family matters cast that died family matters cast that died

Though she spent plenty of time onscreen in her music videos and she starred in the 1978 musical comedy "Thank God it's Friday," Summer wasn't making any moves toward a career in films or television. ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty, Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Unique Nicole/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Rick Kern/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Alberto Rodriguez/GA/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; David Livingston/Getty, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty, Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Shawn Harrison/Instagram, Jo Marie Payton Says She Will Only Do a 'Family Matters' Reboot If Judy Winslow Is Written Back In, 'Family Matters' ' Jo Marie Payton, Reginald VelJohnson Acted Like Parents Off Set: 'They Did Not Play!'. Jaleel sincerely misses Michelle Thomas,which is evident in his emotional video, check it out below. After playing Rachel Baines-Crawford, the younger sister of Harriette Winslow, Hopkins starred in Getting By, another TGIF show that aired from 1993 to 1994 (its second season aired on NBC). Like many actors of his time, he started on the stage in the 1950s. VelJohnson voiced the character Jerry in the TV show, 3Below: Tales of Arcadia from 2018 to 2019. According to Hello Magazine, the autopsy report revealed that "accidental drowning" was the cause of death. }); Copyright 2015 . Hemsley continued his reign on TV, garnering guest spots on shows like, "Designing Women," "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," and 3 episodes of "Family Matters," in which he played the wise-cracking Captain Savage who has an instant connection to Urkel and cheats at golf, much to Mr. Winslow's dismay. He was 29 years old. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. ABC/Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. In 1952 comedian and actor Reginal VelJohnson was born! VelJohnson was hired after Gene Hackman, originally hired to play the role, became unavailable, and producers decided to hire a relatively unknown actor for the part. joke. One year later, he landed the role of Carl Winslow, another police officer, in the beloved ABC series Family Matters. LOS ANGELES, California (AP) Jaleel White, who played 'nerdy' neighbor Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" found dead Monday. On December 22, 1998, she passed away, surrounded by friends and family in New York City, including her then long-time boyfriend/Cosby Show actor, Malcolm Jamal Warner (Theo). Lenoir championed diversity in the arts and ultimately led the prestigious Rosie awards being created in her name. This eventually turned into a Broadway career, and sheeven founded her own theater company in 1968 called Amas. However, as Variety noted, Jenner, passed away in 2016 at the age of 75 following a long battle with leukemia. Of course, most Family Matters fans remember "Steve Urkel's" fascination with "Laura Winslow" and how his special bond with the 'Winslow family' was one of the most memorable dynamics of the show. Family Matters was one of the most popular sitcoms during the 90s. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Thomas was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 23 . At the time of this writing, no further details are available regarding Brown's death. (per Today), White broke down in tears as he fondly remembered Thomas, who passed away in 1998 at the young age of 30. By LawBlessing (self media writer) | 1 year ago. While some only appeared a few times and some were on all 215 episodes, you won't believe what the cast of Family Matters looks like now! Her last role was in Aide-de-Camp" in 2011. Matters and landed the role of Callie on The Young and the Restless. She Of course, Thomas was much nicer than her on-screen persona. All we know is we have no record of prayers being answered. Dennis died in April 2009 in Shadow Hills Los Angeles. White has also made several film appearances in movies like Big Fat Liar, Dreamgirls, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer and recently in 2022's Hustle starring Adam Sandler. Then in "Sink or Swim" in season 6, Mekka plays Mr. Nutting, the P.E. She was buried on boxing day, following Muslim rights as she requested. Also an accomplished dancer, he was in the original cast of "The Music Man" on Broadway and appeared in several musical adaptations, including "Hello,Dolly!" Maxine always tried to get Laura to do the wrong thing, but she eventually stopped doing that once she and Waldo started dating. Johnson was popularly known for his role in Shaft, My Demon Lover and many more. Just before his retirement from sports, Smith got his first role on television, a guest spot playing himself on the show "The Odd Couple." He has starred in Fresh Prince Of Bel-air and he was popularly known for his character in the sitcom The Jeffersons. ET If you were a faithful Family Matters viewer between 1989 and 1993, you may remember the character of little Judy Winslow. