Cherie Johnson
Cherie Johnson (born November 21, 1975)[1] is an American actress, writer and film producer and author. She is known for her roles on Punky Brewster (as Punky's best friend Cherie) and the long-running ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, where she played Laura Winslow's best friend Maxine Johnson for eight seasons (1990–98).
Cherie Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Johnson in 2010. | |
| Born | Cherie Johnson November 21, 1975[1] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Westlake High School (California), U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Children | 2 |
In 2009, she wrote, starred and produced the independent film I Do... I Did!, playing Vivian. Johnson has so far produced eight films.[2] In 2010, she made writer debut when she released her book Around The World Twice. In 2011, she released her second, writing Two Different Walks Of Life A Celebrity and Average Housewife. Her third novel Peaches & Cream is available. Her book Stupid Guys Diary was released in August 2013.
Background and career
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Johnson is of mixed African-American and Puerto Rican heritage. Johnson's beginnings in show business are attributed to her uncle, David W. Duclon, a successful screenwriter and TV producer who, before on, was known for his work on Happy Days in the 1970s. Duclon encouraged his niece's desire to act, and secured her an audition. In 1984, after two seasons as executive producer of NBC's Silver Spoons, Duclon successfully pitched a new pilot to the network about an orphaned young girl who is taken in by a curmudgeonly older man. The concept won the approval of NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff, who named the titular character, and series, Punky Brewster (after a girl he had known in his youth). Johnson was cast by NBC in the role of Punky's (Soleil Moon Frye) best friend, the character of which was modeled and named after herself. Punky Brewster was an immediate success among young audiences, and Johnson continued as the fictional Cherie throughout the series' run (1984–86 on NBC, and 1987–88 in first-run syndication).
In 1990, Johnson began playing Maxine "Max" Johnson, the best friend of Laura Winslow (Kellie Shanygne Williams) on Family Matters, appearing in the recurring role until the series' end in 1998. Duclon was again her employer, as he served as one of the executive producers of Family Matters during Johnson's run on the show. In addition to her starring roles, Johnson has made guest appearances on The Parkers, and voiced a guest role on the Disney Channel animated series The Proud Family. She has also appeared on Days of Our Lives. In the early 2000s, Johnson began producing films. In 2009, she wrote, starred and produced the film I Do... I Did!. In 2010, she starred in many films Lights Out, Nobody Smiling and Guardian of Eden. She then signed on to appear in the romantic film Fanaddict, which was shot in 2011 and is slated for release later in 2013.
In 2020, NBC confirmed a ten-episode revival of Punky Brewster on its Peacock streaming service. Soleil Moon Frye and Johnson will reprise their roles. [3]
Writer
Her first novel, Around The World Twice, was released August 10, 2010. On April 14, 2011, Johnson also released a poetry book with her I Do...I Did! co-writer, entitled Two Different Walks of Life. Her second novel was Peaches & Cream, and her book of diary entries Stupid Guys Diary was released August 2014 . "Little Cherie Dresses Herself" was released 2016. Writing has become Johnson's second career choice; she is also the Assistant Editor of Fever Magazine and was formally the Executive Director for Dimez magazine, and was contributing writer for Temptation magazine and Glam Couture magazine, where she did a monthly article titled "Cherie Picking". In 2016, she accepted a position at Fever magazine and will be writing the "Pulse" article.
Editor and co-host
Johnson is the Assistant Editor at Fever Magazine.
In 2019 she started her podcast, Cherie’s World Podcast. Most notable guests Raz-B, Cherie’s cousin Shar Jackson, Dawn Robinson, Chris Haynes, Soleil Moon Frye, DL Hughley, from Family Matters: Darius McCrary, Jaimee Foxworth, Kellie S Williams and Shawn Harrison.
In February of 2020 Cherie’s World Podcast interview with Big Daddy Kane went viral when Cherie’s co-host asked Big Daddy Kane, “who is the Kobe Bryant of Hip-Hop?” Kane’s response was Eminem. [2]
Personal life
Johnson joined Shadow Play Entertainment's literacy campaign, called "Take Time to Read", as the national spokesperson, sharing her thoughts on why reading is so important no matter what career people choose. She has said that her favorite artists are Prince and Dr. Dre.[4] Johnson has also explained that she is a big sports fanatic; her favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and she is a fan of NBA player Paul Pierce.[2][4] During an interview, Johnson described herself as somewhat of a nerd and a homebody and that she loves to read, write, paint, eat and travel. She also explained she doesn't watch any TV or many movies, but she loves music and her family.[2] She has also stated she is somewhat of a "Twitter-holic" and is often tweeting.
Johnson spends her free time working with many children's charities and she is also on the Alzheimer's Association board.[2]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Playing with Fire | Eileen Phillips | |
| 1989 | A Little Bit Strange | Tasha Masterson | |
| 1999 | Teaching Mrs. Tingle | Student | Uncredited |
| 2003 | Malibooty | Lady-Mix Tape | |
| 2007 | Dead Tone | Roxy | Main role; also co-executive producer |
| 2007 | Killer Weekend | Renee | Main role |
| 2008 | Cash Rules | Producer | |
| 2009 | The Intruders | Bernadette | |
| 2009 | I Do... I Did! | Vivian | Main role; also producer and writer |
| 2009 | Raven | Starla | Also producer |
| 2010 | Lights Out | Detective Monroe | |
| 2010 | Nobody Smiling | Jo | |
| 2010 | Guardian of Eden | Destiny | Main role |
| 2011 | Fanaddict | Brenda | Main role |
| 2012 | One Blood | Sandra | Also producer |
| 2013 | Plum | Scientist Tara | |
| 2013 | Crush | Emma | Also producer |
| 2014 | A Place Called Hollywood | Rosie | Also producer |
| 2014 | Who Can I Run To | Trisha | Main role |
| 2014 | Signed, Sealed & Delivered | Main role | |
| 2015 | Diamond Cobra vs The White Fox | Minor role | |
| 2016 | Behind Da Pole | Michelle | In post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–1988 | Punky Brewster | Cherie Johnson | 85 episodes |
| 1985 | It's Punky Brewster | Cherie Johnson | Voice role |
| 1985 | Days of Our Lives | Latoya Preston | |
| 1990–1998 | Family Matters | Maxine Johnson | 58 episodes |
| 1996 | Goode Behavior | Unknown | 3 episodes |
| 1999–2002 | The Parkers | Tiffany | 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Eve | Angela | Episode: "If the Shrew Fits" |
| 2020 | Punky Brewster | Cherie Johnson |
Writings
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Supporting Actress in a Television Series | Punky Brewster | Nominated |
| 1986 | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Long Running Series: Comedy or Drama | Punky Brewster | Nominated | |
| 1987 | Outstanding Young Actor/Actress/Ensemble in Animation Voice-Over | It's Punky Brewster | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Best Young Actress Recurring in a Television Series | Family Matters | Nominated |
References
- Hollywood - Celebrities - Cherie Johnson Archived 25 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Otterson, Joe (January 16, 2020). "'Punky Brewster' Sequel Series Ordered at Peacock". Variety.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 4, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Johnson, Cherie; Scott, Kathie (August 21, 2010). Around The World Twice (First ed.). Plianfield, NJ: A New Quality Publishing. ISBN 9780982944202.
- Johnson, Cherie; Edey, Charrise (April 12, 2011). Two Different Walks Of Life "A Celebrity and a Average Housewife". Cherie Johnson, Charisse Edey.
