How old was the cast of Good Times during filming?

And, like The Jeffersons, which launched one year after Good Times, there was a huge disparity in the ages of the cast members. At the sitcom's inception, Esther Rolle was 53 versus only 34 for John Amos. Amos, meanwhile, was only eight years older than his TV son Jimmie Walker.
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How old are the characters on Good Times?

When the series begins, J.J. is 17 (portrayed by 26-year-old Jimmie Walker, who was just eight years younger than co-star John Amos), Thelma 16 and Michael 11.
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Who was the youngest in Good Times?

Ralph Carter - Ralph Carter played the Evans' family youngest and militant talking son Michael. The Tony nominated actor, who appeared in the Broadway musical Raisin prior to the sitcom's premiere, released a single called "Get It Right" in 1985.
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What was the age difference between James and Florida on Good Times?

Jimmie 'JJ' Walker was only seven-and-a-half years younger than John Amos, who played his father. Although James and Florida were supposed to be close in age, Amos was 19 years younger than Esther Rolle, though it was implied that James was older than Florida.
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Why was James killed off on Good Times?

After killing the character off, due to contract and creative direction disagreements behind the scenes, writers scrambled to find a replacement or someone who could act as a "fatherly figure." First, they increased Jimmie Walker's character, J.J., and made him lead alongside Esther Rolle.
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Good Times (1974-1979) Cast: Then and Now 2023 [How They Changed]

Who was fired from Good Times?

John Amos is best known for playing no-nonsense father James Evans Sr. on the classic 1970s sitcom Good Times. While he was eventually let go, he went on to bounce back with memorable roles in the original Roots miniseries, and later Coming to America.
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Why did Flo leave Good Times?

The role, Florida Evans, became one of fans' favorite TV moms. Yet it's no secret that Esther Rolle and John Amos (who played James Evans) left the series because Jimmie Walker's character, J.J. Evans, became the focal point.
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Who was the oldest actor on Good Times?

John Allen Amos Jr.

(born December 27, 1939) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries Roots and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times.
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Did the cast of Good Times get along?

actor once said. The members of the Evans family on Good Times all had very different personalities, but they always came together to make it through tough situations. In real life, however, the stars of the 1970s sitcom weren't as tight as they appeared onscreen.
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How old was Thelma when she did Good Times?

Bern Nadette Stanis, who played the role of Thelma Evans, was the perfect 16-year-old on Good Times, but here's the thing: She was actually a 20-year-old playing the part of a teen. The suddenness with which she won her Good Times role took her out of her classes at the Juilliard School of Music.
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How old was Janet Jackson on Good Times?

BernNadette Stanis forged an immediate and indelible bond with 11-year-old Janet Jackson when the future pop superstar made her TV debut in 1977 as Penny on Good Times.
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What happened to Florida's second husband on Good Times?

Carl asks her out and soon proposes, but the euphoria is short lived when he receives a cancer diagnosis. Florida accepts his proposal and the two travel to Arizona for treatment, where they marry. Sadly, Carl succumbs to his illness as the kids and Willona learn when Florida returns for season six.
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Where was Good Times filmed?

Good Times took viewers on a memorable journey through the lives of the Evans family in Chicago's Cabrini-Green housing project. While the setting is Chicago, soundstages in California hosted the production.
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What happened to the actress who played Thelma on Good Times?

Stanis played the role of Thelma Ann Evans on the CBS sitcom Good Times from February 1974 to August 1979. After the series ended, she made appearances on television shows including The Cosby Show and What's Happening Now!!.
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How old was Penny on Good Times?

Willona tells Florida that Penny is 13 years old. Less than 1 year ago when Willona got her in "The Evans Get Involved, Part 4", Penny was only 9 years old, while the rest of the characters are only one year older, instead of 4 to match the story.
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Did Esther Rolle and Jimmie Walker get along?

Off- and on-camera, Walker did not get along with the series' lead, Esther Rolle, because she and Amos disapproved of Walker's increasingly buffoonish character and his popularity, and Walker felt hurt by their disdain.
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What happened to Jimmy Walker after Good Times?

Upon the series' demise in 1979, Jimmie returned to the stand-up stage while looking for a sophomore TV hit. Unable to capitalize on his TV stardom, he instead found himself extremely pigeon-holed by the J.J. character. The short-lived B.A.D.
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What did Jimmy Walker do after Good Times?

Walker continued to perform stand-up during and after Good Times. He also hired two up-and-coming comedians to write jokes for him at the height of his fame: Jay Leno and David Letterman. Leno made his TV debut on a season three episode of Good Times, appearing in a scene with Walker when J.J. goes to a free clinic.
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What projects was Good Times filmed in?

February 8, 1974: Television sitcom Good Times, ostensibly set in the Cabrini–Green projects (though the projects were never actually referred to as "Cabrini-Green" on camera), and featuring shots of the complex in the opening and closing credits, debuts on CBS. It ran for six seasons, until August 1, 1979.
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Is Esther from Good Times dead?

Afflicted with diabetes, Esther's health failed in the 1990s and toward the end of her life she was on kidney dialysis. The actress, who was divorced and had no children, died nine days after her 78th birthday on November 17, 1998.
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What happened to the actress that played Flo?

Polly Holliday as Flo in the Alice cast

She had bit parts in several movies, including All the President's Men. After Alice, Holliday appeared in several other television shows, including Home Improvement, The Client, and Homicide. She also appeared in movies including Mr. Wrong, Mrs.
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