Jimmie Walker: Difference between revisions
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|birthname = James Carter Walker |
|birthname = James Carter Walker |
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|birthdate = {{birth date and age|1947|6|25}} |
|birthdate = {{birth date and age|1947|6|25}} |
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|birthplace = [[The Bronx, New York]],[[USA]] |
|birthplace = [[The Bronx, New York]], [[United States|USA]] |
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|occupation = Actor/Comedian |
|occupation = Actor/Comedian |
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|yearsactive = 1969–present |
|yearsactive = 1969–present |
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Revision as of 13:30, 24 April 2010
Jimmie Walker | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Carter Walker |
| Occupation | Actor/Comedian |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse | Jere Fields(1980-?) |
James Carter "Jimmie" Walker (born June 25, 1947) is an African-American actor and stand-up comedian, known for portraying J.J. Evans on the television series Good Times, which ran from 1974 to 1979. While on the show, Walker's character was known for the catch phrase, "Dy-no-mite!" which he also used in his mid-1970s TV commercial for a Panasonic line of cassette and 8-track tape players.
Early life
Walker was born in The Bronx, New York. He is a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School, in New York City. Through a federal program known as SEEK, or "Search for Education, Evaluation, and Knowledge", he continued his studies and entered into the field of radio engineering with local station, WRBR. As a young man, Walker was a vendor at Yankee Stadium, starting with the 1964 World Series. He was given a Silver dollar by Mickey Mantle that he still owns. Walker was very friendly with Gary Cohen, who went on to be operations manager at Yankee Stadium. In 1967, Walker began working full-time with WRBR. Walker married Jere Fields in 1980.
Show business career
In 1969, Walker began performing as a stand-up comedian and was eventually discovered by the casting director for Good Times, after making appearances on Rowan and Martin's Laugh In and on the Jack Paar Show.
Good Times
During Good Times' 1974-75 season, Walker was 26-years-old, though his character was much younger. (John Amos, the actor who portrayed Walker's father on Good Times, was in real life, just eight years older than Walker.) Walker was 32 years old when the show ended its run at the end of the 1978-79 season.
He also starred in Let's Do It Again (1975 film) with John Amos.
Later career
Walker appeared on The Tonight Show and Match Game during the 1970s and early 1980s. He also appeared on the 1990 revival of Match Game and other various game shows during that era as well.
Walker has made guest appearances on The Love Boat, Fantasy Island , Son of the Beach, The Drew Carey Show, The John Larroquette Show, In the House, Cagney & Lacey, The Fall Guy, Scrubs, Everybody Hates Chris, The George Lopez Show, Chelsea Lately, and Lincoln Heights. He also appeared in films such as Airplane! and the parody Plump Fiction.
Aside from guest appearances, he starred in the short-lived television series At Ease in 1983 and Bustin' Loose in 1987. He also had a walk-in on the TV show Scrubs.
Walker continues to tour the country with his stand-up comedy routine.[1][2]
References
- ^ "Jimmie JJ Walker's Gigs". Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ "30 years after 'J.J.,' Walker still draws laughs". Columbus Dispatch. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 2008-08-18. (requires login)