JA'NET DUBOIS
Ja’Net DuBois is a talent whose success can be attributed to her commitment to artistic integrity. She draws from a cache of experiences as wife, mother, and career woman and consistently portrays her characters with honesty. Loved for her portrayal of the classy and high-spirited “Willona” in the CBS hit series “Good Times,” Ja’Net has an impressive resume as an actress, a songwriter, a singer, and community activist. She is writing a book that, when published, will fulfill her desire to impact every facet of entertainment. The scheduled release for her CD is in 2008.
Ja’Net hails from Brooklyn, New York, where her interest in acting was an outgrowth of childhood experiences. She and young friends entertained themselves by staging performances that borrowed on ideas from their surroundings. She has said, “Our performances were an imitation of life. We watched adults carefully and then, using our sensibilities and their situations, created real life episodes to amuse ourselves. I fell in love with laughter then. It softened the edges of reality and made it easier to accept.”
As a young woman her affection for children prompted her involvement in a variety of acting workshops and community projects. In the late 60’s Ja’Net acted in the original Broadway production of “Golden Boy” with Sammy Davis Jr. and Lou Gossett. It was her introduction to live theatre. She went on to appear in some of the biggest shows on Broadway including, “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Nobody Loves An Albatross.” A role on the daytime soap “Love of Life” gave Ja’Net recognition as the first black female to regularly appear on a serial.
A pivotal point in her career occurred when she moved to the West Coast. During a performance of “Hot L. Baltimore” at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, Ja’Net captured the attention of Norman Lear, creator of “Good Times.” She and Lear went on to develop the vivacious and independent “Willona” for the popular sit-com airing on CBS from 1973–79. “Good Times,” in syndication for the past nine years, gave birth to some of the best-loved characters in television history, making “Willona” and the other featured personalities household names.
No stranger to the big screen, Ja’Net’s film credits include “A Piece of the Action,” “Shaft,” “Love with the Proper Stranger,” “Diary of a Mad Housewife,” “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” and “Charlie’s Angels.”
A talented singer and songwriter, her voice is heard weekly as she sings the “Movin On Up” theme song for “The Jefferson,” now in syndication. In addition to writing the lyrics for the song, she has collaborated on music recorded by Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbula, Lou Rawls, Cannonball Adderly and others.
Appearances in “Houston Knights” and Janet Jackson’s “Control” video signify Ja’Net’s expansion as an actress.
One of the most versatile black character actresses in the business, Ja’Net never fails to pour truth and dignity into each role; a fact proven by a November 11, 2007 airing of “Cold Case,” a CBS nighttime drama. In it, Ms. DuBois gives a virtuoso performance that totally transforms her from a vivacious woman to a grief-stricken grandmother whose grandson was a victim in several homicides of black teenage boys in 1970s South.
Although Ja’Net’s career in the entertainment industry spans over 20 years she says, “My most fulfilling work takes place outside of Hollywood in the community.” She has spread her charitable efforts over a myriad of telethons, benefits, fundraisers, and youth organizations. “I have an overwhelming love for people, and I am committed to giving time and resources whenever and wherever I can to make a difference.” In fact, Ja’Net recalls she received her most heartwarming and memorable accolade during a speaking engagement at the Veteran’s Administration when a soldier in the listening audience gave her one of his very own Purple Hearts as a token of his appreciation. “That is my prized possession,” says Ja’Net.
Ja’Net DuBois is a virtuoso, a genuine artist, true to her craft and her audience.
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