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. It gives me joy that you dont know who I am. Then Jaleel broke down. It was a spinoff of the popular show Perfect Strangers on which he appeared only once, though Harriette appeared as a re-occurring guest star. ", When you think of Sherman Hemsley it might just draw an image of him getting out of a cab in front of a high-rise in Manhattan, strutting toward the door, or doing some fancy footwork in his living room as he did in the famously fun opening theme of his hit sitcom "The Jeffersons.". Who is that? Tyler questioned. "We feel privileged to have known him and worked with him. If the content contained herein violates any of your rights, including those of copyright, and/or violates any the above mentioned factors, you are requested to immediately notify us using via the following email address operanews-external(at)opera.com and/or report the article using the available reporting functionality built into our Platform. After the show wrapped, White stated that he never wanted to step back into Urkel's shoes again, though he later revised the claim over a decade later. The Winslow couple's children would complete the would-be new sitcom's main cast: Eddie (Darius McCrary), Laura Lee (Kellie Shanygne Williams), and Judy (Valerie Jones in the first season and Jaimee Foxworth in the second to fifth seasons before she was eventually written off from the show). After appearing in all 8 seasons, Mekka went on to a myriad of guest roles in both movies and series, including two different characters on "Family Matters." Actor. Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry visited the home of Jaleel White where he connected with one of White's former Family Matters co-stars. Thomas joined the cast team later in the fourth season and appeared in several seasons as Steve Urkel's lover Myra Monkhouse. He went on to star in UPN's sitcom Grown Ups and hosted the Syfy competition show Total Blackout from 2013 to 2014. Jaleel White played the Winslows' obnoxious, ever-present neighbor Steve Urkel for all nine seasons of Family Matters. In 1999, Thomas was nominated for an NAACP award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for her role on "Young and the Restless.". over and got the girl of his dreams. She flew home to spend Thanksgiving with family, but unfortunately, that was her last holiday alive. Apparently, Miller had seen an early screening of "Die Hard" and thought he'd be perfect for the show. Jaleel seemed to then believe Henry, based on what happened next: Dont worry about that part. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Sadly, some of those famous faces are no longer delivering lines and laughs. It was UT's loss, and a big one at that:Smith became a two-time All-American in 1965 and 1966. "I didn't realize I was going to see . He was later found asleep in the boat and had reported to authorities that he and his mother had gone swimming but instead of getting in the boat she slipped under the water. So much so that Jaleel was brought to tears. In 1998, Michelle passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Following a childhood rickets diagnosis that put her in leg braces for some time, LeNoire took up dance and musical theater. Mekka continued working until his last credit in 2018, then a few short years later, Mekka died on November 27, 2021, at the age of 79. He later reprised his role as David Sutton on Disney's Turner & Hooch. Michelle Thomas was a late arrival to Family Matters, debuting in the fourth season as Myra Monkhouse, Steve Urkel's love interest. Jo Marie Payton, who played the . Smith must have enjoyed the bite from the acting bug because he continued acting, now not as himself, on shows like, "Charlie's Angels" and "Eight is Enough," and then landed some regular gigs such as a recurring role on "Open All Night." She was only 33 years old. He then worked for the US postal service while attending a dramatic arts college and eventually found his way to off-Broadway productions. LOAD COMMENTS Eddie Mekka, top right, died in Newhall on Nov. 27, 2021, at age 69, according to a friend's social media post. The sitcom show was created by William Bickley and Michael Warren. On Will & Grace's second season, Payton was Mrs. Freeman, an assistant at Will's law firm. Season 3 of 'The Mandalorian' is 'epic,' cast says Tom Sizemore's family deciding end of life matters, rep says James Marsden, LeVar Burton explain the power of a movie director His