Glendale, CA – Good Times actress Ja’Net DuBois, who played beloved neighbor Willona Woods, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her Glendale home on Monday (February 17). She was 74.
Kesha Fields, DuBois’ youngest daughter, told CNN the accomplished theater and music performer’s death was unexpected.
Janet Jackson, who co-starred with DuBois on Good Times as Penny, took to social media to pay tribute to the late actress.
“I saw first hand how she broke stereotypes and changed the landscape for Black women in entertainment,” Jackson captioned on an Instagram post of her and DuBois. “I’m grateful in recent years I had a chance to see her and create more lasting memories. I pray for comfort for all her family and friends. Thank you Ja’Net, I’ll miss you.”
In addition to appearing in roles on shows such as Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Home Improvement and Moesha, DuBois’ was also the voice behind 70s hit sitcom The Jeffersons theme song “Movin’ On Up.”
Fields revealed DuBois wrote the song “as a gift to her mother for all the promises she made to her when she was younger…what she would do when she reached a certain level of stardom.”