Her role as Harriette lasted only eight episodes, and, after the series ended, Elder appeared in one-off roles on popular television shows such as "Becker" in 2001, "ER" in 2005, "NCIS" in 2006, and even "Grey's Anatomy" in 2016 (per IMDb). The cast talks about what it was like raising him after that traumatic experience. Speaking in an episode of TV One . May 5, 2021 8:10pm. Unsurprisingly, Rivera's stardom continued into adulthood, especially with her role as Santana Lopez in the musical-comedy Glee. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born December 28, 1973 Add to list Awards 1 nomination Photos 12 Known for Family Matters 6.6 TV Series Heres what the main cast members of Family Matters are up to know. After "Good Times," he continued his sweep through television roles, including a stint as a voice on the "Alvin & the Chipmunks," animated series. Worried, her father signed her up for a theater group; this turned out to be a smart move, since Kellie started expressing her . Played by Jo Marie Payton (1989-1997), and Judyann Elder (1998). Jaleel White played Steve Urkel, the She was popularly known as Mother Winslow on the show and she added some aspect of wisdom within the TV show. He also acted in Big Fat Liar starring Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who, Dreamgirls, Grown Ups and Bones. She was known for her roles as Justine Phillips on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (198890), as Myra Monkhouse on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (199398), and as Callie Rogers on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless (1998). She eventually left Hollywood and went to work for the adult entertainment industry. So, keep reading as we pay tribute to those we lost from the show "Family Matters. [12] Her mother added that "they'd give her a sedation that was supposed to put her out for 20 minutes and she'd be asleep for four days. Camille's writing has been published on several websites, and she enjoys writing articles and short stories in her spare time. Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Orlando Brown was a latecomer to "Family Matters," joining the cast in Season 7 as 3J. She had a regular role in the series Give Me A Break and Amen. In fact, Family Matters currently holds a place in history as the second longest running American sitcom to feature a predominately black cast. According to Williams: I wanted to create a program similar to the one I grew up with (Howard University Childrens Theatre). While the American. Her character was witty, sassy, smart and pretty powerful, much like her mother, Harriette. He spent much of the '80s in guest roles on television shows including recurring parts in "Bay City Blues" and "The New Leave It to Beaver," but it was his 1985 appearance in the classic martial arts spoof film "The Last Dragon" as Sho'Nuff, the villain in the movie, that would forever cement him a place in Hollywood history. You've got to be Googling stuff. But that's not all James has been up to (per IMDb): He made guest appearances on "The Vampire Diaries" in 2010 and 2011, playing Luka Martin, and he's lent his voice to roles like Cyborg on "DC Super Friends" andVirgil Hawkins, a.k.a. 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. Like his TV mom, McCary has also attempted to pursue a singing career, and is currently working on putting out a CD. However, Brown was arrested (via Chron) for marijuana possession in 2007 and again in 2016, but, this time, for battery and possession of meth (via Chron). Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! Willard went to two military institutes before serving in the US army and being stationed in Germany. 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. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist and many more. I wanted to bring it to the masses, not to just people who were familiar with the arts but to people who had never experienced any art. In 2009 she briefly hosted the Style Networks Clean Houseas a fill in for NieceyNash. [3], Michelle Thomas was born in Brookline, Massachusetts,[4] on September 23, 1968, to Phynjuar "Penwah" Thomas,[5] a stage actress, and musician father Dennis Thomas, a saxophonist and founding member of the band Kool & the Gang. On August 19, 2008, Carry died at 56 years old. Family Matters (1989-1998) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Directed by Series Writing Credits Series Cast Series Produced by Series Music by Series Cinematography by Series Film Editing by Series Casting By Series Art Direction by Series Set Decoration by Series Makeup Department Series Production Management Although the roles have been small, its nice to see him still finding steady work in the business. Jaleel said dumbfounded. LeNoire passed away in 2002, four years after the final season of Family Matters originally aired. Ironically, Landers was on the other side of the law in his first appearance on "Family Matters," playing a robber at a convenience store. [16][17], From 1993 to 1998, she portrayed the role of Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. "The people in the picture are more important than the picture itself," she told The Root of her exclusion. [18] She appeared posthumously in the role of Anne in the film Unbowed in 1999. After being released from the hospital, Thomas flew home to New Jersey to spend Thanksgiving with her family in Weehawken, New Jersey. Thomas brought the aspect of jealousy and made the sitcom more interesting. Before Captain Savage became Carl's boss at the Chicago Police Department, the patriarch of the Winslow gang served under Lieutenant Lou Murtaugh, played