nerdy comedic neighbor of the Winslows who was always trying and failing to win I must admit that I understand Jaleels Googling suspicions about psychic medium, Tyler Henry. He also had a minor role in the 2002 film Like Mike. Darius McCrary played Eddie Winslow, the handsome, eldest brother to Laura and Judy and cousin to Richie. See More, Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. According to Hello Magazine, the autopsy report revealed that "accidental drowning" was the cause of death. 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. 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. Her former boyfriend, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, was at her side. She underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 1998 and returned home to her family to recover. Al Powell" character from the Die Hard series in an episode of NBC's Chuck titled "Chuck Versus the Santa Claus", as the cousin of Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence). Sadly, she passed away that same year of 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!'. LOS ANGELES, California (AP) Jaleel White, who played 'nerdy' neighbor Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" found dead Monday. Davenport, Misha. Also an accomplished dancer, he was in the original cast of "The Music Man" on Broadway and appeared in several musical adaptations, including "Hello,Dolly!" After playing the Winslow family matriarch, Harriette, on Family Matters, Jo Marie Payton continued her television career with recurring and lead roles on several other primetime shows. LeNoire spent more than three decades on television with roles on "Another World," "Ryan's Hope," "Gimme a Break," and "Amen," before landing her spot in the cast of "Family Matters." Thomas died Tuesday in Manhattan, according to her publicist, Kahdijah Bell. Thomas would eventually end up as the real life girlfriend of the actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo. "Come on, man. He was 74. White was pronounced dead on arrival after. in 1983 and finally signed on to Family Matters for its first through fourth seasons. The cause of death at the time had been ruled acute drug intoxication and other conditions. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. ET If you were a faithful Family Matters viewer between 1989 and 1993, you may remember the character of little Judy Winslow. Five-year-old Naya Rivera already had a series ("The Royal Family") under her belt when she was cast in "Family Matters" as Gwendolyn, a new neighbor who had a crush on Richie. The show was filled with fond memories that most fans will probably never forget. May 13 2020, Updated 10:30 p.m. }); Copyright 2015 . Jo Marie Payton, Now He then worked for the US postal service while attending a dramatic arts college and eventually found his way to off-Broadway productions. [14] VelJohnson also voices several minor characters in the series. Quick Facts Also Known As: Michelle Doris Thomas Died At Age: 30 Family: father: Dennis D.T. Dont let her age fool you, though. To Be or Not to Be (Part 1) To Be or Not to Be (Part 2) We're Going to Disney World (Part 1) In 1999, she joined Moesha's season 4 to play recurring character Mrs. Campbell. She also completed the project The Friend Zone and is currently working on A Road to Daisies and Dandelions," which is currently in post-production. In July 24, 2012,Sherman Hemsley died of a lung mass. Rosetta LeNoire played Estelle Winslow, who was Carls mother. In 1975, Mekka received a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in "The Lieutenant." Thenthe 21-year-old psychic claimed that he didnt even know who Jaleel White a.k.a. But the actress didnt stick with Hollywood. He also appeared in 6 "Police Academy" movies and the TV series. The death is being investigated as a suicide. because of health issues. with a rare stomach cancer in 1997 and died in 1998 at . 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. Carry was a working actor up to his last role in 2006's "The 12th Man" before his untimely death from pancreatic cancer. He was also the Winslow childrens adorable youngest cousin. Harrisons latest role was in 2018 when he played Reverend Ike in Uncle Eds Bucket List. But, the actor isn't done with Hollywood yet. Michelle Thomas | The Cosby Show, Family Matters & A Rare Disease Leads To a Tragic End Juicy Pop 188K views 1 year ago 'Family Matters' Reunion ft. Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel White & More. In August of 1997, Michelle Thomas life was forever changed when she was diagnosed withintra-abdominaldesmoplastic small-round-cell tumor,a rare form of stomach cancer. The Stars of That '70s Show: Where Are They Now? Bryton James, Richie Crawford. "Who is that?" In 2009, McCrary returned to TV to fill in for Shemar Moore on The Young and the Restless. She starred in films such as Glee, The Arsenio Hall Show, Step Up and many more. Most recently, Harrison made a cameo on fellow TGIF alumna Raven-Symon's show Raven's Home for two episodes in 2022. The character's obsession with Urkel along with her jealousy toward Laura made her polarizing among fans and created some entertaining moments. He died back in 2007 due to respiratory failure at the age of 85. 