The character's obsession with Urkel along with her jealousy toward Laura made her polarizing among fans and created some entertaining moments. 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. But they have been an essential function of some of the most iconic family units in small-screen comedies. McClure eventually became known as Bryton James, but most soap fans know him as Devon Hamilton on The Young and the Restless. According to IMDB, he has done about 1,104 episodes of the classic soap. Barry played Carl's buffoonish boss, Lieutenant Lou Murtaugh. She had a regular role in the series Give Me A Break and Amen. Jaleel Whitemay bebestknown for playing hilariously nerd Steve Urkel on the '90s sitcom Family Matters, but there's nothing funnyabout theshocking revelation he receives from Tyler Henry on Wednesday night's Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry episode. Come on, man. In July 24, 2012,Sherman Hemsley died of a lung mass. For starters, it remains one of the longest-running series in the history of television to revolve around African American characters, only exceeded by Tyler Perry's House of Payne and The Jeffersons, respectively. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. He was survived by his wife and two children. Jaleel White, who portrayed Steve Urkel on the television sitcom "Family Matters," committed suicide in 2006. Shes appeared in the TV series Family Reunion, as Maybelle, and shes voicing a character also named Maybelle for the animated series The Casagrandes, which is a spin-off of 2016s animated show, The Loud House.. Born Jaleel Ahmad White, he began his career at the age of three acting in television commercials, before landing guest spots on shows such as "The Jeffersons" and "Mr. Also found was a note, which read simply "Did I do that? Family Matters premiered on September 22, 1989, and ran for nine seasons. From Frank and Marie in Everybody Loves Raymond to Albert in The Goldbergs, the old-timers can always be relied on to share their wisdom with their younger counterparts. In an interview with E! [5][8][10] Since the end of Family Matters, VelJohnson has done mostly voice and guest star work. ", Following the cancellation of "Family Matters" in 1997, friends claim White became obsessed with the character, and grew despondent, despite further successes as star and producer of the UPN sitcom "Grownups", and as a writer for NBA.com. Lenoir was a broadway star working as an actress, producer and even casting agent. She spent her remaining years dealing with health-related complications caused by diabetes. Glass' decades-long acting career also included a hilarious stint as Ross Gellar's divorce lawyer on "Friends" in 1999. Although Jaleel has been out of the public eye for a while, he is alive and well. She passed away in 2002. Michelle Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, who was introduced as a love interest for Urkel. Gary Menteer, a writer, director, and producer, actually started out as an actor. [8] VelJohnson again portrayed Sgt. As to why it was Jaleel White this time around, the answer is perhaps found in the suicide note he supposedly left behind. Jaleel said dumbfounded. Payton got married to her third husband Leonard Downs in 2007 and she has a daughter named Chantale France from a previous relationship. 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. She was 90 years old at the time, and she left behind an impressive body of work in television, film, music, and theater. 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. Actor. Like many actors of his time, he started on the stage in the 1950s. In 1999, she joined Moesha's season 4 to play recurring character Mrs. Campbell. "I'm looking at what looks like E and then L-L-E is the only way to describe it," Tylershared. May Michelle Thomas continue to rest peacefully. His other popular credits include St. 'Family Matters' Alum Jo Marie Payton Claims Jaleel White Tried to 'Physically Fight' Her on Set, Reginald VelJohnson Once Walked Out on 'Family Matters' over the 'Challenge' of Working with Teens. It has been over 16 years but the show still remains one of the greatest show of its time. He later reprised his role as David Sutton on Disney's Turner & Hooch. You got to be messing with me, dog. She wasnt a series regular but she made quite an impression on audiences. Just before his retirement from sports, Smith got his first role on television, a guest spot playing himself on the show "The Odd Couple." Shes not currently active in Hollywood, but she has stayed pretty busy working on the Kellie Williams Program, a project in Washington, DC, that gives 14 to 20-year-olds a shot at producing their own television shows. 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"). 