by Barry Jenner. Miller died on April 5, 2020, from complications related to heart disease. She was known for her singing voice, her eccentric hats and how driven she was to become an entrepreneur. Years active. From 1993 to 1998, she portrayed the role of Myra Monkhouse, the girlfriend of Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. "Few singers have impacted music & the world like Donna Summer!" Arnold Johnson "Who she was made everybody want to be better. In 2006, she started the Kellie Williams Program which allows young people ages 14-20 in the Washington D.C. area with a chance to produce a TV show. However, her memory and legacy continue to live on. At the same time, Hemsley delivered a terrific performance that proved why he's regarded as sitcom royalty. As a youngster, Rivera was known for her confident performances and upbeat charisma. That adorably sweet smile and natural acting ability garnered her more roles on shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Baywatch.". Reginald VelJohnson was beyond memorable in his portrayal of Carl Winslow, the patriarch of the Winslow household on "Family Matters" for all nine seasons. Over the years, fans watched him grow up until the series ended in 1998. On August 3, 2011, Smith died at the age of 66. Ultimately, she was written out of the show without anyone even ever acknowledging it. But by the end of the series, Urkel finally won Laura That's why it must have been quite a treat when Summer showed up in not one but two episodes of "Family Matters." After guest spots in shows like "Sanford and Son" and "Good Times," he landed his breakout role as Detective Harris in "Barney Miller." From the likes of, Read More The Top Ten Television LawyersContinue. "She was our foundation," she said. Telma Hopkins played Rachel Crawford, Harriet Winslows sister and aunt to her kids, Eddie, Laura and Judy. 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. His latest acting role was in the 2019 TV movie Fanatic where he played Officer Hardaway. 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.. It remains one of the second longest running series in the history of television after the Jeffersons and it revolved around African American characters. She was buried in New Jersey. ", "Mom of Late Actress Michelle Thomas on Grieving the Loss of a Child", "Boston-born actress Michelle Thomas, dead at 29", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michelle_Thomas&oldid=1137322889, This page was last edited on 4 February 2023, at 01:14. Arnold Johnson is also another cast member from the sitcom show Family Matters that died in real life. Her birthday is September 23, 1968,"Jaleel revealed. Landers continued to act, including a recurring role on "Days of Our Lives," until 2010, appearing last on "Law and Order." She underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 1998 and returned home to her family to recover. lineup. During the reunion photoshoot with Entertainment Weekly, Payton revealed, "I actually made the decision to leave the show two years before I left. She was also a grandmother to Eddie, Laura and Judy. Actors From the movie Friday who have lost their lives. The show became a major staple on network television and the classic '90s "TGIF" lineup. If a shirt isn't your thing, never fear: You can still catch Harrison on television as well. He told the publication, "I was in an unsafe position and it has been shaky but at the end of the day all I can tell you is I'm [okay] and I'm graduating and I will be getting married.". Unfortunately in 2012, Hemsley succumbed to heart complication at the age of 74. He played Peaches in several episodes of the series "Girlfriends" from 2002 until 2004 and voiced Timber Wolf in 16 episodes of "Legion of Super Heroes." Townsend has remained active in Hollywood since moving on from Family Matters. She appeared as Candace in the TV series Stuck With You in 2020. Hes also rumored to be dating his co-star Brytni Sarpy. For the polyglot linguist and language teacher, see, Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, "Michelle Thomas, 30, Actress On TV Soap Opera and Sitcoms", "Classmates - Find your school, yearbooks and alumni online", "Our Proud History-Hal Jackson's Talented Teens! Audiences fondly remember these characters and the actors who portrayed them. He then worked for the US postal service while attending a dramatic arts college and eventually found his way to off-Broadway productions. Family Matters is an American television sitcom that debuted on ABC on September 22, 1989, and ended on May 9, 1997. 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. At the time, Elder was coming off of a sporadic role on "Martin" and get this she had even already appeared on "Family Matters" as Sister Bernadette in the episode "Nunsense" in 1994. Tragedy struck in 2020 after her body was found in the river after disappearing during a boat trip. Family Matters Myra Monkhouse TV Series 1993-1998 55 episodes Malcolm & Eddie Brooke Bellamy TV Series 1997 1 episode Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man Sister Emily (voice) TV Series 1996 1 episode Thea Keanda Kendea TV Series 1994 2 episodes Hangin' with the Homeboys Telemarketing Operator 1991 The Cosby Show Justine Phillips TV Series 1988-1990 The golden age of sitcoms produced many hilarious shows, but Family Matters stands out from the pack for a couple of reasons. They range from the TV series "Freedom," "Rizzoli & Isles," and "Anger Management" to roles in "Saw VI" in 2009 and "Houndz from Hell" in 2011. Shawn Harrison played Waldo Faldo, who was Eddie Winslows best friend. Her character and her baby boy, Richie, moved in with the Winslow clan shortly after becoming a widow. Lenoir was a broadway star working as an actress, producer and even casting agent. Thomas joined the cast team later in the fourth season and appeared in several seasons as Steve Urkel's lover Myra Monkhouse. So Rosetta was really the emotional foundation of the show.". and "Whoa, mama." Menteer holds credits for writing, directing, producing on many of the shows he worked on including "Happy Days," "Punky Brewster," and "Family Matters." 