work ranged from Avengers to Sideways. After playing the Winslow family matriarch, Harriette, on Family Matters, Jo Marie Payton continued her television career with recurring and lead roles on several other primetime shows. He is best known for playing police officer characters, such as Carl Winslow on the sitcom Family Matters, which ran from 1989 to 1998, and LAPD Sergeant Al . On the big screen, he held small roles in films like Like Mike and You Again in 2002 and 2010, respectively. Her former boyfriend, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, was at her side. The actress, a former child model, remained a fixture on TV post . LeNoire's championing of diversity in the arts ultimately led to the prestigious Rosie Award being created in her honor, forever cementing her legacy as one of the all-time greats. Although it seemed like Urkel and Myra were two peas in a pod whod live happily ever after, sadly, life didnt pan out the way most would have expected for the beloved Michelle Thomas. "Everyone adored him," she said. Youve got to be Googling this stuff before you come in here. Jaleel said dumbfounded. He's made. A Steve Urkel Story. "I'm looking at what looks like E and then L-L-E is the only way to describe it," Tylershared. It was in 1989 that White landed the role that would make him famous, playing wacky neighbor 'Steve Urkel' on the ABC program "Family Matters. Rosetta Lenoir was one of the main cast members of the comedy sitcom Family Matters. The role was initially only meant to be a guest spot, but the audience received the suspenders-clad nuisance so well in the first season that he continued on the show as a main cast member. Jaleel White Breaks Down Over Death of Family Matters Co-Star in Hollywood Medium Sneak Peek See the actor get a sad reminder of his early acting days By Vannessa Jackson Aug 07, 2017 9:30 AM. 15 Reginald VelJohnson Reginald VelJohnson 's acting career has really come full circle. In 2010, VelJohnson started a recurring role as Principal, later Superintendent, Strickland on the Disney sitcom I'm in the Band and also Funnyordie.com's short HBO film titled Just 3 Boyz starring Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, and Zach Galifianakis. A spinoff of the hit '80s sitcom Perfect Strangers, Family Matters began life as a modest hit before morphing into one of the most successful comedies on the small screen at the time. Tammy Townsend played Greta McClure for 14 episodes. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Per Broadway World, his film debut was alongside Sammy Davis Jr., whom he also appeared with on Broadway, in the 1966 movie "A Man Called Adam." He also joined fellow Family Matters alumni Kellie Williams, Jo Marie Payton and Darius McCrary at the 2022 '90s Con event. LeNoire passed away in 2002, four years after the final season of Family Matters originally aired. In 2004, McClure scored his next big gig on The Young and the Restless playing Devon Hamilton, a struggling teen who was living on the streets before the Winters family took him in. News ), Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. By Variety. Black-Led TV Shows. Thomas L. Miller produced some of the most memorable television shows in TV history including hits like "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley," "Family Matters," and "Full House." Just a few short years later, she was cast in Season 4 of "Family Matters" as Myra, who for some reason, sees Urkel as the man of her dreams. Cookies help us deliver our Services. "You got to be messing with me, dog. In 1994 and 1997, she played Urkel's aunt, Oona Urkel, who according to Urkel is "a little odd." He also appeared in an episode of the show, Mom in 2019. "It's the end of an era.". Townsend has remained active in Hollywood since moving on from Family Matters. She appeared as Candace in the TV series Stuck With You in 2020. Landers' next time on "Family Matters" was in 1997, and he played a pirate named Flint when Urkel and Carl went back in time. Carmine Ragusa was the bright-faced, dancing, on-again-off-again boyfriend of Shirley Feeney. Bryton McClure played Richie Crawford, the son of Telma Hopkins character, Rachel. He also appeared in 6 "Police Academy" movies and the TV series. His character was described as totally dim-witted, and he often annoyed Steve Urkel by saying the silliest things. Michelle Thomas (September 23, 1968 - December 22, 1998) was an American actress and comedian who portrays the role of Myra Monkhouse as Steve Urkel's (Jaleel White) girlfriend on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters from 1993 to 1998. He was also a contestant on season 14 of Dancing with the Stars, placing 8th. She was a hilarious older female version of Urkel, and when the two started wreaking accidental havoc on the