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. Bryton Eric McClure. But the actress didnt stick with Hollywood. Im looking at what looks like E and then L-L-E is the only way to describe it, Tylershared. Family Matters is an American television sitcom that originated on ABC from September 1989 to 1997 and later was moved to CBS from 1998. David Sutton, in Turner & Hooch (1989). Born in 1952 to an Armenian father and an Italian mother, Eddie Mekka told Broadway.comhegot the performing bug when he was asked to be the emcee of their variety school, so of course his next stop was the stage. She was my old co-star fromFamily Mattersand she died from stomach cancer quickly. Confident, hilarious, and kick-a** fighting skills, Carry drew in audiences who couldn't help but fall in love with Sho'Nuff. He was 74. It has nine seasons with a total of 215 episodes. Peter Dennis is another cast member from Family Matters that has passed away in real life. The "Family Matters" actress died on Wednesday, December 23, 1998, at the young age of thirty in a private room at a Manhattan's Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer center surrounded by her family and close friends. [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. It was UT's loss, and a big one at that:Smith became a two-time All-American in 1965 and 1966. The show, a spinoff of Jo Marie Payton's "Perfect Strangers" character Harriette Winslow, has left us with fond memories of The Urkel, the sweet sounds of the accordion and the epitome of tortoise shell hipster glasses. Per theNew York Daily News, Hemsley succumbed to superior vena cava syndrome and passed away in 2012. 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. 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. On May 15, 2020, Willard died of natural causes at the age of 86. Maxine always tried to get Laura to do the wrong thing, but she eventually stopped doing that once she and Waldo started dating. However, much like her boyfriend before her, Myra was soon promoted to a recurring role and eventually became an integral part of the Family Matters ensemble. 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. Mekka continued working until his last credit in 2018, then a few short years later, Mekka died on November 27, 2021, at the age of 79. The cast of 'Family Matters' has largely continued to work in the industry after the show ended in 1998. It happened after Lauras boyfriend, Ted, got tired of Urkel trying to put the moves on his girlfriend. target_type: 'mix' 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. In 1994 and 1997, she played Urkel's aunt, Oona Urkel, who according to Urkel is "a little odd." Johnson died in Los Angeles at the age of 78. "Few singers have impacted music & the world like Donna Summer!" Emmy-nominated actor Fred Willard was a prolific actor whose career spanned more than fifty years. Her former boyfriend, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, was at her side. NFL defensive end Bubba Smith was born in 1945 in Texas. She was known for her singing voice, her eccentric hats and how driven she was to become an entrepreneur. Landers passed away on March 12, 2015, at the age of 62 from cancer. He has also appeared in the comedy film, The Formula, starring alongside Brandon Baker and Sasha Jackson. As for the character's origins, he started out as a slated one-time appearance, and he was named after a friend of one of the show's co . He died back in 2007 due to respiratory failure at the age of 85. On stage, the young actress starred in . Before Family Matters, Telma Hopkins was best known as a member of the '70s pop music group Tony Orlando and Dawn. 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. December 28, 1998. 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. He also joined fellow Family Matters alumni Kellie Williams, Jo Marie Payton and Darius McCrary at the 2022 '90s Con event. Williams married President and CEO of the IT firm Y-Tech, Hannibal Jackson in 2009. 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. He went on to form his own production company and eventually signed a deal with Warner Bros. TV predecessor Lorimar Television. 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 On the big screen, he held small roles in films like Like Mike and You Again in 2002 and 2010, respectively. He's made. Audiences watched her grow up during the first few seasons. Two years later, on November 25, 2016, Glass died of respiratory failure. After "Barney Miller," he continued to secure role after role, including portraying an actor named Buddy Goodrich in a 1989 episode of "Family Matters." She has been away from the entertainment world since 2011, and many have wondered where she is now. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. 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. The show became a major staple on network television and the classic '90s "TGIF" lineup. 1979-present. Then in "Sink or Swim" in season 6, Mekka plays Mr. Nutting, the P.E. In 1952 comedian and actor Reginal VelJohnson was born! 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. 