Bern Nadette Stanis
Stanis speaks to Cabrini-Green public housing residents in Chicago, April 2010.
Born
Bernadette Stanislaus

(1953-12-22) December 22, 1953[1][2]
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Other namesBernNadette Stanis
Bernadette Stanis
Bern Nadette
EducationJuilliard School
Occupation(s)Actress, author
Years active1974–present
Known forThelma Evans – Good Times
Spouses
  • Thomas Fauntleroy
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1974; div. 1978)​
  • Darnell Johnson
    (m. 1979–?) (divorced)
  • Terrence Redd
    (m. 1981[3]– ?)(divorced)
  • Kevin Fontana
    (m. ? –present)
Children2
Websitethelmaofgoodtimes.com

Bernnadette Stanis,[4] also billed as Bern Nadette Stanis (born Bernadette Stanislaus,[5] December 22, 1953),[6][2] is an American actress and author. Stanis is best known for her role as Thelma Evans, the only daughter of Florida and James Evans Sr. on the CBS sitcom Good Times which originally ran from 1974 to 1979. Stanis is the author of four books: Situations 101: Relationships, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly; For Men Only; Situations 101: Finances; and The Last Night.

Early life

On Good Times (1974), L-R: Ralph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Jimmie Walker, Esther Rolle, and John Amos.

One of five children,[7] Stanis was born and raised in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York City.[8] Her paternal grandparents were from Carriacou in the Grenadine Islands.[9] She attended Erasmus Hall High School[10] and later attended the Juilliard School.[11][12] As a teen, Stanis entered Miss Black America pageants, and went on to become Miss Brooklyn, a title with which she became first runner-up in the Miss New York state pageant.[13]

Career

Stanis played the role of Thelma Ann Evans on the CBS sitcom Good Times from February 1974 to August 1979. After the series ended, she made appearances on television shows including The Cosby Show and What's Happening Now!!. She and former co-star Jimmie Walker lent their voices to a radio spot for AT&T, and Stanis went on to do a Nationwide Insurance commercial. Stanis has been featured in promotions for the TV One network, and in a "Thelma" promotion that aired September 19, 2009, alongside actress Anna Maria Horsford in the "Battle of the Thelmas" that aired their weddings from their respective TV series. (Horsford portrayed "Thelma Frye" in the TV series Amen.) During the "Way Black Then" promotions in February 2010 in honor of Black History Month, she and Walker appeared on the program Color TV to share their memories and thoughts on Good Times. She later appeared on the TV One show Life After.[14] In July 2016, Stanis appeared on an episode of Centric's Being, discussing her life and career.

Personal life

Stanis has been married four times. Her first marriage was to high-school sweetheart Thomas Fauntleroy from June 1974 until 1978,[15][16] then to Brooklyn nightclub owner Darnell Johnson in January 1979.[16][17] Stanis' third marriage was to mechanical engineer Terrence Redd.[18] Stanis gave birth to their daughter Dior Ravel circa April 1982.[6][19] The couple later divorced.[18] Her fourth husband is Kevin Fontana; an article in 2012 said they had been married 31 years,[14] but other sources (cited above) state that Stanis was married to Redd circa 1981.[3] Stanis also has a second child, daughter Brittany Rose.[6] Stanis lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her children.

Filmography

Television

YearShowRoleNotes
1974–1979 Good Times Thelma Ann Evans–Anderson 133 episodes (as Bernnadette Stanis)
1980 The Love Boat Janet Reeves Episode: "Invisible Maniac/September Song/Peekaboo"
1985 What's Happening Now!! Marcie Episode: "Married or Not"
1987 Bustin' Loose Ms. Fisher Episode: "I Paint What I See"
1991 The Cosby Show Carolyn Thompson Episode: "Adventures in Babysitting"
1997 The Good News Audrey Episode: "The Baby on the Door Step"
The Wayans Bros. Thelma Evans Episode: "Unspoken Token"
1999 The Parent 'Hood L'Tonya Episode: "Mommy Dearest"
2003 Girlfriends Herself Episode: "Where Everyone Knows My Name"
2015 Black Jesus Bernadette Episodes: "Thy Neighbor's Strife", "Good for Nothing"
2019 Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Good Times Herself

