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Jo Marie Payton

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Jo Marie Payton
Born (1950-08-03) August 3, 1950 (age 74)[1][2]
Albany, Georgia, U.S.
Other namesJoMarie Payton
Jo Marie Payton-France
Jo Marie Payton-Noble
Alma materAlbany State University
OccupationActress
Years active1978–present
Spouses
Marc France
​
​
(m. 1980; div. 1987)​
Rodney Noble
​
​
(m. 1993; div. 1998)​
Landrus Clark
​
​
(m. 1998; div. 2004)​
Leonard Downs
​
​
(m. 2007)​
Children1

Jo Marie Payton (born August 3, 1950)[3] is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Harriette Baines Winslow on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1989–1998), a role she originated on its forerunner series Perfect Strangers. From 2001 to 2005, Payton provided the voice for Suga Mama Proud (Penny Proud's paternal grandmother) on Disney Channel's animated series The Proud Family and reprised the role in the 2005 TV Movie The Proud Family Movie and also on Disney+’s revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.[3] The role earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2005.[4] Payton also had recurring roles as the personal assistant to Gregory Hines' character, Ben Doucette (Will Truman's boss), during season two of Will & Grace (1999–2000).

Early life and education

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Jo Marie Payton was born on August 3, 1950, in Albany, Georgia.[2] Sometime during her early teens, her family relocated to Opa-locka, Florida. Payton attended high school at North Dade Jr./ Sr. High School and later graduated from Miami Carol City Senior High School in 1968.[5] Continuing her education, Payton graduated from Albany State University.[6] She then moved to California, where she joined the national touring company of the musical Purlie.[7]

Career

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Payton's big break came when she was cast as Harriette Winslow, the elevator operator on the ABC sitcom Perfect Strangers, in 1987.[1] Her performance was so well received by audiences that she was given her own sitcom, Family Matters, in 1989. Continuing her character Harriette Winslow from Perfect Strangers, she played a mother in a middle-class black family living in Chicago, Illinois. Payton left Family Matters partway through its final season, appearing for the last time on December 19, 1997, during increasing tension between her and star Jaleel White (the two nearly came to blows and had to be physically separated during Payton's penultimate episode).[8] Harriette Winslow was played by Judyann Elder in the show's remaining eight episodes.

In 2002, Payton appeared on the "TV Moms" episode of the Anne Robinson version of The Weakest Link,[9] and was the third one voted off. In 2003, Payton and her daughter appeared on a Mother's Day episode of Lingo, playing against fellow TV mom Meredith Baxter and her daughter. Baxter and her daughter won. In 2005, Jo Marie Payton provided the voice of Suga Mama in The Proud Family Movie. Her other television credits include Desperate Housewives[10], Reba, Girlfriends, Wanda at Large,[11] Judging Amy, The Parkers, Will & Grace, The Hughleys, 7th Heaven, Moesha, The Jamie Foxx Show, 227, Silver Spoons, Small Wonder and The New Odd Couple. She also appeared as Mama in the Canadian television miniseries The Rev.

In 2005, Payton co-hosted the 15th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards with Glynn Turman.[12] In August 2009, she guest starred on Meet the Browns as Shirley Van Owen. Payton then hosted her own show, Second Chance with Jomarie Payton, on the Hometeam Network. In 2012, Payton appeared in the GMC TV movie special From This Day Forward.

Other ventures

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In 2004, in an effort to help raise funds for Virginia Union University, Payton wrote letters to alumni urging them to donate money in amounts from $18.65 to $186,500, in honor of the university's founding date of 1865.[13] Payton also continued to donate, host charitable events, and support her alma mater of Albany State University while also continuing her education and making a successful career.

