Anyone who grew up during the 1970s and 1980s knows the theme song to "The Jeffersons" and the character Willona Woods from "Good Times." Both exist because of award-winning actor Ja’Net DuBois, 74, who died on February 17 in her sleep at her home in Glendale, California. DuBois’ family confirmed the news, according to a Deadline report, on February 18.
A two-time Emmy Award-winner, DuBois knew how to make an entrance, which she did spectacularly, every week, with her fashionable and saucy “Good Times” character Willona, guardian of Penny (played by a young Janet Jackson) and neighbor to the Evans (Esther Rolle, John Amos and Jimmie Walker). Her voice then became a cultural anthem after she composed and sang “Movin’ On Up,” the theme song for “The Jeffersons."
"She wrote that song as a promise to her mother, that when she obtained a certain level of stardom, that her dream was to essentially have her mom live in a deluxe apartment. That was written and sung as a gift to her mother, Lilian DuBois," her youngest daughter, Kesha Gupta-Fields told The New York Times in an article published February 19. "It provided a lot of Black people with an anthem. For them it provided a lot of encouragement."
DuBois is survived by her daughters Rani Gupta and Kesha Gupta-Fields, her son Provat Gupta, and her sister Lilian DuBois. Feeling the loss of the star, fans and friends—including Jackson and Norman Lear, creator of "Good Times" and "The Jeffersons"—expressed their sorrow on social media:
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NOBODY on TV made an entrance like Ms Ja’Net Dubois’ Willona Woods! Rest in peace, beautiful Queen?☮???#goodtimes pic.twitter.com/omUkFQVzNm
rn— Holly Robinson Peete (@hollyrpeete) February 18, 2020
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Ja’Net DuBois was all light and will be missed. I love that she wrote the theme song for her passing, “Movin’ on Up.” #GoodTimes #TheJeffersons pic.twitter.com/KKEEfep0QI
rn— Norman Lear (@TheNormanLear) February 19, 2020
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Oh man!!! Just saw you! What a pleasure it was to meet you. You shaped so much of the best memories of my childhood! God bless you, Ja’net DuBois! RIP? pic.twitter.com/tiEGNn9dVO
rn— Viola Davis (@violadavis) February 19, 2020
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