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." "She had a lot of friends in the music industry.". Image Via Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images. Tyler questioned. Thomas moved on from Family Actress Natalie Desselle Reid, who starred in the 1997 film "B.A.P.S." and played Janie Egins in the 2003-2006 sitcom "Eve," died Monday. Per USA Today, years later it was discovered he suffered from CTE, a brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. Per The Guardian, Rosetta LeNoire was born in Hell's Kitchen, New York, in 1911. After "Good Times," he continued his sweep through television roles, including a stint as a voice on the "Alvin & the Chipmunks," animated series. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist and many more. She eventually left Hollywood and went to work for the adult entertainment industry. Following the adventures of the Winslow family (and their friends and neighbors), the sitcom starred (pictured from left in this 1992 photo) Bryton James, Telma Hopkins, Reginald VelJohnson, Rosetta Lenoire (she played Estelle "Mother" Winslow, and died in 2002), Darius McCrary, Jo Marie Payton, Jaimee Foxworth (who played daughter Judy Winslow but was written out of the show in the middle of season 4 and not mentioned again), Shawn Harrison, Kellie Shangyne Williams and Jaleel White. Portrayed by Jaimee Foxworth, the precocious youngest member of the family was adorable and a great way to reel in younger viewers. That's why it must have been quite a treat when Summer showed up in not one but two episodes of "Family Matters." The Cast of 'Shameless' : Where Are They Now? Still baffled, Jaleel went on to share more details about Michelle. 15 Reginald VelJohnson Reginald VelJohnson 's acting career has really come full circle. His comedic talent on shows "Modern Family" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" earned him multiple Emmy noms, and he was a fixture of Christopher Guest's mockumentary troupe. Matters and landed the role of Callie on The Young and the Restless. She Urkel iseven though the basis of his show is centered around featuring well known celebs: This is embarrassing, I dont even recognize you, Tyler statedto Jaleel. Authorities state that upon entering the home they discovered a young African-American male with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. After guest spots in shows like "Sanford and Son" and "Good Times," he landed his breakout role as Detective Harris in "Barney Miller." It has been over 16 years but the show still remains one of the greatest show of its time. Singer and actor Johnny Brown had a megawatt smile that was perfect for stage and television. Shawn Harrison followed his role as Eddie Winslow's friend Waldo on Family Matters with appearances on shows INCLUDING Moesha and Girlfriends. She is reportedly working on a short film called Absent in the Present. She also has a YouTube channel and she is available to send messages to fans on the app Cameo. But they have been an essential function of some of the most iconic family units in small-screen comedies. The cast of "Laverne & Shirley is seen above in a publicity photo. She had a lot of friends in the music industry." White revisited Urkel after all in 2019, when he voiced him in the cartoon Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? By Variety. By LawBlessing (self media writer) | 1 year ago. She wasnt a series regular but she made quite an impression on audiences. Gary Menteer, a writer, director, and producer, actually started out as an actor. "Family Matters" was a popular American television sitcom that aired nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. Also found was a note, which read simply "Did I do that? After leaving the series, Foxworth grew up struggling with mental health and controlled substance issues. 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. In 2006, a false news report of a former child star's death by suicide was spread within the online world via a fabricated Associated Press story that was passed from inbox to inbox. 