Occupation Actress Spouse John Cothran, Jr. Years active 1972-present | Name Judyann Elder Upcoming movie Viral Role Actress | |
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Full Name Judith Ann Johnson Children Christian Edward Elder, Lonnie Christine Elder Movies and TV shows Similar People Jo Marie Payton, Orlando Brown, Shawn Harrison, Lonne Elder III, John Cothran - Jr Profiles | ||
Judyann elder in desperate housewives
Judyann Elder (born Judith Ann Johnson; August 18, 1948) is an American actress, director, and writer. Elder is perhaps best known for her roles on television, most notably as Nadine Waters; Gina's (portrayed by Tisha Campbell) mother on the FOX sitcom Martin. Elder also portrayed Harriet Winslow on ABC's Family Matters during the middle of it's final season in 1997 after the departure of Jo Marie Payton. Prior to her television career, Elder is a veteran of stage and screen who has appeared in scores of theatrical productions throughout the United States and Europe.
Contents
- Judyann elder in desperate housewives
- Judyann elder in seven pounds and er
- Early life and career
- Personal life
- As director
- References
Judyann elder in seven pounds and er
Early life and career
Born in Cleveland, Elder is the daughter of Edward T. Johnson, PhD. and Camille Johnson (née Russell). Elder attended Shaker Heights High School and graduated from Emerson College in Boston as the first recipient of the Carol Burnett Award in the Performing Arts. Elder began her professional career in off-Broadway in New York as "Judyann Jonsson". A founding member and resident actor with the Tony Award-winning Negro Ensemble Company, she originated roles in the premier productions of The Song of the Lusitanian Bogey, Daddy Goodness, Kongi's Harvest, and God is a (Guess What?).
In 1969, she played the role of Russell B. Parker’s young love interest in Lonne Elder III's Ceremonies in Dark Old Men and toured with the company to London and Rome. She married the play’s Pulitzer Prize nominated author early that same year, thus changing her name to Judyann Elder. Elder and her husband moved to Los Angeles soon after, where she broadened her career to include roles on screen. She made guest star roles in series such as The Streets of San Francisco, Sanford and Son, Wonder Woman, and The White Shadow. In 1976, Elder made her Broadway debut at the Ambassador Theatre as Coretta King opposite Billy Dee Williams in I Have a Dream directed by Robert Greenwald. She subsequently portrayed the role of Bernette Wilson in the television mini-series A Woman Called Moses starring Cicely Tyson. Several roles on screen followed including Forget Paris with Billy Crystal, The Players Club directed by Ice Cube, and Seven Pounds with Will Smith.
It was in the 1991—92 season of TV’s Murphy Brown starring Candice Bergen, Elder made a mark portraying Murphy Brown’s obstetrician, Dr. Barton. Her recurring role culminated with the historic season finale where Dr. Barton delivered Murphy Brown's baby. She was cast as Gina's mother Nadine Water’s on Martin (1992—97) starring Martin Lawrence. And in 1998 she replaced Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow in the last several episodes of the popular show Family Matters. Elder has frequently returned to the stage and having last appeared at Arkansas Rep as Rose in August Wilson's Fences. She also has many theatre directorial credits including: The Book of the Crazy African (Skylight Theatre), The Meeting (Inner City Cultural Center, LA and New Federal Theatre, NY), Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (Beverly Canon Theatre), and A Private Act (Robey Theatre Company). Her direction of Matthew Lopez' The Whipping Man starring Charlie Robinson at the Skirball Cultural Center for LA Theatre Works radio series was broadcast nationally in 2016. Elder is an alumna of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women where she produced and directed the short film, Behind God's Back, based on an Alice Walker short story and starring Beau Bridges. She is also the recipient of a Screenwriting Fellowship with Walt Disney Studios. In 2005, Elder was honored with an NAACP Trailblazer Award. Elder is also a 2010 recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from Emerson College.
Personal life
Elder has been married twice. Her first marriage was to actor and playwright Lonne Elder III from 1969 to 1994, which she had two children with including actor Christian E. Elder. Elder has been married to her second husband, actor John Cothran Jr. since 1997. Elder is a breast cancer survivor; and former legislative ambassador for the American Cancer Society. Elder resides resides in Los Angeles, California.
As director
