytime serial. Over the course of her career, she came to be known as a widely respected pioneer of the industry. She also made a few cameos on multiple 90s and 2000s sitcoms such as “A Different World,” “Sister, Sister,” “Home Improvement” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

Flex Alexander, who worked with DuBois briefly on his series “One on One,” penned a heartfelt message to the late actress saying, “You should have been given way more flowers while you were here, you helped pave the way for African American Actresses, you will be missed.”

https://variety.com/2020/...203506763/

Bernadette Stanis has been sharing her passing on FB and have spoken about all

the great times they've had together including just 2 weeks ago.

I've read from several people of how much of a sweet person she was. She was doing the

Soul Food Music Festival/Family Reunion circuit with other castmates from the show the past

several years. She didn't accompany them on a tour in Charlotte 4 years ago. I hate I didn't get

an opportunity to meet such an iconic actress. She will be missed. RIP Janet DuBois

aww.

Sad news. She made me laugh as a kid. R.I.P

Good Times is my ALL TIME favorite sitcom. Especially since my girl Janet Jackson(whom I worked with right after Good Times ) appeared in it.Ja'net Dubois as Willona stole EVERY scene she was in on Good Times!
Plus her theme song that she wrote for The Jefferson's "Movin On Up" will forever be set in our memories.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Good Times is my ALL TIME favorite sitcom. Especially since my girl Janet Jackson(whom I worked with right after Good Times ) appeared in it.Ja'net Dubois as Willona stole EVERY scene she was in on Good Times!
Plus her theme song that she wrote for The Jefferson's "Movin On Up" will forever be set in our memories.

Good Times was great until John Amos left.

uPtoWnNY said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Good Times is my ALL TIME favorite sitcom. Especially since my girl Janet Jackson(whom I worked with right after Good Times ) appeared in it.Ja'net Dubois as Willona stole EVERY scene she was in on Good Times!
Plus her theme song that she wrote for The Jefferson's "Movin On Up" will forever be set in our memories.

Good Times was great until John Amos left.

"Good Times" had some of the greatest actors guest starring in television history! Most whom became famous in their own right. Not just black actors either. David Letterman,Jay Leno etc. just to name a few.

uPtoWnNY said:

RJOrion said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Good Times was great until John Amos left.

yep...after Amos left, the producers and writers had Jimmie Walker cooning it up for a majority of the episodes...John Amos and Esther Rolle both voiced their opinions on the show's direction, but to no avail...and it cost Amos his job. [Edited 2/26/20 16:04pm]

It seemed liked they toned down JJ's antics after John got fired. JJ became older and had more

responsibility. You didn't see that Dynomite nonsense when Janet was on the show the final

2 seasons or when Moses Gunn had a recurring role. The show was better with John Amos but that

came with JJ's cooning. I actually liked some of the later shows better with a more mature JJ minus the cooning.

uPtoWnNY said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Good Times is my ALL TIME favorite sitcom. Especially since my girl Janet Jackson(whom I worked with right after Good Times ) appeared in it.Ja'net Dubois as Willona stole EVERY scene she was in on Good Times!
Plus her theme song that she wrote for The Jefferson's "Movin On Up" will forever be set in our memories.

Good Times was great until John Amos left.

I didn't know Janet recorded an album in 1980.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80Sb63jV-gw

Her name is JA'NET not Janet.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

RJOrion said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Her name is JA'NET not Janet.

actually her name is Jeanette Dubois...Ja'Net DuBois is a stage name

Ja'net is what she preferred to be called.

StrangeButTrue said:

The wonderful song "Movin' On Up (Theme to the Jeffersons)" by Jeff Barry, Ja'net DuBois and Oren Waters means a great deal to me. It's pure and simple happiness, a sweet and uncomplicated throw back to my youth, and lasting friendship, and more. I would have loved to have met the song's creators and given them each a rocking hug, especially Ms Ja'net DuBois.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/...ailsignout


The Good Times star, who also co-wrote The Jeffersons‘ theme song, died of cardiac arrest, according to her death certificate obtained by TMZ.

Prior to her death, DuBois had suffered from peripheral vascular disease and chronic kidney disease, the death certificate shows. She also had high blood pressure.

Following her death, DuBois was cremated and her ashes were dispersed at sea, according to her death certificate. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The Glendale Police Department told PEOPLE, officers responded to a call regarding DuBois “not breathing” on the evening of Feb. 17. Officials later determined that DuBois was deceased.