Jo Marie Payton

Jo Marie Payton (born August 3, 1950)[4] is an American actress and singer who starred as Harriette Baines–Winslow, the matriarch of the Winslow family on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1989–1998), and also appeared in a recurring role on its forerunner series Perfect Strangers. From 2001 to 2005, Payton provided the voice for Suga Mama Proud (Penny Proud's grandmother) on Disney Channel's animated series The Proud Family and Disney+’s upcoming revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.[4] The role earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2005.[5] Payton also had a recurring role as the personal assistant to Gregory Hines' character, Ben Doucette (Will Truman's boss), during season two of Will & Grace (1999–2000).

Jo Marie Payton
Born	August 3, 1950[1][2] Albany, Georgia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Jo Marie Payton–Trolley
Education	Miami Carol City Senior High School[3]
Alma mater	Albany State University
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1978–present
Known for	Harriette Winslow – Perfect Strangers and Family Matters Suga Mama Proud – The Proud Family
Spouse(s)	Marc France ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1987)​ Rodney Noble ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 1998)​ [2] Landrus Clark ​ ​ (m. 1998; div. 2004)​ Leonard Downs ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	1

Biography

Early life and education

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.[3] Payton graduated from Albany State University.[6]

Career

Payton's big break came when she was cast as Harriet 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. Payton's character 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,[7] 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[8], Reba, Girlfriends, Wanda at Large,[9] 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 in the Canadian TV miniseries The Rev as Mama.

In 2005, Payton co-hosted the 15th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards with Glynn Turman.[10] In August 2009, Payton appeared on Meet the Browns as Shirley Van Owen. Payton hosted her own show on the Hometeam Network, Second Chance with Jomarie Payton. In 2012, Payton was in the GMC TV movie special From This Day Forward.

Other career

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.[11] 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

Payton is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[2] In 1999, she released a jazz album, Southern Shadows. Payton has been married and divorced three times. Her first marriage was to Marc France from 1980 to 1987 with whom she has a daughter, Chantale France, born 1984.[2] From April 17, 1993[2] until 1998, Payton was married to Rodney Noble.[12] Shortly after divorcing Noble, Payton married Landrus Clark in 1998; later divorcing in 2004. Payton has been married to Leonard Downs since 2007.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	The Hollywood Knights	Black Lady
1983	Deal of the Century	Baptist #1	credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble
1986	Crossroads	Jookhouse Woman #2	credited as Jo Marie Payton-France
1987	Disorderlies	Kool's Mother	credited as Jo Marie Payton-France
1988	Colors	2nd Woman in Recreation Center	credited as JoMarie Payton-France
1989	Troop Beverly Hills	Saleswoman	credited as JoMarie Payton-France
1989	ABC TGIF	Harriette	credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble
2001	Enchos of Enlightenment	Paul's Wife	credited as JoeMarie Payton
2002	In the Eyes of Kyana	Olivia	Direct-To-Video credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble
2004	Gas	Loretta	credited as JoMarie Payton
2011	The Beach Chronicles AGX P2	unknown role	Short film credited as JoMarie Payton
2012	The Beach Chronicles AGX	Mothunevis Omaph	Short film credited as JoMarie Payton
2016	Jericho	Maebell
2016	54:17	Violet	credited as JoMarie Payton
2017	A Warrior's Path: Alpha	Essie	Short film
2018	The Little Mermaid	Lorene
2019	The Beach Bum	Judge	credited as JoMarie Payton