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. [2] The character was originally intended to be a one-time guest appearance on the show; however, he was an instant hit with audiences and White became a regular cast member. ", Foxworth went on to address the work she'd done after "Family Matters" namely, acting in adult films. "[18] Thomas underwent surgery to remove a lemon-sized tumor shortly before landing her The Young and the Restless role in the spring of 1998. Thomas would eventually end up as the real life girlfriend of the actor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo. Some say you should never walk away from a good thing, but Jo Marie Payton, who played the original Harriette Winslow for the majority of "Family Matters" until her departure midway through the final season, would likely disagree. "Who is that?" During the golden ages of sitcoms, many hilarious shows were produced, but Family Matters stood out for various reasons. Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1976) [1] is an American actor, best known for his role as Steve Urkel on the sitcom Family Matters. Thomas appeared in music videos for Mint Condition,[13] Chubb Rock,[14] and Dru Hill. She passed away in 2002. In just over a year, Thomas passed away surrounded by her friends and family. The series centered around the Winslows, a middle-class African-American family. Characters who have died in the Family Matters . Murtaugh was a recurring character in Family Matters between 1990 and 1992, and he was able to make a big impact with his silly antics. Theyre portrayed in a dramatic, overdone manner that isnt exactly exemplifying real lawyers but television lawyers do have one thing in common: they are entertaining. Bill Bickley, a co-creator of the series who also served as producer, agreed. "It was a slap in the face from Entertainment Weekly. Then in 1995, Brown appeared in a season 6 episode of "Family Matters" as the character Pastor Fuller, who asks Mr. and Mrs. Winslow to counsel a couple about marriage. "You're talking about Michelle Thomas. Still, it was arguably her role as Max that made her more well-known. It is believed that Rivera drowned while saving her son's life. Tragedy struck in 2020, however, when her body was found in a river after she disappeared during a boating trip with her son, Josey. Landers' next time on "Family Matters" was in 1997, and he played a pirate named Flint when Urkel and Carl went back in time. Midway through the first season, the show introduced the . Stars Who Think They Have a Psychic Ability. Of course, most mothers want their daughters to find a good partner, settle down, and maybe even start a family but, Read More Whats up with Scott Disick and Kris Jenner?? After leaving the series, Foxworth grew up struggling with mental health and controlled substance issues. Tackling issues like racial profilingandfamily strife, among other relatable and not-so-relatableissues (seriously, how many of us went on "American Gladiators"?) Williams is also a wife and a mother of two. Although he was clearly a smart person, he always found a way to mess things up,usually requiring assistance from one of the Winslows, mainly Carl or Eddie, to make things right. Of course, Family Matters also introduced Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) to the pop culture lexicon, turning what was originally supposed to be a one-off character into a mainstay and all-around sitcom phenomenon. Since "Family Matters" ended, McCrary has appeared injust about everything(or so it seems),including both TV series and movies. She had a lot of friends in the music industry." because of health issues. Dennis was a Screen Actors Guild and Drama Logo award-winning English actor. While her private life remains pretty much private, Hopkins has kept pretty busy over the years. Sadly, LeNoire died in 2002, just four few years after "Family Matters" ended. After a failed stint in rehab in 2018, Brown is apparently doing much better today. Gary Menteer, a writer, director, and producer, actually started out as an actor. (image viahttps://www.pinterest.com/gapeachez1/). After being asked about her passing, the actor talked about how she was highly thought of among her peers. Jenner unfortunately passed away in 2016 at the age of 75 following a long battle with leukemia. 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. Apparently, Miller had seen an early screening of "Die Hard" and thought he'd be perfect for the show. In 1999 a film which she appeared in was released posthumously. From 2009 to 2011, he was a cast member on the soap opera, The Young and the Restless, and from 2012 to 2014 he had a recurring role on Anger Management. When the show ended, White struggled to find serious leading roles, but he did make a few other appearances throughout the years. 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. Audiences watched her grow up during the first few seasons. The show, which aired from 1989 to 1998, focused on the Winslows, a family living in Chicago and their relationship with their sweet - but nerdy and annoying - neighbor, Steve Urkel. It made everybody want to be more professional. Jaimee Foxworth played Judy Winslow, Carl and Harriettes youngest daughter. He was 74. According to The Christian Post, Brown graduated from a faith-based inpatient drug recovery program in Texas called Rise Discipleship. Full House will be returning to TV! 