Personal life

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Payton is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[2] In 1999, she released a jazz album, Southern Shadows. Payton has been married four times and divorced three times. Her first marriage lasted from 1980 to 1987, and was to Marc France with whom she has a daughter, Chantale France, born in 1984.[2] From April 17, 1993[2] until 1998, Payton was married to Rodney Noble.[14] Shortly after divorcing Noble, Payton married Landrus Clark in 1998; they divorced in 2004. Payton has been married to Leonard Downs since 2007.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 The Plant Family Geneva (Lyla's friend) TV movie
1980 The Hollywood Knights Black Lady
1983 Deal of the Century Baptist #1
1986 Crossroads Jookhouse Woman #2
1987 Disorderlies Kool's Mother
1988 Colors 2nd Woman in Recreation Center
1989 Troop Beverly Hills Saleswoman
2001 Enchos of Enlightenment Paul's Wife
2002 In the Eyes of Kyana Olivia Video
2004 Gas Loretta
2005 The Proud Family Movie Suga Mama Proud (voice) TV movie
The Rev Mama TV movie
2011 The Beach Chronicles AGX P2 Mothunevis Omaph Short
2012 The Beach Chronicles AGX Mothunevis Omaph Short
From This Day Forward Elena TV movie
2015 Dangerous Lessons Linda TV movie
The Flight Before Christmas Marie TV movie
2016 Jericho Maebell
54:17 Violet
2017 A Warrior's Path: Alpha Essie Short
2018 The Little Mermaid Lorene
Christmas Made to Order Rachel TV movie
2019 The Beach Bum Judge
2020 A Very Charming Christmas Town Estelle TV movie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1977–78 Redd Foxx Recurring cast
1982–83 The New Odd Couple Mona Recurring cast
1983 Teachers Only Yolanda Episode: "It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To"
1986 Small Wonder Meter Maid Episode: "Here Comes the Judge"
1986–87 Silver Spoons Marie Recurring cast: season 4–5
1987 227 Mrs. Herman Episode: "The Handwriting on the Wall"
The Slap Maxwell Story Bavaria Episode: "Episode #1.1"
1987–89 Perfect Strangers Harriette Winslow Main cast: season 3–4
1988 Frank's Place Mrs. Ross Episode: "The Recruiting Game"
1989 Small Wonder Sergeant Pepper Episode: "The Jailbirds"
1989–97 Family Matters Harriette Winslow Main cast
1996 Moesha Valerie Shaw Episode: "A Concerted Effort: Part 1"
1998 The Jamie Foxx Show Janice King Episode: "Just Don't Do It"
1999 Moesha Mrs. Campbell Recurring cast: season 4, guest: season 5
1999–00 Will & Grace Mrs. Freeman Recurring cast: Season 2
2000 7th Heaven Sharon Peacock Episode: "Liar, Liar"
City of Angels Helen Episode: "Saving Faces"
2001–05 The Proud Family Suga Mama Proud (voice) Main cast
2002 The Hughleys Satin Fontaine Episode: "Bored of the Rings"
The Parkers Ms. Campbell Episode: "It's Showtime"
2003 Judging Amy Mrs. Kahn Episode: "Ex Parte of Five"
Wanda at Large Mrs. Hawkins Episode: "Hurricane Hawkins"
2004 The Big House Mrs. Jenkins Episode: "Almost Touched by an Angel"
Girlfriends Annette Miles Episode: "L.A. Bound" & "Who's Your Daddy?"
2005 Lilo & Stitch: The Series Suga Mama Proud (voice) Episode: "Spats"
Reba Grandma Ruby Episode: "No Good Deed"
2006 Desperate Housewives Charlene Episode: "Thank You So Much"
2009 Meet the Browns Shirley Episode: "Meet the Gold Digger"
2010 The Glades Remelle Episode: "Mucked Up"
2013 The Rev Isabelle Starr Main cast
2015 Chopped Herself/Contestant Episode: "Sitcom Moms"
2015–16 Mann & Wife Lorraine Mann Main cast: season 1–2
2019 Blaze and the Monster Machines Grandma Ninja Episode: "Ninja Soup"
2022–present The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Suga Mama Proud (voice role) Main cast [15]
2023 Chibiverse Suga Mama Proud (voice role) Episode "The Chibi Quiz Challenge"

References

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  1. ^ a b Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (November 15, 2005). Historical Dictionary of African-American Television. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810865228. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e NNDB - Jo Marie Payton
  3. ^ a b "Jo Marie Payton Biography". Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  4. ^ "36th NAACP Image Award Winners" (PDF). NAACP. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  5. ^ Payton, JoMarie. "Information". Facebook. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  6. ^ "Albany Map, Population, Information, and City Statistics – Juggle.com". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  7. ^ Martin, Kira (April 11, 2021). "'Family Matters': Jo Marie Payton Finally Clarified Why She Left the Show Early". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "'Family Matters' Star JoMarie Payton Says Jaleel White Once Threatened to Fight Her on Set (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "Weakest Link episodes". TVGuide.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  10. ^ "Desperate Housewives Remember..." TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  11. ^ "Best Bets: What's on TV Tonight". Cincinnati Enquirer. October 24, 2003. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
  12. ^ "The City of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Hollywood NAACP 15th Annual Theatre Awards Nominations". Business Wire. January 26, 2005. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
  13. ^ Booker, Simeon (July 19, 2004). "(Ticker Tape; calls for donations to Virginia Union University)". Jet. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
  14. ^ JET Magazine (May 24, 1993) (May 24, 1993), "(Mr. & Mrs.) 'Family Matters' Star JoMarie Payton Weds Longtime Beau In Calif.", Google Books, retrieved June 6, 2018{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Swift, Andy (February 27, 2020). "The Proud Family Revival Ordered at Disney+ With Original Cast — First Look". TVLine.
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