Johnny Brown, Good Times Actor and Broadway Star, Dies at 84

A classic television star has passed away. Johnny Brown, who brought laughter to millions of viewers with his role as Nathan Bookman in the sitcom Good Times, passed away on Wednesday. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Broadway actress Sharon Catherine Brown, with a post shared to Instagram, though no details about her father’s passing were revealed. He was 84 years old.

“Our family is devastated. Devastated. Devastated. Beyond heartbroken. Barely able to breathe,” Sharon writes. “We respectfully ask for privacy at this time because we need a minute to process the unthinkable. To articulate the depths of profound sadness. This is my mom’s husband for sixty one years, mine and JJ’s dad, Elijah and Levi’s Pop Pop, older brother to George and brother in law to Pat and extended family to Chris, Hihat, Damian and Derell.”

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She added, “It’s too terrible. It will never not be. It’s a shock. He was literally snatched out of our lives. It’s not real for us yet. So there will be more to say but not now. Dad was the absolute best. We love him so very much.”

Related: Good Times Animated Reboot Is Happening at Netflix with Seth MacFarlane & Steph Curry

Johnny Brown Brought Laughter to Millions as Bookman on Good Times

CBS

Beginning his career with Broadway hows and musicals, Johnny Brown made his first on-screen appearance in 1966 as a blind pianist in A Man Called Adam, which also tarred Good Times’ Ja’Net DuBois. He debuted on the small screen in 1969’s The Leslie Uggams Show, the first American variety series to be hosted by a Black woman. Brown had a run on the comedy series Laugh-In as a regular cast member as well.

In 1973, Brown joined the cast of Good Times, entering the show as a recurring star during its second season. He was promoted to the main cast for seasons 5 and 6. The series, which followed a family living in public housing in Chicago, had Brown playing superintendent Nathan Bookman, a character who consistently provided some of the show’s biggest laughs. Also starring Esther Rolle and John Amos, the show was the first American TV series to feature a Black two-parent household.

Brown also appeared on other classic TV shows such as Maude, Julia, Love, American Style, The Rookies, Lotsa Luck, and Chico and the Man. He’d go on to appear on other notable programs like Archie Bunker’s Place, The Jeffersons, Fantasy Island, Punky Brewster, Family Matters, Sister, Sister, The Jamie Foxx Show, Kenan & Kel, and Everybody Hates Chris. On the big screen, Brown was also seen in other movies like The Wiz in 1978 and Hanky Panky in 1982. The actor also played the lead in the musical comedy The Gospel Truth that toured across the U.S. in the 1980s.

Brown’s survivors include his wife, Jane Russell, along with his children, Sharon and John Jr., younger brother Elijah, and two grandchildren. Our thoughts are with the Brown family at this painful time. The world is now a little less funny with Brown no longer with us. May he rest in peace.

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Jeremy Dick
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Jeremy Dick has been a writer and editor since 2014. He is a self-professed horror expert, pop culture enthusiast, and Bob Saget fanatic.

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