Actress Ja’Net DuBois Dies At 74, Janet Jackson Says “She Changed The Landscape For Black Women In Entertainment”

Janet Dubois

Actress Ja’Net DuBois Dies At 74, Janet Jackson Says “She Changed The Landscape For Black Women In Entertainment”

Very sad news, actress Ja’Net DuBois has passed. Ja’Net Dubois was believed to be 74. On late Monday (Feb. 17th), Glendale, California, police said they received a report about her passing. Reportedly, she appeared to have died of natural causes and no investigation is ongoing.

Janet Jackson, who played her daughter on the 1970s hit “Good Times” reacted to the sad news on social media.

 

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I am so very saddened to hear my longtime friend Ja’Net DuBois has passed away. I saw first hand how she broke stereotypes and changed the landscape for Black women in entertainment. I’m grateful in recent years I had a chance to see her and create more lasting memories. I pray for comfort for all her family and friends. Thank you Ja’Net, I’ll miss you. ?

A post shared by Janet Jackson (@janetjackson) on Feb 18, 2020 at 6:07pm PST

Ja’Net DuBois was best known for her portrayal of Willona Woods, the neighborhood gossip maven and a friend of the Evans family on the sitcom Good Times, which originally aired from 1974 to 1979. DuBois additionally co–wrote and sang the theme song “Movin’ on Up” for The Jeffersons, which originally aired from 1975 until 1985.

In 1995, DuBois won a CableAce award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Lifetime movie Other Women’s Children. In 2000, DuBois served as Grand Marshal for the North Amityville Community Parade and Festival Day in Amityville, New York. She won two Emmy Awards for her voiceover work on the animated program The PJs (1999). DuBois with the cast of Good Times received The Impact Icon Award at the 2006 TV Land Awards.

DuBois had at least three children: Rani DuBois, Yovanne DuBois, and Raj Kristo Gupta, who died of cancer in 1987 at age 36. Rani appeared as an extra in four episodes of the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! and alongside her mother in five episodes of Good Times.

Our thoughts and prayers are with DuBois’ family and friends at this time.