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. But Waldos IQ, or lack thereof, turned him into one of the shows most lovable characters. On December 22, 1998, Thomas died in New York City from desmoplastic small round cell tumor. He was able to make it big in the show with his silly antics. Shes reportedly filming the movies Heart of a Champion and Conundrum: Secrets Among Friends.. To Be or Not to Be (Part 1) To Be or Not to Be (Part 2) We're Going to Disney World (Part 1) Jaleel White Breaks Down Over Death of Family Matters Co-Star in Hollywood Medium Sneak Peek See the actor get a sad reminder of his early acting days By Vannessa Jackson Aug 07, 2017 9:30 AM. In 2009, McCrary returned to TV to fill in for Shemar Moore on The Young and the Restless. 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. From 2006 to 2008, he voiced Timber Wolf in Warner Brothers' animated adaptation of DC Comics' Legion of Super Heroes. (per Today), White broke down in tears as he fondly remembered Thomas, who passed away in 1998 at the young age of 30. His daughter, Hope Mulbarger, toldPeopleof her father, "He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. In the late '60s, he began showing up on television and in movies, and by the time the '70s rolled around, it seemed he was bitten by the comedy bug, appearing in variety shows like "Love, American Style" and sitcoms such as "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Fernwood Tonight," in which he appeared in 44 episodes as Jerry Hubbard. 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. 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. She was only 33 years old. Now: Since 2004, James has played Devon . nerdy comedic neighbor of the Winslows who was always trying and failing to win Eddie dreamt of being a basketball star but had horrible grades all throughout high school. So much so that Jaleel was brought to tears. She appeared in all nine seasons and unlike most of the other Winslow clan, she actually liked their neighbor Steve Urkel. Jaleel said before breaking down. 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. "We feel privileged to have known him and worked with him. Thomas brought the aspect of jealousy and made the sitcom more interesting. Per Beaumont Enterprise, when it came time for college ball, he ended up leaving his homestate for Michigan State because the University of Texas teamwas not yet integrated. Reginald VelJohnson (born Reginald Johnson; August 16, 1952) is an American actor. There were temples and churches to Gods and they suddenly closed their doors forever. Menteer also popped up in variety shows like "The Dean Martin Show" and "The Carol Burnett Show" before he began his career behind the camera. As a three-year-old in real life, it was his screen debut. Michelle Thomas, an actress in the television programs ''The Cosby Show,'' ''Family Matters'' and ''The Young and the Restless'' died on Wednesday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in . 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. Darius McCrary played Eddie Winslow, the handsome, eldest brother to Laura and Judy and cousin to Richie. His character was described as totally dim-witted, and he often annoyed Steve Urkel by saying the silliest things. The sitcom show was created by William Bickley and Michael Warren. Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. 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. Jaimee Foxworth played Judy Winslow, Carl and Harriettes youngest daughter. Poston was a jack of all talents. [15] He has never married and has no children. Black-Led TV Shows. VelJohnson had his breakthrough role[5] as Sgt. White revisited Urkel after all in 2019, when he voiced him in the cartoon Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? 3 min read In the interview set to air on Sunday, White opens up about his past on the show and also remembers his late co-star, Michelle Thomas In a recent interview,. The show, centered around a middle-class Black family living in Chicago, was a spin-off of. Johnson was popularly known for his role in Shaft, My Demon Lover and many more. 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. Unsurprisingly, Rivera's stardom continued into adulthood, especially with her role as Santana Lopez in the musical-comedy Glee. From 1986 to 1993, the sitcom chronicled the hilarious misadventures of the Winslow family and Urkel, capturing the hearts of viewers in the process. "I didn't realize I was going to see . She appeared in the show as Gwendolyn and was popularly known as the young child who asked Urkel for love advice. From 1993 to 1998, she portrayed the role of Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. ET If you were a faithful Family Matters viewer between 1989 and 1993, you may remember the character of little Judy Winslow. He appeared in a few episodes of the show. At a recent cast reunion at 90s Con, the Family Matters cast was asked about whether they'd be interested in revisiting the Winslow family with a series revival. "On the Tail of Scooby-Doo." Per The Guardian, five-time Grammy winner and queen of disco Donna Summer went from church choir singer to musical theater performer to music superstar who put out hit albums like "Bad Girls" and "Love to Love You baby." [13] He played air traffic controller Bob Abbot in the 2012 film Air Collision.