SOURCE: AP NEWS
GLENDALE, Calif. -- Ja'Net DuBois, who played the vivacious neighbor
Willona Woods on "Good Times" and composed and sang the theme song for
"The Jeffersons," has died.
DuBois' song "Movin' on Up" provided a joyous intro to "The Jeffersons" during the show's 10-season run.
BernNadette
Stanis, who played Thelma Evans Anderson on "Good Times," said she
learned of DuBois' death Tuesday from the actress' daughter.
Police
in Glendale, California, said they received a report about DuBois'
death late Monday. She appeared to have died of natural causes and no
investigation is ongoing, police Sgt. Dan Stubbs said. No additional
details, including her age, were immediately available.
Stanis
said DuBois appeared to be in good health and they had appeared two
weeks ago at a signing event. She noted that DuBois kept to herself and
no one knew exactly how old she was.
DuBois had a prolific career
beyond the 1970s hit "Good Times," winning two Emmy Awards for her
voice work on the WB series "The PJs."
DuBois' Willona was the
single, sexy neighbor and best friend to star Esther Rolle's Florida
Evans. Though the comedy had plenty of one-liners, DuBois' appearances
gave an extra dose of comedic relief. DuBois showed off more of her
dramatic skills when a young Janet Jackson joined the show as the abused
child Penny; DuBois' character would go on to adopt Penny, and the
story line also forged a long, close relationship with Jackson, who
would go on to become a multiplatinum superstar; she cast DuBois as her
mother in her 1986 "Control" video.
DuBois'
career started in theater, where she appeared in Broadway productions
of "Golden Boy" and "A Raisin in the Sun," according to a biography on
her website. A performance in "The Hot l Baltimore" in Los Angeles
caught the eye of Norman Lear, who developed "Good Times" and "The
Jeffersons."
Her film credits included 1970's "Diary of a Mad Housewife," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."
She
was credited in numerous other films as varied as "Basic Instinct,"
"Next Friday" and "Tropic Thunder," which included "Movin' on Up."
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