Winslows living room, spilling popcorn and breaking the coffee table, they both exclaimed, "Did we do that?" Tragedy struck in 2020, however, when her body was found in a river after she disappeared during a boating trip with her son, Josey. As a youngster, Rivera was known for her confident performances and upbeat charisma. Born Jaleel Ahmad White, he began his career at the age of three acting in television commercials, before landing guest spots on shows such as "The Jeffersons" and "Mr. Kellie Shanygne Williams made her name playing Laura Winslow, the seemingly perfect know-it-all daughter of Carl and Harriette on Family Matters. Shawn Harrison played Waldo Faldo, who was Eddie Winslows best friend. Carl was seriously irritated by his pesky neighbor Urkel and his annoying antics. Of course, most Family Matters fans remember Steve Urkels fascination with Laura Winslow and how his special bond with the Winslow family was one of the most memorable dynamics of the show. "Few singers have impacted music & the world like Donna Summer!" If you havent seen the show,it captures moments where Henry showcases his alleged psychic capabilities. Under that theory, the "news account" of the former child star's suicide serves as the set-up for that line. "Family Matters" was a popular American television sitcom that aired nine seasons from 1989 to 1997. That's why it must have been quite a treat when Summer showed up in not one but two episodes of "Family Matters." She often portrayed the character as a tough mom with a witty sense of humor, but was also a no-nonsense wife to her husband, Carl. After being asked about her passing, the actor talked about how she was highly thought of among her peers. VelJohnson is known for playing police officers in films and on television. The group talked about their experience on the show and revealed that, like the title dictated, the family did matter to them. Tragedy struck in 2020 after her body was found in the river after disappearing during a boat trip. She was my old co-star from Family Matters and she died from stomach cancer quickly. A child actor on "Family Matters," Darius McCrary was only 13 when he first began playing the role of Eddie Winslow, and audiences watched him grow up over the show's nine-season run. Jo Marie Payton played the family's matriarch, Harriette Winslow. He'll be missed and remembered every day by his many, many friends," they said. She was Lauras friend, but she also put the moves on her brother, Eddie, and started going out with him instead. Shes also working on other projects like The Regiment and South Beacon Hill. But aside from acting, shes also a producer, an author and a certified nutritionist who co-owns the health and beauty company Keeping It All Natural. She appeared in the show as Gwendolyn and was popularly known as the young child who asked Urkel for love advice. They got divorced in 2019, and have a daughter together named Zoey. "She had a lot of friends in the music industry.". Actors From the movie Friday who have lost their lives. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. Family Matters (1989-1998) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Directed by Series Writing Credits Series Cast Series Produced by Series Music by Series Cinematography by Series Film Editing by Series Casting By Series Art Direction by Series Set Decoration by Series Makeup Department Series Production Management Thomas mother: Phynjuar Thomas Actresses American Women Height: 5'0" (152 cm ), 5'0" Females Died on: December 22, 1998 place of death: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York City: Boston Cause of Death: Cancer A genuinely good guy and purveyor of cheer whenever things got cheerless.". Unsurprisingly, Rivera's stardom continued into adulthood, especially with her role as Santana Lopez in the musical-comedy Glee. Johnson died in Los Angeles at the age of 78. VelJohnson was born Reginald Johnson on August 16, 1952, in the Queens borough of New York City, the son of Eva, a nurses aid, and Dan, a hospital attendant. Sherman Hemsley is probably one of the funniest actors in the sitcoms. From Frank and Marie in Everybody Loves Raymond to Albert in The Goldbergs, the old-timers can always be relied on to share their wisdom with their younger counterparts. Although Jaleel has been out of the public eye for a while, he is alive and well. Lenoir died in 2002, just four years after the final season of Family Matters was aired. In the years after, he provided the voices for Jazz in the original Transformers movie and Tarix in the animated film Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. "This is embarrassing, I don't even recognize you," Tyler tells him. Urkel iseven though the basis of his show is centered around featuring well known celebs: This is