Jimmie Walker
Jimmie Walker | |
---|---|
Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
Education | Theodore Roosevelt High School |
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
Years active | 1969–present |
Known for | J.J. Evans – Good Times |
Website | jimmiejjwalkerdynomite |
James Carter Walker Jr. (born June 25, 1947) is an American actor and comedian. He portrayed James Evans Jr. ("J.J."), the older son of Florida and James Evans Sr., on the
Early life
Walker was born in
Career
In 1967, Walker began working full-time with WRVR, the radio station of the
Walker credits producer/director John Rich for inventing "Dyn-o-mite!" which Rich insisted Walker say on every episode. Both Walker and executive producer Norman Lear were skeptical of the idea, but the phrase and Walker's character caught on with the audience.[4]
Off- and on-camera, Walker did not get along with the series' lead, Esther Rolle, because she and Amos disapproved of Walker's increasingly buffoonish character and his popularity, and Walker felt hurt by their disdain. Dissatisfaction led Amos (before Rolle), to leave the show, making Walker the star of the show.[5] Walker was the only Good Times star to not attend Rolle's funeral.[6]
Later career
During 1975 Walker was also a weekend personality on contemporary R&B music station KAGB 103.9 FM licensed to Inglewood in the Los Angeles market.
Walker appeared on The Tonight Show and Match Game during the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a five-time panelist on the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour from 1983 to 1984. He also appeared on the 1990 revival of Match Game and various game shows during that era.
Walker has made guest appearances on
Aside from guest appearances, he starred in the short-lived television series At Ease in 1983 and Bustin' Loose[7] in 1987.
In the 1990s, Walker returned to his radio roots hosting shows on WHIO, WOAI, WLS, and KKAR. In 1996, he appeared on split release with Powerviolence band Spazz distributed by Spazz owned label Slap-a-ham records.
In 2010, Walker made a cameo appearance in the movie Big Money Rustlas. In 2011, he appeared in a Syfy channel movie Super Shark. May 4, 2023 made a guest appearance on The Bold and the Beautiful.
In 2012, Walker's autobiography, Dyn-o-mite! Good Times, Bad Times, Our Times – A Memoir, was published. In 2012, Walker announced the release of his official app developed by Monty Goulet for iOS.
Personal life and political views
According to an appearance on
Walker described his political beliefs at length in his autobiography, Dyn-O-Mite: Good Times, Bad Times, Our Times: A Memoir. In it, he called himself a "logicist," who believes in "logic and common sense", holding conservative positions on many issues.[9]
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Let's Do It Again | "Bootney" Farnsworth | Action/crime film directed by Sidney Poitier.[10] |
1978 | Rabbit Test | Umbuto | Comedy film directed and written by Joan Rivers.[11] |
1979 | The Concorde ... Airport '79
|
Boisie | Air disaster film directed by David Lowell Rich.[12]
|
1980 | Airplane! | Windshield Wiper Man | Jerry Zucker.[13]
|
1988 | Going Bananas | Mozambo | Comedy directed by Boaz Davidson about a talking chimpanzee. The film was shot on location in Zimbabwe. |
1991 | The Guyver | M.C. Striker | Science fiction film directed by Screaming Mad George and co-directed by Steve Wang. |
1992 | Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | Celeb #3 | Christmas comedy film directed by Chris Columbus and written and produced by John Hughes. |
2010 | Big Money Rustlas | Townsperson | Parody film written by Joe Bruce and Paul Andresen and directed by Andresen. Follow up film of, Big Money Hustlas. |
2011 | Super Shark | "Dynamite" Stevens | Sci-fi horror film written and directed by Fred Olen Ray. |
2012 | David E. Talbert's What Goes Around Comes Around | Preacher | Direct-to-video |
2016 | The Comedian | Comedy club host | Comedy drama film directed by Taylor Hackford and written by Lewis Friedman, Richard LaGravenese, Art Linson, and Jeff Ross. |
Television
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Tattletales | Himself | Appeared with "fiancé" Samantha Stone (Episode #2.65, aired December 26, 1974) |
1974–1979 | Good Times | James "J.J." Evans Jr. | 133 episodes |
