In Memoriam: Johnny Brown, Bookman of “Good Times”, dies at 84

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Johnny Brown, the comedian, singer and actor best known as Bookman on the classic sitcom “Good Times,” has died on March 2, his family announced Friday. He was 84.

Entertainer Johnny Brown passed away

In a grief striken Instagram post, Brown’s actress daughter Sharon Catherine Brown, wrote, “Our family is devastated. Devastated. Devastated. Beyond heartbroken. Barely able to breathe. We respectfully ask for privacy at this time because we need a minute to process the unthinkable. To articulate the depths of profound sadness.”

She went on, “This is my mom’s husband for sixty one years, mine and JJ’s dad, Elijah and Levi’s Pop Pop, older brother to George and brother in law to Pat and extended family to Chris, Hihat, Damian and Derell. It’s too terrible. It will never not be. It’s a shock. He was literally snatched out of our lives. It’s not real for us yet. So there will be more to say but not now. Dad was the absolute best. We love him so very much.”

No cause of death was revealed.

Entertainment career

Brown was born June 11, 1937, in St. Petersburg, Florida and raised in Harlem. He made his film debut in the 1966 film “A Man Called Adam” and also appeared in the hit “The Out of Towners” (1969).

After guest appearances on shows like “Maude” (1973) and “The Rookies” (1973), he was cast as goofy Superintendent Nathan Bookman on “Good Times,” appearing on 58 episodes from 1975-1979.

He warmed hearts with roles on the film version of “The Wiz” (1978) and providing voice overs for the cartoon series “The Plastic Man” (1979 – 1980).

Brown continued his prolific television career on such shows as “The Jeffersons” (1982), “Moonlighting” (1988), “Martin” (1994), “Family Matters” (1995), and “Everybody Hates Chris” (2008).

His last film was 2013’s “In Da Cut.”

He also recorded songs and performed in a band with saxophonist Sam “The Man” Taylor, appeared twice on Broadway in the 1960s and was a regular performer for three seasons on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.

Johnny Brown is survived by his wife of 61 years, one daughter and one son, his brother, and extended family.