embarrassing, I dont even recognize you, Tyler statedto Jaleel. But they have been an essential function of some of the most iconic family units in small-screen comedies. After "Good Times," he continued his sweep through television roles, including a stint as a voice on the "Alvin & the Chipmunks," animated series. Apart from Family Matters, Jenner had notable roles in Star Trek, Deep Space and many more. The actor is set to do it again in Cartoon Network's 2023 TV film Did I Do That to the Holidays? White was pronounced dead on arrival after. Most recently, Harrison made a cameo on fellow TGIF alumna Raven-Symon's show Raven's Home for two episodes in 2022. She is also famous for her roles as Justine Phillips on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show 1988 to 1990. ", Following the cancellation of "Family Matters" in 1997, friends claim White became obsessed with the character, and grew despondent, despite further successes as star and producer of the UPN sitcom "Grownups", and as a writer for NBA.com. Im looking at what looks like E and then L-L-E is the only way to describe it, Tylershared. Rumor has it that the character was removed because of budget issues. On August 19, 2008, Carry died at 56 years old. She underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 1998 and returned home to her family to recover. Following the adventures of the Winslow family (and their friends and neighbors), the sitcom starred (pictured from left in this 1992 photo) Bryton James, Telma Hopkins, Reginald VelJohnson, Rosetta Lenoire (she played Estelle "Mother" Winslow, and died in 2002), Darius McCrary, Jo Marie Payton, Jaimee Foxworth (who played daughter Judy Winslow but was written out of the show in the middle of season 4 and not mentioned again), Shawn Harrison, Kellie Shangyne Williams and Jaleel White. Unfortunately, Payton left the series halfway through the final season, and actress Judyann Elder took over the role. Landers passed away on March 12, 2015, at the age of 62 from cancer. "On the Tail of Scooby-Doo." Michelle Thomas, an actress in the television programs ''The Cosby Show,'' ''Family Matters'' and ''The Young and the Restless'' died on Wednesday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in . On August 3, 2011, Smith died at the age of 66. The series ran for nine seasons and featured 215 family friendly episodes. Once the series wrapped, Williams hopped onto another ABC show, What About Joan?, to play Alice Adams, a coworker and friend of the protagonist, played by Joan Cusack. Their love/hate relationship was one of the reasons that the show was such a hit. The cast of "Family Matters" (Warner Bros. Television) On Sept. 22, 1989, "Family Matters" debuted on ABC with the pilot "The Mama Who Came to Dinner" as [8] VelJohnson played alongside Tom Hanks, as Det. [9] He came from New York to California to film it for nine months, which was so long that he just ended up residing in California permanently thereafter. You've got to be Googling this stuff before you come in here." In the end, she saved the day singing her iconic song "Last Dance" at a talent show. Jaleel White, who portrayed Steve Urkel on the television sitcom "Family Matters," committed suicide in 2006. When Donna Summer died of lung cancer on May 17, 2012, many singers and industry professionals mourned her, some attending her service, others voicing their feelings on social media. This material may not be reproduced without permission. After the sitcom ended in 1998, Thomas portrayed Callie Rogers, an aspiring singer and love interest of Malcolm Winters, on the daytime soap The Young and the Restless. His other popular credits include St. Darius McCrary played Eddie Winslow, the handsome, eldest brother to Laura and Judy and cousin to Richie. All rights reserved. Beyond TV, Williams appeared in Usher's 2005 crime-dramedy In The Mix and in the 2009 film Steppin: The Movie. [13] He played air traffic controller Bob Abbot in the 2012 film Air Collision. The Cast of Family Matters. The show, which aired from 1989 to 1998, focused on the Winslows, a family living in Chicago and their relationship with their sweet - but nerdy and annoying - neighbor, Steve Urkel. Confident, hilarious, and kick-a** fighting skills, Carry drew in audiences who couldn't help but fall in love with Sho'Nuff. Aside from his voice work, McCrary appeared in films like 15 Minutes, which starred Robert De Niro, in 2001, and Saw IV. Brown's last role came in 2013. was the wide-eyed humorous pronouncement associated with Steve Urkel, the character's signature catchphrase. It remains one of the second longest running series in the history of television after the Jeffersons and it revolved around African American characters. NFL defensive end Bubba Smith was born in 1945 in Texas. At the