Photo credits: Time of Info
Johnny Brown, who portrayed Superintendent Nathan Bookman on “Good Times,” died on March 2, 2022, according to his daughter. He was 84 years of age when he died.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, no more facts about his passing were released.
According to IMDb.com, Brown appeared in 58 episodes of “Good Times” from 1975 through 1979, as the housing supervisor on the comedy. According to the website, he was a regular on 48 episodes of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” from 1970 to 1972. In an Instagram post, Brown’s daughter, actress Sharon Catherine Brown, revealed her father’s death.
Per the Hollywood Reporter, Johnny Brown recorded songs and played in a band with saxophonist Sam “The Man” Taylor. During the 1960s, he also performed on Broadway twice, most memorably in the role of Ronnie in the musical “Golden Boy.”
The Hollywood Reporter also stated that the actor was a strong candidate to play Lamont alongside Redd Foxx on “Sanford and Son.” However, his contract with “Laugh-In” prevented him from doing so. Instead, Demond Wilson was cast in the role.
Brown also appeared in “Julia,” “Maude,” “The Rookies,” “Lotsa Luck!,” “The Jeffersons,” “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “Family Matters,” “Sister, Sister,” “Moonlighting,” and “Martin,” according to Deadline. In addition to “The Wiz” (1978), he had parts in “Hanky Panky” (1982), “Life” (1999), and “Town & Country” (1999). (2001).
Brown was born on June 11, 1937, in St. Petersburg, Florida, and reared in Harlem. Brown met Sammy Davis Jr. while working in the Catskills, and the young actor was inspired by him. Brown learned he was hired on “Laugh-In” after Davis recommended him.
The Hollywood Reporter additionally stated that Brown was a pitchman for Papermate’s Write Bros. pens in a series of musical advertisements in the early 1970s (“Write on brothers, write on!”).
No comments