1974 | Tony Orlando and Dawn | Himself | Episode: "Episode #1.2" (S1:E2) |
1977 | Bob Hope television specials | Himself | Episode: "Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Tribute to Vaudeville" (S27:E4) |
The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened | Morris Bird III | Made-for-TV-Movie directed by Gilbert Moses.[14] | |
1977-1985 | The Love Boat | Ronald | Episode: "The Captain And The Lady/One If By Land/Centerfold" (S1:E1) (1977) |
The Late Mickey Garner | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part-Maybe/Locked Away/Chubs" (S2:E9) (1978) | ||
Wally | Episode: "The Brotherhood of the Sea/Daddy's Pride/Letter to Babycakes" (S3:E10) (1979) | ||
Marvin Jones | Episode: "The Mallory Quest/Julie, the Vamp/The Offer": Parts 1 (S4:E5) and 2 (S4:E6) (1980) | ||
Marty Kilmer | Episode: "Charmed, I'm Sure/Ashes to Ashes/No Dad of Mine" (S8:E25) (1985) | ||
1980 | B.A.D. Cats | Rodney Washington | Episode: "Pilot" (S1:E1) |
Murder Can Hurt You | Parks, The Pusher | Made-for-TV-Movie directed by Roger Duchowny.[15] | |
1980 | The White Shadow | Himself | Episode: "If Your Number's Up, Get It Down" (S3:E3) |
1982 | Today's FBI | Reggie | Episode: "Bank Job" (S1:E16) |
Fantasy Island | Jay | Episode: "The Beautiful Skeptic/The Lost Platoon" (S6:E6) | |
1983 | Cagney & Lacey | Tony Brown | Episode: "Chop Shop" (S2:E18) |
At Ease | Sergeant Val Valentine | 14 episodes | |
1983-1984 | Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour | Himself (celebrity panelist) | Five weeks' worth of episodes |
1987–1988 | Bustin' Loose | Sonny Barnes | 26 episodes |
1994 | The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: The Gift Episode |
1994 | Blossom | Himself | Episode: Season 4 Episode 20 The Flip Side |
1995 | In the House | Darryl | Episode: "Nanna Don't Play" |
1996 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | Episode: "Surprise" |
2001-2002 | Scrubs | Himself | Episodes: "My Bad" (S 1:Ep 6), and "My Blind Date" (S1:E12) |
2003 | George Lopez | Lionel | Episode: Dubya, Dad, and Dating (Part 1) (S3: E1) |
2006-2008 | Everybody Hates Chris | Gene | Episodes: "Everybody Hates Funerals" (S1:E14), "Everybody Hates Gambling" (S2:E19), and "Everybody Hates the Port Authority" (S3:E11) |
2006 | Minoriteam | Fasto's Grandfather | Episode: "Balactus: Part II" |
2018-2020 | Funny You Should Ask | Himself | 6 episodes |
2019 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Good Times | Himself | |
2023 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Count Boucie |
Video Game
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Ripper | Soap Beatty | Interactive movie
|
See also
References
- ^ "Jimmie JJ Walker's Gigs". Archived from the original on August 17, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
- ^ Grossberg, Michael (July 24, 2006). "30 years after 'J.J.,' Walker still draws laughs". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 18, 2008. (requires login)
- ^ "Jimmie Walker". October 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "Jimmie 'J.J.' Walker lights 'Dy-no-mite' on gay marriage, Leno and dating". CNN. July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
- ^ "Was Jimmie Walker getting along with Esther Rolle and John Amos on the set? [Archive] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums". www.sitcomsonline.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Something I Bet You Didn't Know…Esther Rolle Wanted "J.J." off Good Times! | 6Minutez.com". Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (November 2, 1987). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved July 30, 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Jimmie 'J.J.' Walker enters No Spin Zone". Fox News. July 11, 2012. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
O'REILLY: Did you vote for him first time around? / WALKER: I never voted for him.
- ISBN 978-0-306-82083-0.
- ^ "Let's Do It Again". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "Rabbit Test". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "The Concorde ... Airport '79". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "Airplane!". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ "Murder Can Hurt You". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 21, 2016.