Johnny Brown, Singer, Comedian, and ‘Good Times’ Actor Dies at 84

Johnny Brown, best known for starring in the 1970s CBS sitcom Good Times has died at the age of 84.

Brown’s daughter, Broadway actress Sharon Catherine Brown, confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Friday, revealing that her father died on Wednesday.

“Our family is devastated. Devastated. Devastated. Beyond heartbroken,” Brown wrote. “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. 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.”

Brown continued, “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.”

Brown was best known for playing Nathan Bookman, the superintendent of the housing project, in Good Times. His other television appearances included roles on countless classic shows such as Julia, Maude, The Rookies, Lotsa Luck!, The Flip Wilson Show, The Jeffersons, Archie Bunker’s Place, Family Matters, Sister, Sister, Moonlighting, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Wayans Bros, and Martin. 

He also recorded songs and performed in a band with saxophonist Sam “The Man” Taylor, before spending three seasons on the sketch comedy show Laugh-In in the early 1970s.

In addition to his daughter and his wife of 61 years, Brown is survived by his son, John Jr.