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. Kelly Shangyne Williams, who played Laura in Family Matters, even described her co-star as "[the] foundation" of the series in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Once the series wrapped, Williams hopped onto. White, an only child, is survived by "cousins, aunts, uncles, and wonderful friends," Bickley said. On August 3, 2011, Smith died at the age of 66. LOS ANGELES, California (AP) Jaleel White, who played 'nerdy' neighbor Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" found dead Monday. It remains one of the second longest running series in the history of television after the Jeffersons and it revolved around African American characters. Jaleel White, who portrayed Steve Urkel on the television sitcom "Family Matters," committed suicide in 2006. The former TGIF star has garnered widespread acclaim for his performance on the show: he's a two-time Emmy winner and a two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award. The golden age of sitcoms produced many hilarious shows, but Family Matters stands out from the pack for a couple of reasons. On December 22, 1998, she passed away, surrounded by friends and family in New York City, including her then long-time boyfriend/Cosby Show actor, Malcolm Jamal Warner (Theo). 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." As a youngster, Rivera was known for her confident performances and upbeat charisma. WASHINGTON (PRWEB) April 18, 2022 -- Three of the three of the key cast members and three forward-thinking producers decided to launch their own digital platform. He was also a contestant on season 14 of Dancing with the Stars, placing 8th. She was known for her singing voice, her eccentric hats and how driven she was to become an entrepreneur. His early career included a brief appearance in Ghostbusters (1984) as a municipal corrections officer, and an appearance in Crocodile Dundee (1986) as a limo driver. As Today pointed out, some of the adults who worked with her back in the day claimed that she was wise beyond her years and had a natural gift for the craft. The Cast of Family Matters. Come on, man. The series centered around the Winslows, a middle-class African-American family. He'll be missed and remembered every day by his many, many friends," they said. Family Matters. Dennis was a Screen Actors Guild and Drama Logo award-winning English actor. "I'm looking at what looks like E and then L-L-E is the only way to describe it," Tylershared. Thomas joined the cast team later in the fourth season and appeared in several seasons as Steve Urkel's lover Myra Monkhouse. This material may not be reproduced without permission. His daughter, Hope Mulbarger, toldPeopleof her father, "He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. Soon Brown found himself garnering role after role on TV shows like, "Maude," "Chico and the Man," and in 1975 was cast in Season 2 of "Good Times" in the role of Nathan Bookman, the super for the building in the projects that the Evans family lived in. Payton also lent her voice to The Proud Family Movie, and she can be heard as Suga Mama in the show's 2023 Disney+ revival. Menteer passed away on January 18, 2016, at the age of 72. [9] He came from New York to California to film it for nine months, which was so long that he just ended up residing in California permanently thereafter. Clip The sneak peek also features White, 44, reminiscing on his. 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. "Everyone adored him," she said. In 2021, VelJohnson voiced Principal Winslow in the animated adaptation of the comic Invincible. In 2017, VelJohnson took part in a "Family Matters" reunion alongside the rest of the cast. Tom Poston popularly known as Mr Lonely by fans of the family sitcom show Family Matters, is another actor that has passed away in real life. One year later, he landed the role of Carl Winslow, another police officer, in the beloved ABC series Family Matters. Adventure Comedy Drama The Winslow family deals with various misadventures, many of them caused by their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. 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. She was just 30 years old. Cookies help us deliver our Services. If the content contained herein violates any of your rights, including those of copyright, and/or violates any the above mentioned factors, you are requested to immediately notify us using via the following email address operanews-external(at)opera.com and/or report the article using the available reporting functionality built into our Platform. This is crazy. "Jaleel was an uncommonly good man, an exceptional role model and a great comedic actor," said William Bickley, who created the series, and Thomas L. Miller, one of the executive producers, in a joint statement. Poston was a jack of all talents. "We feel privileged to have known him and worked with him. However, as Variety noted, Jenner, passed away in 2016 at the age of 75 following a long battle with leukemia. Come on, man. Unfortunately for the pair, their friendship came to an end after Murtaugh took all of the nerd's money during a poker game. He started with the Baltimore Colts, won a Super Bowl in 1970, and played until 1976. When Ellyria's father died, he left the family spell book hidden. 