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. Sadly, some of those famous faces are no longer delivering lines and laughs. Though she did continue acting for a time, playing Alice Adams on "What About Joan" for all of its 21 episodes, her acting credits afterward became much more sporadic, with an appearance here or there every year or two, until she took a complete hiatus from acting in 2011. Johnson was popularly known for his role in Shaft, My Demon Lover and many more. "Family Matters" was a popular American television sitcom that aired nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. After "Family Matters" came to a close, Thomas, who had undergone surgery to remove the tumor, landed a role on "The Young and the Restless" as an aspiring singer, but soon afterward had to undergo a second surgery for another cancerous mass. After spending nearly a decade playing Steve Urkel, it was clear that Jaleel White had been typecast. Show.". ?Continue, After a hugely successful first season of HBOs True Detective, rumors have been swirling regarding what major actors or actresses will star in the shows second season. Family Matters Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. Presently, White is the proud father of one, and is also still working on a few TV projects. [3] Thomas had been in the studio recording music before her sudden turn in health. And now, she is set to reprise her role again in the upcoming Punky Brewster" sequel series. Its been over 30 years since the ABC sitcom Family Matters first aired. She appeared in the show as Gwendolyn and was popularly known as the young child who asked Urkel for love advice. She was Lauras friend, but she also put the moves on her brother, Eddie, and started going out with him instead. As of this writing, he has three more production credits in various stages of production (via IMDb). Per USA Today, years later it was discovered he suffered from CTE, a brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. According to an article from Jet magazine at the time, she took amedical leave from the show in October 1998. "You got to be messing with me, dog. teacher in Urkel's swim class. It gives me joy that you don't know who I am." But the actress didnt stick with Hollywood. VelJohnson voiced the character Jerry in the TV show, 3Below: Tales of Arcadia from 2018 to 2019. As iconic character actor Julius Carry recalled to the Chicago Tribune in 1990, he got into show business as a teen when he joined a touring play group called the Spartan Players. 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. Menteer passed away on January 18, 2016, at the age of 72. cancer-related complications. nerdy comedic neighbor of the Winslows who was always trying and failing to win While the rest of his career primarily consisted of supporting roles, he continued to act until 2011, making appearances in shows like Family Guy and Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Michelle Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, the foil to Laura Winslow for many seasons of "Family Matters." She was only 33 at the time. Cherie Johnson was no stranger to television when she was cast as Laura Winslow's best friend, Maxine, on "Family Matters" the actress had also enjoyed great success as Punky Brewster's best friend on the eponymous show. [1] Career [ edit] Landers passed away on March 12, 2015, at the age of 62 from cancer. Two Different Walks Of Life 'A Celebrity and a Average Housewife. Jo Marie Payton played the familys matriarch, Harriette Winslow. "Come on, man. Michelle Thomas is another cast member from the show Family Matters that has passed away. Ive youve been paying close attention to TV over the years, theres a pretty good chance youve seen VelJohnson in a few roles over the years. However, since the shows end, many of the cast members have largely disappeared from the spotlight. On March 17, 2002, LeNoire died from complications from diabetes. She was just 30 years old. In 2020, however, she returned to the small screen in the 2020 television film "Christmas in Carolina" alongside her television brother, played by Darius McCrary. But after "Family Matters," he really grew up. Between 1994 and 1995, Landers appeared as Larry Pinkerton in 18 episodes of "The George Carlin Show." Shes reportedly filming the movies Heart of a Champion and Conundrum: Secrets Among Friends.. 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. Per NPR, he was an activist and member of the board of directors for Los Angeles' AL Wooten Jr. Heritage Center. [12] Thomas was a guest host of the weekly music series Soul Train in May 1996 and March 1997. ", Emmy-nominated actor Ron Glass was a staple of American television starting in 1973 with his first role on "All in the Family." He said, "So actually we ended up with a really really, totally well-rounded, totally wonderful character to play.". "Family Matters" was a popular American television sitcom that aired nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. Judy was the youngest child of the Winslow family for the first two seasons of the show anyway. Jo Marie Payton, Now 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." But Waldos IQ, or lack thereof, turned him into one of the shows most lovable characters. Harriette is a very conservative and strong-willed woman. Ultimately, Harrison hopes the site will carry more merchandise and "be a portal for clips of my work," but, for now, you can at least get your Waldo shirt fix! 