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2000 Hidden Blessings Jackson's Lawyer TV movie
2004 Land of the Free? Psychiatrist
Still 'Bout It Aunt Tee Dee Direct-to-video
2006 The Engagement: My Phamily BBQ 2 Mrs. Clark
2009 Caution! Heartache Ahead Vera
The Adventures of Umbweki Usahnisa
In the Midnight Hours Cheryl
2010 N-Secure Dr. Heather
2015 36 Hour Layover Nina's Mother Alternative title: No Regrets

Music video

YearVideoNotesRole
1993 Car Hoppers Song by Positive K Model/Rapper

Bibliography

  • Stanis, Bern Nadette (2006). Situations 101. The Worthingham Group. ISBN 978-0-9770361-0-3.

References

  1. ↑ Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1981
  2. 1 2 TV in the USA, "Good Times" (1974-1979)
  3. 1 2 "Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005", database, FamilySearch (Terrence Keenen Redd and Bernadette Stanislaus, 27 Dec 1981)
  4. ↑ As spelled in the opening credits of Good Times. First name often spelled "BernNadette" in print sources.
  5. ↑ "'Remembering the Good Times' with Bernadette Stanis". Trendsetters to Trendsetters Magazine. Atlanta, Georgia. March 5, 2014. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "BernNadette Stanis Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Birth Name: Bernadette Stanislaus. Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY. Birthday: December 22, 1953
  7. ↑ "Thelma" Revealed An Extremely Painful Experience She Had With Her Mom – December 27, 2015
  8. ↑ Ellise, Aria (November 21, 2018). "Bernadette Stanis Helps Alzheimer's Patients Remember the 'Good Times'". BlackDoctor.org. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ BernNadette Stanis Who Played Thelma On 'Good Times' Gives Rare Interview. Willie D Live. July 16, 2020. Event occurs at 01:46. Retrieved July 17, 2020. My grandparents on my father's side [were] from Grenada Carriacou, from the West Indies, so my father ... was born in Brooklyn. ... And my mother is from Louisiana. ... They raised five children. Alt URL
  10. ↑ Maniscalco, Joe (August 28, 2009). "Say hello to the real 'Thelma' – Bern Nadette Stanis". Brooklyn Daily. No. 35. Community News Group. Archived from the original on December 24, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016. Additional on December 23, 2016.
  11. ↑ Witbeck, Charles (May 30, 1975). "'Good Times' Teen No Longer Hiding". Boca Raton News. King Features Syndicate.
  12. ↑ Markoutsas, Elaine (January 5, 1976). "Thelma Of 'Good Times' Moving Ahead". Toledo Blade. (originally published in Chicago Tribune, December 28, 1975)
  13. ↑ "Miss Black America Success Story: Bernadette Stanis". Miss Black America. January 22, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  14. 1 2 "The original 'It Girl' Thelma of 'Good Times,' featured on TV-One's 'Life After'". (interview) TheChocolateVoice.com. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2016. Additional on December 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ Lucas, Bob (July 20, 1978). "Did Fame Wreck Marriage of TV's Good Times Star ? – BernNadette Stanis". Jet. pp. 21–22. ...she married Thomas Fauntleroy in June 1974. ... 'Faunt' (the nickname of the High-school sweetheart she married in June 1974) Stanis: "It's been about a year and a half [since the separation]."
  16. 1 2 "Famous Marriages and Loves Lost". Jet. January 10, 1980. p. 52. BernNadette Stanis (1979) to Darnell Johnson after divorcing Thomas Fauntleroy in 1978
  17. ↑ "BernNadette's Surprise Wedding". Jet. January 25, 1979. p. 58. BernNadette Stanis was married to Darnell Johnson, owner of Darnell's nightclub in Brooklyn.... They met two months ago.
  18. 1 2 Norment, Lynn (May 2000). "Stepmom Kathleen Bradley". Ebony. ...Terrence Reed, a mechanical engineer.... Redd has a 17-year-old daughter, Dior, [born circa 1983] by his earlier marriage to actress Bernadette [sic] Stanis, who portrayed Thelma on the TV show Good Times.
  19. ↑ "The Week's Best Photos > Momma's Baby". Jet. August 24, 1982. ...husband Terrence Redd. ... BerNadette [sic] shows off their four-month-old daughter, Dior.
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