same time, Hemsley delivered a terrific performance that proved why he's regarded as sitcom royalty. In 2018, "Family Matters" star Reginald VelJohnson told Today that Miller helped him land the role of Carl. In the season 2 episode, "Flash Pants," Mekka plays Charlie, a transfer who competes against Carl in a dance contest. Peter Dennis is another cast member from Family Matters that has passed away in real life. But Jaleel wasn't biting just yet. You got to be messing with me, dog. Television actress Michelle Thomas, 30, a co-star on the sitcom "Family Matters," died Dec. 22 after a struggle with stomach cancer. The show became a major staple on network television and the classic '90s "TGIF" lineup. Menteer holds credits for writing, directing, producing on many of the shows he worked on including "Happy Days," "Punky Brewster," and "Family Matters." Come on, man. He has also appeared in the comedy film, The Formula, starring alongside Brandon Baker and Sasha Jackson. Following his nine seasons on the show, VelJohnson made guest appearances on series including The Equalizer, Will & Grace, Monk, CSI, The Parkers and That's So Raven. Authorities state that upon entering the home they discovered a young African-American male with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. [14] VelJohnson also voices several minor characters in the series. To make matters worse, her mother fell into a drug habit, leaving the teenager to handle the household finances alone. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. White is far from the first celebrity to be made the butt of a "He's dead!" It gives me joy that you don't know who I am." Stars Who Think They Have a Psychic Ability. But the actress didnt stick with Hollywood. He would also play an ambulance driver in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) in which he was credited by the stage name Ivory Ocean. The cast of "Laverne & Shirley is seen above in a publicity photo. Michelle Thomas' first role on television was on the hit TV series "The Cosby Show," where she played Theo's girlfriend, Justine. Barry played Carl's buffoonish boss, Lieutenant Lou Murtaugh. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist and many more. Before she was on Family Matters, Johnson was on another sitcom called Punky Brewster where she played Punkys best friend, Cherie. Buddy was the star of a show the Winslow family was obsessed with and Carl ended up arresting him for assault. Kellie Shanygne Williams made her name playing Laura Winslow, the seemingly perfect know-it-all daughter of Carl and Harriette on Family Matters. He was more interested in cars, dating girls and pulling silly pranks. Michelle Thomas played Myra Monkhouse, who was introduced as a love interest for Urkel. But by the end of the series, Urkel finally won Laura Between 1994 and 1995, Landers appeared as Larry Pinkerton in 18 episodes of "The George Carlin Show." As iconic character actor Julius Carry recalled to the Chicago Tribune in 1990, he got into show business as a teen when he joined a touring play group called the Spartan Players. Ironically, Landers was on the other side of the law in his first appearance on "Family Matters," playing a robber at a convenience store. Per The Guardian, Rosetta LeNoire was born in Hell's Kitchen, New York, in 1911. Cherie Johnson played Maxine Johnson who was Lauras best friend, but was sometimes portrayed as a bad influence as a result of her neglectful parents. Carry continued acting in the 1990s and through early 2000, garnering roles in such shows as "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr," "Murphy Brown," and "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place." Image Via Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images. He was 29 years old. But have you ever wondered what the cast is up to now? Characters who have died in the Family Matters. (She also played the girlfriend of Malcolm . Quick Facts Also Known As: Michelle Doris Thomas Died At Age: 30 Family: father: Dennis D.T. One of his earliest television roles was, of course, the one that would forever brand him as "The Big Ragoo." Family Matters. To this day, her death is still unbelievable to lots of fans, and apparently, it still hits home for Jaleel White. Speaking to PEOPLE, White explained that he wanted to be known as "a versatile actor.". It is said that 300 years ago, in the year Bedlam, Divine Magic died. with a rare stomach cancer in 1997 and died in 1998 at . The golden age of sitcoms produced many hilarious shows, but Family Matters stands out from the pack for a couple of reasons. His latest acting role was in the 2019 TV movie Fanatic where he played Officer Hardaway. Naya Rivera was introduced to acting as a child star after she got a role in the sitcom show Family Matters.