'Good Times' and 'Roots: The Next Generations’ Star Ja'net DuBois Dead at 74

DuBois played Willona Woods on "Good Times," and did so much more.

Ja'net Du Bois attends the Pan African Film & Arts Festival Closing Night Premiere "Blackbird".
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Image via Getty/Rodrigo Vaz

Ja'net Du Bois attends the Pan African Film & Arts Festival Closing Night Premiere "Blackbird".

Ja’Net DuBois, known for her role as Willona Woods on Good Times, was found dead on Tuesday in her Glendale, California home, TMZ reports. She was 74. 

DuBois' family told TMZ that she died unexpectedly in her sleep. Aside from her work on Good Times, DuBois' resume includes I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Roots: The Next Generations, and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. She also sang and co-wrote "Movin' On Up," theme song of the hit TV show The Jeffersons, and voiced the character Mrs. Florence Avery on the animated sitcom The PJs, which earned her two Emmys for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. 

Regardless of where they knew her from, people are feeling the sudden loss of DuBois. 

Rest In Peace. Ms. DuBois also sang the iconic Jefferson’s theme song and had a memorable role in I’m Gonna Get You Sucka. And check this: “In 1992, DuBois, Danny Glover and Ayuko Babu co-founded the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles” https://t.co/1TSCFZYfco

— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) February 18, 2020

RIP to actress, dancer and singer Ja’net DuBois

Known for her roles playing Willona on ‘Good Times’, Grandma on ‘Wayans Bros’, Ms. Avery on ‘The PJs’, and for co-writing and singing the theme song for ‘The Jeffersons’. pic.twitter.com/ceOeXhy0gQ

— Ave (@SebastianAvenue) February 18, 2020

RIP Ja'net DuBois, a Hall of Fame sitcom neighbor (on Good Times) AND a Hall of Fame ANIMATED sitcom neighbor (on The PJs). She also cowrote perhaps the greatest opening theme song ever. https://t.co/CGNyLRCj9k

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) February 18, 2020

aw man this is awful https://t.co/sjQ1WQtMY8

— Joel D. Anderson 🆓 (@byjoelanderson) February 18, 2020

Nobody made an entrance like Willona. Rest, Ja’Net Dubois.❤️ pic.twitter.com/6iieXh3dau

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) February 18, 2020

DuBois' fellow Good Times castmates, Jimmy Walker and Bern Nadette Stanis, who played J.J. and Thelma, respectively, have responded to her passing. 

To My Dear Ja’Net (Wilona)
You were like an aunt to me. I love you and I will really miss you. RIP you are one of God’s Angels now. Praying for your family.🙏🏽😇🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

— BernNadette Stanis (@thelmagoodtimes) February 18, 2020

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