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. She was 78 years old at the time, but she had no interest in letting her career wind down. Carry was a working actor up to his last role in 2006's "The 12th Man" before his untimely death from pancreatic cancer. White, 44, looked back on joining Family Matters as a child star and how his adult costars reacted. She was a hilarious older female version of Urkel, and when the two started wreaking accidental havoc on the Winslows living room, spilling popcorn and breaking the coffee table, they both exclaimed, "Did we do that?" To fill that hole, here's what the cast of "Family Matters" has been up to since the show came to an end. 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. Unfortunately, LeNoire is no longer with us. 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. The Cast of Family Matters. Payton got married to her third husband Leonard Downs in 2007 and she has a daughter named Chantale France from a previous relationship. But, Johnson will always be an actress, as she, herself, confirmed in 2021 with a return to "Punky Brewster" in the 2021 reboot on Peacock more than 30 years since the original. 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. If you can't remember Judy Winslow on "Family Matters," don't be dismayed: It isn't your fault. A still shocked Jaleel wrestled with the information, before finally accepting it. He appeared in a few episodes of the show. Kellie Shanygne Williams Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education. 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. Talk about staying power! In more recent years, Hopkins played Maybelle on the series "Family Reunion" and recently reunited with Bryton James, her onscreen son from "Family Matters," when she joined the cast of "The Young and the Restless" as private investigator Denise Tolliver. "She had a lot of friends in the music industry.". Walt Disney Television via Getty Jaleel White Returns as Steve Urkel in New Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? In 1994 and 1997, she played Urkel's aunt, Oona Urkel, who according to Urkel is "a little odd." It has been over 16 years but the show still remains one of the greatest show of its time. Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. "Family Matters" signed off 15 years ago today -- the series finale aired on July 17, 1998 after nine seasons, most of which were spent as a staple on ABC's T.G.I.F. Perhaps his most well-known role after "Family Matters," though, was as Eddie Thomas on "That's So Raven," where he appeared in all 100 episodes alongside series star Raven-Symon. Copyright 2021 Obsev.com All Rights Reserved, Where Are They Now? Bubba Smith's character on Family Matters, Bones, is an intimidating muscle to the loan shark the guys got in deep with, complete with a hilarious growling match between Urkel and Bones. It was named for LeNoire, according to its website, "not only because of her body of work in the theatre, but for her work with the then-titled Actors' Equity Association's Ethnic Minorities Committee as well as for founding the AMAS Repertory Theatre Company, an organization dedicated to maintaining an 'interracial company' of actors." At the time of this writing, no further details are available regarding Brown's death. [19], In August 1997, Thomas was diagnosed with a rare cancer, an intra-abdominal desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor (DSRCT). In 1986, he would go on to star in another series, "Amen," where he played a deacon who was also a lawyer. But during the fourth season, Judy seemingly vanished and was never mentioned by anyone again. Shawn Harrison was born on 28 December 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Of her varied career and leaving "Family Matters," Payton further told Entertainment Weekly, "The way I explain it is that, when you're a baker, you don't always want to bake cakes or cookies; you want to bake pies, you want to bake bread. Clip The sneak peek also features White, 44, reminiscing on his. The actor who brought the character to life, Shawn Harrison, is still very much tapped into his Waldo days, marrying his own snarky humor with the iconic character's catchphrase. Hemsley made the sitcom show family memorable when he got a chance as a guest cast and Carl's obnoxious boss, Captain Marion Savage. By LawBlessing (self media writer) | 1 year ago. Jaleel said before breaking down. According to The Root, once Jaleel White was brought on as Steve Urkel, Jaimee Foxworth, who played Judy, got less and less screen time. [7] Her mother was her first acting coach, and coached her throughout the course of her career. Rosetta LeNoire played Estelle Winslow, who was Carls mother. Rivera even successfully navigated her way from child actor to adult, most of those years spent on "The Bernie Mac Show" from 2002 to 2006. In 2018, "Family Matters" star Reginald VelJohnson told Today that Miller helped him land the role of Carl. It has nine seasons with a total of 215 episodes. Dennis died in April 2009 in Shadow Hills Los Angeles. Poston was a jack of all talents. [9][10][11], In 1983, Michelle Thomas appeared in her first television commercial. So he's staying fresh and busy as ever, even at 67 years old. Shes continued to work as an actress, even taking on some voice roles for cartoons including Disneys short-lived, The Proud Family. Thomas had a role in Dream Date in 1989 and had a small role in Hangin' with the Homeboys in 1991. They know what it is. 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."