He went on to form his own production company and eventually signed a deal with Warner Bros. TV predecessor Lorimar Television. White shed tears as he remembered actress Michelle Thomas, who played Myra, the girlfriend of his nerdy character, Steve Urkel, on his hit '90s sitcom. Embed from Getty Images. He also credited the writers with taking his character from "just kind of a Black guy who was in the room" to something that more resembled the actor himself. This eventually turned into a Broadway career, and sheeven founded her own theater company in 1968 called Amas. 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,. [8][10] He also later reprised the character in the 1990 sequel Die Hard 2. Oscar-winning producer dead at 101. Their love/hate relationship was one of the reasons that the show was such a hit. Come on, man. Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry visited the home of Jaleel White where he connected with one of White's former Family Matters co-stars. Watch the shocking reveal in the clip above! Kellie Shanygne Williams is a now retired American actress, best known to the world as Laura Lee Winslow in the TV family comedy-drama series "Family Matters" (1989-1998). ET If you were a faithful Family Matters viewer between 1989 and 1993, you may remember the character of little Judy Winslow. To make matters worse, her mother fell into a drug habit, leaving the teenager to handle the household finances alone. 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. Kellie Shanygne Williams made her name playing Laura Winslow, the seemingly perfect know-it-all daughter of Carl and Harriette on Family Matters. 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." She broke into the world of sitcoms with the early '80s series Bosom Buddies, continued on with Gimme A Break! Who is that? Tyler questioned. She had a lot of friends in the music industry." So, he got his cousin, Myra, to meet with him and she and Urkel wound up hitting it off, but ultimately, it didnt work out. Copyright 2021 Obsev.com All Rights Reserved, Where Are They Now? Youve got to be Googling this stuff before you come in here. Jaleel said dumbfounded. December 28, 1998. Cookies help us deliver our Services. He was also the Winslow childrens adorable youngest cousin. Content created and supplied by: LawBlessing (via Opera 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. Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. But they have been an essential function of some of the most iconic family units in small-screen comedies. [8] VelJohnson played alongside Tom Hanks, as Det. His other popular credits include St. Jo Marie Payton played the family's matriarch, Harriette Winslow. In addition to his longtime work on the CBS soap opera, McClure has lent his voice for several animated series including Nickelodeon's Zevo-3, Cartoon Network's Young Justice: Invasion and in Disney+'s 2022 miniseries Tales of the Jedi. Actors From the movie Friday who have lost their lives. He was able to make it big in the show with his silly antics. In 2004, McClure scored his next big gig on The Young and the Restless playing Devon Hamilton, a struggling teen who was living on the streets before the Winters family took him in. 1979-present. Jaleel said dumbfounded. After playing Rachel Baines-Crawford, the younger sister of Harriette Winslow, Hopkins starred in Getting By, another TGIF show that aired from 1993 to 1994 (its second season aired on NBC). He started out in the mid-1980s getting bit parts, usually as a white-collar guy. Stars From Family Matters You Didn't Know Died, Rivera drowned while saving her son's life, He diedon March 2, 2022, at the age of 84. He was more interested in cars, dating girls and pulling silly pranks. Desselle-Reid's manager, Dolores Robinson . window._taboola = window._taboola || []; In 1994 and 1997, she played Urkel's aunt, Oona Urkel, who according to Urkel is "a little odd." In 1975, Mekka received a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in "The Lieutenant." Family Matters. News ), 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. His latest acting role was in the 2019 TV movie Fanatic where he played Officer Hardaway. Dennis died in April 2009 in Shadow Hills Los Angeles. I must admit that I understand Jaleels Googling suspicions about psychic medium, Tyler Henry. Payton also has a busy career in voice acting: She voiced The Proud Family's Suga Mama Proud, the unpredictable grandmother of protagonist Penny Proud, on Disney Channel from 2001 through 2005. Come on, man. Thomas appeared on the CBS soap opera The . 