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 They even developed a bond over root beer and romantic woes. Shes also working on other projects like The Regiment and South Beacon Hill. But aside from acting, shes also a producer, an author and a certified nutritionist who co-owns the health and beauty company Keeping It All Natural. "She was my old co-star from Family Matters and she died of stomach cancer quickly, White said. 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. He has starred in Fresh Prince Of Bel-air and he was popularly known for his character in the sitcom The Jeffersons. Jaleel explained. In my opinion, Google appears to be Henrys best friend, because everything he told Jaleelabout Michelleis easily verifiable on Googlebut I digress. Powell in the GameCube video game title, Die Hard: Vendetta, in 2002. Television actress Michelle Thomas, 30, a co-star on the sitcom "Family Matters," died Dec. 22 after a struggle with stomach cancer. 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. Laura Winslows heart. In both the comic and the television series, the main character attends a high school named after the actor, and the character itself is named after his previous role of Carl Winslow from Family Matters. She died on December 26, 1998, surrounded by her family as well as former boyfriend Malcom-Jamal Warner with whom she had remained close friends, according toPeople. His most notable on screen part was in the Bruce Willis blockbuster film "Die Hard," in which he played Captain Mitchell, an officer on scene who directs the SWAT team during the hostage situation. 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. It is said that 300 years ago, in the year Bedlam, Divine Magic died. He assumed Henry had done research to know a bit more about him, so hed know what to say. He started out in the mid-1980s getting bit parts, usually as a white-collar guy. Thomas brought the aspect of jealousy and made the sitcom more interesting. Though she spent plenty of time onscreen in her music videos and she starred in the 1978 musical comedy "Thank God it's Friday," Summer wasn't making any moves toward a career in films or television. She passed away in 2002. Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. Then in "Sink or Swim" in season 6, Mekka plays Mr. Nutting, the P.E. He was more interested in cars, dating girls and pulling silly pranks. Actress Kellie Williams Laura Winslow on the series described White as a consummate professional actor. The Captain wasn't the most popular character, presumably because of his tendency to cheat at golf and make life difficult for Carl. 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. Unfortunately in 2012, Hemsley succumbed to heart complication at the age of 74. [8] VelJohnson again portrayed Sgt. After appearing in all 8 seasons, Mekka went on to a myriad of guest roles in both movies and series, including two different characters on "Family Matters." Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Maxine always tried to get Laura to do the wrong thing, but she eventually stopped doing that once she and Waldo started dating. They got divorced in 2019, and have a daughter together named Zoey. Her birthday is September 23, 1968,"Jaleel revealed. In 1994 and 1997, she played Urkel's aunt, Oona Urkel, who according to Urkel is "a little odd." 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. On February 18, 2020, he announced via his Instagram that he was working on the upcoming web series A Sitcom for Gio, as its director. Beyond TV, Williams appeared in Usher's 2005 crime-dramedy In The Mix and in the 2009 film Steppin: The Movie. 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. David Sutton, in Turner & Hooch (1989). A genuinely good guy and purveyor of cheer whenever things got cheerless.". Who is that? Tyler questioned. Jaleel White, who played . Before she was on Family Matters, Johnson was on another sitcom called Punky Brewster where she played Punkys best friend, Cherie. Hemsley was in his fifties when he starred in Family Matters, so he was already a veteran performer by the time he joined the sitcom. Shes reportedly filming the movies Heart of a Champion and Conundrum: Secrets Among Friends.. She was buried on boxing day, following Muslim rights as she requested. After her TGIF run, she played Lillian Roanoke in Mike Myers' 2008 film The Love Guru, and most recently she acted as Freya in 2021's The Matrix Resurrections. There were temples and churches to Gods and they suddenly closed their doors forever. Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. Hes also rumored to be dating his co-star Brytni Sarpy. McCrary was married to She Ball actress Tammy Brawner. VelJohnson is known for playing police officers in films and on television. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Jaleel White Says He Was 'Not Welcomed' by 'Family Matters' Cast When He Joined Show as Steve Urkel, Confessions from TGIF Stars: 'Family Matters, Full House' & More. In the years after, he provided the voices for Jazz in the original Transformers movie and Tarix in.