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1978	The Plant Family	Geneva (Lyla's friend)	TV Movie credited as Jo Marie Payton-France
1982–83	The New Odd Couple	Mona	recurring role (4 episodes)
1983	Teachers Only	Yolanda	"It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To" credited as Jo Marie Payton-France
1986–87	Silver Spoons	Marie / Oprah Winfrey / Housekeeper	recurring role (6 episodes) credited as Jo Marie Payton-France
1986–89	Small Wonder	Sergeant Pepper / Meter Maid	recurring role (2 episodes)
1987	227	Mrs. Herman	"The Handwriting on the Wall" credited as Jo Marie Payton-France
1987	The Slap Maxwell Story	Bavaria	"#1.1"
1987–89	Perfect Strangers	Harriette Winslow	series regular (33 episodes)
1988	Frank's Place	Mrs. Ross	"The Recruiting Game" credited as Jo-Marie Payton France
1989–1997	Family Matters	Harriette Winslow	series regular (200 episodes)
1991	The $100,000 Pyramid	Herself (Celebrity Contestant)	recurring role (5 episodes)
1996–99	Moesha	Mrs. Campbell / Valerie Shaw	recurring role (4 episodes)
1998	The Jamie Foxx Show	Janice King	"Just Don't Do It" credited as JoMarie Payton
1999–2000	Will & Grace	Mrs. Freeman	recurring role (5 episodes)
2000	7th Heaven	Sharon Peacock	" Liar, Liar"
2000	City of Angels	Helen	"Saving Faces" credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble
2001–05	The Proud Family	Suga Mama Proud (voice role)	series regular (52 episodes)
2002	The Hughleys	Satin Fontaine	"Bored of the Rings"
2002	The Parkers	Ms. Campbell	"It's Showtime"
2002	The Proud Family Shorties	Suga Mama Proud	Miniseries credited as JoMarie Payton
2003	Judging Amy	Mrs. Kahn	"Ex Parte of Five"
2003	Wanda at Large	Mrs. Hawkins	"Hurricane Hawkins"
2004	The Big House	Mrs. Jenkins	"Almost Touched by an Angel"
2004	Girlfriends	Annette Miles	recurring role (2 episodes)
2005	Lilo & Stitch: The Series	Suga Mama Proud (voice role)	"Spats: Experiment #397"
2005	The Proud Family Movie	Suga Mama Proud (voice role)	TV Movie
2005	Reba	Grandma Ruby	"No Good Deed" credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble
2005	The Rev	Mama	TV Movie credited as Jo Marie Payton-Noble
2006	Desperate Housewives	Charlene	"Thank You So Much"
2009	Meet the Browns	Shirley	"Meet the Gold Digger" credited as JoMarie Payton
2010	The Glades	Remelle	"Mucked Up" credited as JoMarie Payton
2012	From This Day Forward	Elena	TV Movie credited as JoMarie Payton
2013	The Rev	Isabelle Starr	recurring role (4 episodes)
2015	Dangerous Lessons	Linda	TV Movie
2015	The Flight Before Christmas	Marie	TV Movie
2015	Chopped	Herself (Celebrity Contestant)	"Sitcom Moms"
2015–16	Mann and Wife	Lorraine Mann	series regular (20 episodes)
2018	Christmas Made to Order	Rachel	TV Movie
2019	Blaze and the Monster Machines	Grandma Ninja	"Ninja Soup"
TBA	The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder	Suga Mama Proud (voice role)	Upcoming series[13]

References

1. Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (November 15, 2005). Historical Dictionary of African-American Television. ISBN 9780810865228. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
2. NNDB - Jo Marie Payton
3. Payton, JoMarie. "Information". Facebook. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
4. "Jo Marie Payton Biography". Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
5. "36th NAACP Image Award Winners" (PDF). NAACP. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. "Weakest Link episodes". TVGuide.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
8. "Desperate Housewives Remember..." TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
9. "Best Bets: What's on TV Tonight". Cincinnati Enquirer. October 24, 2003. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
10. "The City of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Hollywood NAACP 15th Annual Theatre Awards Nominations". Business Wire. January 26, 2005. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
11. Booker, Simeon (July 19, 2004). "(Ticker Tape; calls for donations to Virginia Union University)". Jet. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
12. 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
13. Swift, Andy (February 27, 2020). "The Proud Family Revival Ordered at Disney+ With Original Cast — First Look". TVLine.

External links

• Jo Marie Payton at IMDb