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). Family Matters - Full Cast & Crew 51 Metascore 1989 -2021 9 Seasons CBS Family, Comedy TVG Watchlist Where to Watch A suburban Chicago family is pestered by nerdy, nosy neighbor Steve Urkel. WASHINGTON (PRWEB) April 18, 2022 -- Three of the three of the key cast members and three forward-thinking producers decided to launch their own digital platform. She wasnt a series regular but she made quite an impression on audiences. You got to be messing with me, dog. Authorities state that upon entering the home they discovered a young African-American male with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. White has continued to guest star on a variety of television shows like Trial and Error and Fresh Off the Boat. In 2019, he reprised his role of Steve Urkel on the TV series, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? He also appeared on the The Big Show Show in 2020 and the Disney Channel series Ravens Home. He has a daughter named Samaya White, who he had with ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy. Family Matters Actors You May Not Know Passed Away. VelJohnson voiced the character Jerry in the TV show, 3Below: Tales of Arcadia from 2018 to 2019. Well talk about that part later. On the big screen, he held small roles in films like Like Mike and You Again in 2002 and 2010, respectively. Willard also portrayed Vice Principal Mallet on "Family Matters" from 1994 to 1996, appearing in three episodes. (per Today), White broke down in tears as he fondly remembered Thomas, who passed away in 1998 at the young age of 30. Johnson was popularly known for his role in Shaft, My Demon Lover and many more. 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. 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. Desselle-Reid's manager, Dolores Robinson, confirmed . September birthday, sudden passing, E-L-L-ENo Google?. That adorably sweet smile and natural acting ability garnered her more roles on shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Baywatch.". But most will probably agree that his relationship with the beautiful Myra Monkhouse portrayed by actress, Michelle Thomas -was just as special. According to Hello Magazine, the autopsy report revealed that "accidental drowning" was the cause of death. Michelle Thomas' first role on television was on the hit TV series "The Cosby Show," where she played Theo's girlfriend, Justine. She was my old co-star fromFamily Mattersand she died from stomach cancer quickly. He began his career back in the 1950s. In 2021, VelJohnson voiced Principal Winslow in the animated adaptation of the comic Invincible. Apart from Family Matters, Jenner had notable roles in Star Trek, Deep Space and many more. Buddy was the star of a show the Winslow family was obsessed with and Carl ended up arresting him for assault. She was 78 years old at the time, but she had no interest in letting her career wind down. They have two kids, John Ervin and Hannah Belle Jackson. 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. It was all a send-up, though. Walt Disney Television via Getty Jaleel White Returns as Steve Urkel in New Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! ", When you think of Sherman Hemsley it might just draw an image of him getting out of a cab in front of a high-rise in Manhattan, strutting toward the door, or doing some fancy footwork in his living room as he did in the famously fun opening theme of his hit sitcom "The Jeffersons.". On December 22, 1998, Thomas died in New York City from desmoplastic small round cell tumor. In August of 1997, Michelle Thomas life was forever changed when she was diagnosed withintra-abdominaldesmoplastic small-round-cell tumor,a rare form of stomach cancer. Now: Since 2004, James has played Devon . Peter Dennis is another cast member from Family Matters that has passed away in real life. Her former boyfriend, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, was at her side. Steve was a complete misfit, but he was hilarious, endearing, and a complete fixture as part of the cast of 'Family Matters.' In fact, the character's entrance onto the show saved it from being canceled. It remains one of the second longest running series in the history of television after the Jeffersons and it revolved around African American characters. Bryton McClure played Richie Crawford, the son of Telma Hopkins character, Rachel. He starred on the show until it ended in 1998. Lenoir was a broadway star working as an actress, producer and even casting agent. Cherie Johnson played Maxine Johnson who was Lauras best friend, but was sometimes portrayed as a bad influence as a result of her neglectful parents. So he's staying fresh and busy as ever, even at 67 years old. Find out the latest on Jaleel White, Jo Marie Payton, and more. 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 is also famous for her roles as Justine Phillips on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show 1988 to 1990. with a rare stomach cancer in 1997 and died in 1998 at . So much so that Jaleel was brought to tears. In both the comic and the television series, the main character attends a high school named after the actor, and the character itself is named after his previous role of Carl Winslow from Family Matters. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. In the season 2 episode, "Flash Pants," Mekka plays Charlie, a transfer who competes against Carl in a dance contest. The golden age of sitcoms produced many hilarious shows, but Family Matters stands out from the pack for a couple of reasons. 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. "Family Matters" was a popular American television sitcom that aired nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. 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. She was Lauras friend, but she also put the moves on her brother, Eddie, and started going out with him instead. The Cast of Family Matters. DreamFlix TV is a collaboration between "Family Matters" cast members JoMarie Payton, Kellie Shanygne Williams and Darius McCary, along with entertainment industry veterans, Ervin Williams, ShahRon Vaulx and producer Peggy . Jaleel White Says He Was 'Not Welcomed' by 'Family Matters' Cast When He Joined Show as Steve Urkel, Confessions from TGIF Stars: 'Family Matters, Full House' & More. target_type: 'mix' [8] VelJohnson again portrayed Sgt. Carmine Ragusa was the bright-faced, dancing, on-again-off-again boyfriend of Shirley Feeney. This is crazy. 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. Per NPR, he was an activist and member of the board of directors for Los Angeles' AL Wooten Jr. Heritage Center. One year later, he landed the role of Carl Winslow, another police officer, in the beloved ABC series Family Matters. Sherman Hemsley is probably one of the funniest actors in the sitcoms. After leaving the series, Foxworth grew up struggling with mental health and controlled substance issues. He then worked for the US postal service while attending a dramatic arts college and eventually found his way to off-Broadway productions. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Jo Marie Payton, who played the . Although Jaleel has been out of the public eye for a while, he is alive and well. "On the Tail of Scooby-Doo." Thomas died Tuesday in Manhattan, according to her publicist, Kahdijah Bell. The classic TGIF sitcom Family Matters had a consistent main cast until mom Harriette Winslow was abruptly recast during the final season. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. ", a popular catchphrase from the show. [13] He played air traffic controller Bob Abbot in the 2012 film Air Collision. ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty, Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Unique Nicole/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Rick Kern/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Alberto Rodriguez/GA/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; David Livingston/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty, Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Shawn Harrison/Instagram, Jo Marie Payton Says She Will Only Do a 'Family Matters' Reboot If Judy Winslow Is Written Back In, 'Family Matters' ' Jo Marie Payton, Reginald VelJohnson Acted Like Parents Off Set: 'They Did Not Play!'. "September birthday, sudden passing, E-L-L-ENo Google?". 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. Telma Hopkins played Rachel Crawford, Harriet Winslows sister and aunt to her kids, Eddie, Laura and Judy. The show became a major staple on network television and the classic '90s "TGIF" lineup. This granny was hip and street-wise and also had plenty of love and advice to offer everyone. 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. They got divorced in 2019, and have a daughter together named Zoey. Dennis was a Screen Actors Guild and Drama Logo award-winning English actor. Jaleel sincerely misses Michelle Thomas,which is evident in his emotional video, check it out below. On Will & Grace's second season, Payton was Mrs. Freeman, an assistant at Will's law firm. He was 29 years old. The quintessential hoax of this ilk is the "Paul is dead" belief attaching to Paul McCartney it began in 1969 and at least among some continues to this day. Point is! As of 2009, VelJohnson had homes in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, and resided primarily in Oceanside, New York. But it was his Broadway debut in "Purlie" that got him noticed by Norman Lear and led to his first TV roleas grumpy Archie Bunker's neighbor in "All in the Family," for which George Jefferson was born and inspired the spin-off, "The Jefferson's. It was in 1989 that White landed the role that would make him famous, playing wacky neighbor 'Steve Urkel' on the ABC program "Family Matters. If the content contained herein violates any of your rights, including those of copyright, and/or violates any the above mentioned factors, you are requested to immediately notify us using via the following email address operanews-external(at)opera.com and/or report the article using the available reporting functionality built into our Platform. "You're talking about Michelle Thomas. White was pronounced dead on arrival after. (White is also listed as the movie's producer.). Rosetta LeNoire played Estelle Winslow, who was Carls mother. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. She was also a grandmother to Eddie, Laura and Judy. Hopkins made her name in film before she signed onto Family Matters. In 1999, Thomas was nominated for an NAACP award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for her role on "Young and the Restless.". In the sitcom show Family Matters, he got a role as mother Winslow's husband. Black-Led TV Shows. Bryton Eric McClure. Naya Rivera was introduced to acting as a child star after she got a role in the sitcom show Family Matters. Singer and actor Johnny Brown had a megawatt smile that was perfect for stage and television. Jo Marie Payton, Now Barry Jenner was a recurring character in the sitcom show Family Matters. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 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 . 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. 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. 9 June 2002 (p. 11). In 1992, Carry appeared in an episode of "Family Matters" in which played Harriet's tall, handsome piano teacher that Carl thinks twice about leaving her alone with. On August 19, 2008, Carry died at 56 years old. Actor Matt Landers was in dozens of television shows and 20 motion pictures over his thirty-year career in show business. The actor is set to do it again in Cartoon Network's 2023 TV film Did I Do That to the Holidays? A still shocked Jaleel wrestled with the information, before finally accepting it. But by the end of the series, Urkel finally won Laura It has nine seasons with a total of 215 episodes. Carry was a working actor up to his last role in 2006's "The 12th Man" before his untimely death from pancreatic cancer. Known for. Glass toldPop Goes the Culture TV that another actor, Rod Perry, had the role in the pilot but was picked up by another show, leaving an opening. Belvedere." "This is embarrassing, I don't even recognize you," Tyler tells him. She was 53 . Gone way too soon, but never forgotten. The poorly-written and fake Associated Press article both had the victim being found dead in his home and pronounced dead following admission to a Los Angeles-area hospital. In 1986, he would go on to star in another series, "Amen," where he played a deacon who was also a lawyer. That said, he also had a memorable guest role in Family Matters, playing Carl's boss, Captain Marion Savage, in a few episodes between 1994 and 1995. Cherie Johnson from Family Matters has returned to her family sitcom roots after a career shift ABC, Peacock/YouTube 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. His character was described as totally dim-witted, and he often annoyed Steve Urkel by saying the silliest things. Her career however was short-lived as she passed away in 1998 at the young age of 30 years after battling with stomach cancer for a while. Darius McCrary played Eddie Winslow, the handsome, eldest brother to Laura and Judy and cousin to Richie. in 1983 and finally signed on to Family Matters for its first through fourth seasons. Tammy Townsend played Greta McClure for 14 episodes. 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." '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. The network TV landscape of the 1980s and the 1990s was all about family-oriented sitcoms, with the occasional exception such as Married with Children, which was about a family but courted controversy with its more risque episodes. was the wide-eyed humorous pronouncement associated with Steve Urkel, the character's signature catchphrase. "I didn't realize I was going to see . 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." Carl Winslow - Family Matters. However, some of the show's most memorable denizens have sadly passed away since Family Matters came to an end. "Come on, man. "I love these people Every one of them," a teary-eyed VelJohnson stated at the time. "Did I do that?" "She had a lot of friends in the music industry.". Landers continued to act, including a recurring role on "Days of Our Lives," until 2010, appearing last on "Law and Order." Jaleel seemed to then believe Henry, based on what happened next: Dont worry about that part. She flew home to spend Thanksgiving with family, but unfortunately, that was her last holiday alive. When Ellyria's father died, he left the family spell book hidden. LeNoire passed away in 2002, four years after the final season of Family Matters originally aired. She underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 1998 and returned home to her family to recover. Soon Brown found himself garnering role after role on TV shows like, "Maude," "Chico and the Man," and in 1975 was cast in Season 2 of "Good Times" in the role of Nathan Bookman, the super for the building in the projects that the Evans family lived in. Hes also rumored to be dating his co-star Brytni Sarpy. A Steve Urkel Story. Lenoir died in 2002, just four years after the final season of Family Matters was aired. His work ranged from Avengers to Sideways. 