Jo Marie Payton (born August 3, 1950) is an American actress and
singer who starred as Harriette Bainesâ€"Winslow, the matriarch of the
Winslow family on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1989â€"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. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award
nomination in 2005. 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 (1999â€"2000).Jo Marie Payton
was born on August 3, 1950, in Albany, Georgia. 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. Payton
graduated from Albany State University.Payton's big break came when
she was cast as Harriet Winslow, the elevator operator on the ABC
sitcom Perfect Strangers, in 1987. 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.
singer who starred as Harriette Bainesâ€"Winslow, the matriarch of the
Winslow family on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1989â€"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. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award
nomination in 2005. 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 (1999â€"2000).Jo Marie Payton
was born on August 3, 1950, in Albany, Georgia. 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. Payton
graduated from Albany State University.Payton's big break came when
she was cast as Harriet Winslow, the elevator operator on the ABC
sitcom Perfect Strangers, in 1987. 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.
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