logo

Remember 'Family Matters' mom Harriette Winslow? She is now 68 & shares pic with her granddaughter

author
Aug 15, 2018
07:42 P.M.

The American television actress and singer may be in her mid-60's, but she isn't about to let that stop her from continuing her successful career and having a blast while she does so.

Advertisement

JoMarie Payton was among the cast of "Family Matters" for 200 episodes from 1989 until 1997 when she left mid-season. Her role, that of matriarch Harriette Winslow, was later recast for the remainder of the ninth season.

It was a difficult departure for both Payton and her on-screen family, many of who described her loss from the show as akin to the feelings of the end of a marriage.

“It was hard for me after nine years of doing something with one person. It’s like getting a divorce and then marrying somebody else,” Reginald VelJohnson, who played family patriarch Carl, said. “It was weird.”

Advertisement

Darius McCrary, who played Eddie Winslow, added to that sentiment:

"No disrespect to Judyann … but I felt like my mom was gone, you know? I did my job as an actor, but there were just so many things that had gone on behind the scenes that the audience wasn’t privy to that had kind of already shut it down.”

But Payton's departure was actually planned for two years earlier, as she was unhappy both personally and professionally, and wanted a change from the show.

Advertisement

While it's likely the role Payton is best known for, the 68-year-old has racked up 53 acting credits throughout her lengthy career, many of which are recurring roles in popular series such as "Will and Grace," "Desperate Housewives," and "The Proud Family."

Just this year she appeared in a live-action adaptation of the popular children's fairytale "The Little Mermaid."

Aside from the many names she has been known by on the small-screen, there is one that is likely more closer to her heart than what thousands of nameless fans know her as: grandma.

Advertisement

Payton has been married four times in her life. First to Marc France from 1980 to 1987, with whom she had a daughter, Chantale France, in 1984. Then she married Rodney Noble in 1993, until 1998. Shortly after her divorce was finalized, she married Landrus Clark. They divorced in 2004. She is currently still married to her fourth husband, Leonard Downs, since 2007.

Her daughter, Chantale, also has a daughter of her own, Kamryn.

The youngster recently made an appearance in a photo shared to Facebook by her proud grandmother. Payton celebrated her birthday on August 3, but instead of a lavish party with guests from all over the entertainment industry, she attended her granddaughter's theater production of "Mary Poppins."

Advertisement
Advertisement

"I did many things yesterday to celebrate my special day but, the best was going to the End of Summer performance by all the Summer Camp kids at Miramar Cultural Performing Arts Center and Arts Park," she wrote as part of her caption.

In the image, Kamryn stood behind her grandmother in a black dress with white daisies all over it. Her hair, done up in braids, were partially tied back with the rest hanging over her shoulders. Payton wore an earthy-toned loose fitting shirt, and a big smile.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

Marlo Thomas’ Spouse Was a Virgin before Marriage to Mom of His 5 Kids & a Lousy Lover Afterward

February 03, 2022

Ron Howard Was Most Concerned about His Kids' Values — Inside His Decision to Protect Them

April 26, 2022

Jenna Bush Hager Proposed to Her Future Husband a Few Months after the ‘Worst First Date’ - He Said ‘No'

March 29, 2022

Jennifer Grey Was Married to Clark Gregg for 19 Years and Share a Child — She Cried When They Separated

February 06, 2022

Mariska Hargitay Has ‘Perfect’ Family with ‘Law & Order’ Co-star & Kids Who Are Her ‘Teachers'

January 06, 2023

Tom Brady & Pregnant Bridget Moynahan Split - She Wed Husband at Secret Ceremony 9 Years Later

February 20, 2022

Inside Tom Hanks & Wife of 33 Years Rita Wilson's Relationship with Their Biracial Granddaughter

April 29, 2022

Michelle Pfeiffer & David E Kelley Have Been Married for 29 Years — They Share Two Children

February 10, 2022

Sissy Spacek & Jack Fisk Are Married for 48 Years Although They ‘Never Expected a Lifelong Relationship’

February 16, 2022

Samuel L Jackson & Wife Are Married for 41 Years & 'Still Love Each Other' Though They Took 10 Years to Wed

March 10, 2022

Laura Dern Was Dumped by Men She Loved Twice - Angelina Jolie Stole Her Fiancé While She Was on Set

February 15, 2022

The Life of Twins Lindsay & Sidney Greenbush 40 Years after Playing Carrie in 'Little House on the Prairie'

April 07, 2022

'Roseanne's' Sara Gilbert Shares 3 Children with 2 Different Women — Meet Her Kids

April 27, 2022

Marion Ross Found Love at 60 - She Never Married Her Companion of 23 Years after Divorce

March 07, 2022