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. 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. 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. After guest spots in shows like "Sanford and Son" and "Good Times," he landed his breakout role as Detective Harris in "Barney Miller." Thomas was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 23 . Most recently, Harrison made a cameo on fellow TGIF alumna Raven-Symon's show Raven's Home for two episodes in 2022. She also got a role in the sitcoms show Young And Restless as Callie Rogers and as Justine Phillips in The Cosby Show. LOS ANGELES, California (AP) Jaleel White, who played 'nerdy' neighbor Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" found dead Monday. After "Good Times," he continued his sweep through television roles, including a stint as a voice on the "Alvin & the Chipmunks," animated series. Read: Actors From the movie Friday who have lost their lives. 15 Reginald VelJohnson Reginald VelJohnson 's acting career has really come full circle. Before she was on Family Matters, Johnson was on another sitcom called Punky Brewster where she played Punkys best friend, Cherie. Bryton McClure was only 4 years old when he started playing Richie Crawford on Family Matters' second season. She then went on to appear as a regular cast member on Half & Half and Are We There Yet? On March 17, 2002, LeNoire died from complications from diabetes. On August 3, 2011, Smith died at the age of 66. It was a spinoff of the popular show Perfect Strangers on which he appeared only once, though Harriette appeared as a re-occurring guest star. 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. The series ran for nine seasons and featured 215 family friendly episodes. 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 . Adventure Comedy Drama The Winslow family deals with various misadventures, many of them caused by their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. Dennis was a Screen Actors Guild and Drama Logo award-winning English actor. Carl was seriously irritated by his pesky neighbor Urkel and his annoying antics. Tragedy struck in 2020, however, when her body was found in a river after she disappeared during a boating trip with her son, Josey. One of the first additions to the "Family Matters" cast was Bryton McClure, who played the role of Richie Crawford, the son of Rachel Crawford. Has She Died? After the show wrapped, White stated that he never wanted to step back into Urkel's shoes again, though he later revised the claim over a decade later. Jaleel White, who played . She was buried on boxing day, following Muslim rights as she requested. He appeared in a few episodes of the show. He started with the Baltimore Colts, won a Super Bowl in 1970, and played until 1976. Between 1994 and 1995, Landers appeared as Larry Pinkerton in 18 episodes of "The George Carlin Show." 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. It is believed that Rivera drowned while saving her son's life. In addition to Family Matters, Jenner had a notable role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, portraying Starfleet Admiral William Ross in 12 episodes of the beloved sci-fi series. [4] He later obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater from New York University, where he had a chance to work with Joseph Papp's Black/Hispanic Shakespeare Company, in which Morgan Freeman and CCH Pounder were among his fellow actors. VelJohnson had his breakthrough role[5] as Sgt. Emmy-nominated actor Fred Willard was a prolific actor whose career spanned more than fifty years. Of course, most Family Matters fans remember "Steve Urkel's" fascination with "Laura Winslow" and how his special bond with the 'Winslow family' was one of the most memorable dynamics of the show. That said, the TGIF alumnus does have a sizable number of acting credits since his Family Matters days. As to why it was Jaleel White this time around, the answer is perhaps found in the suicide note he supposedly left behind. Per USA Today, years later it was discovered he suffered from CTE, a brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. In his latest work, the former child star starred as Connor on the drama series Monogamy, which aired its third season in 2021. She starred in films such as Glee, The Arsenio Hall Show, Step Up and many more. Thenthe 21-year-old psychic claimed that he didnt even know who Jaleel White a.k.a. In July 24, 2012,Sherman Hemsley died of a lung mass. To Be or Not to Be (Part 1) To Be or Not to Be (Part 2) We're Going to Disney World (Part 1) In the end, she saved the day singing her iconic song "Last Dance" at a talent show. Her birthday is September 23, 1968, Jaleel revealed. 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. Chicago Sun-Times. As a three-year-old in real life, it was his screen debut.