Thelma Evans
Encyclopedia
Thelma Evans Anderson is a supporting character
of the 1970s family sitcom Good Times
. She was portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis
. She was the middle child of the Evans family.
Thelma was born on June 18, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, to Florida
and James Evans
. She was born in a poverty
section of Chicago in a cold water flat. She had an older brother named J. J. Evans
. She and her family lived in the cold water flat until her younger brother Michael Evans
was born.
As Thelma grew older, she was into acting
and dancing. Her mother and father signed up for her to be in various schools to learn how become better. She also had various boyfriends like her boyfriend Larry (who was actually mentioned frequently in early episodes). She was also given a chance to marry some of her boyfriends, but her parents disapproved when she was given a chance to be married to a 42 year old (portrayed by Louis Gossett, Jr.
) Her favorite actor was Billy Dee Williams
and her favorite musicians were Isaac Hayes
, Stevie Wonder
, and Marvin Gaye
.
J.J. usually bickered Thelma about her cooking skills (or more accurately, lack thereof). However, eventually she became better.
In the fourth season of the show, Thelma was college bound, but didn't live on campus. She still stayed with her family. By the beginning of the sixth season, Thelma had graduated. She also married a young man named Keith Anderson, a college athlete who had a bright future. But at their wedding, Keith tripped over J.J. who was taking pictures, and hurt his knee. This event led to Keith developing a drinking problem and eventually getting a job as a taxicab driver.
At the end of Season 6, Thelma and Keith were moving into a new apartment near Lake Michigan
after Keith completely recovered from his knee injury had finally got his contract to play football for the Chicago Bears
. She then allowed her mother to live along with her because of her pregnancy
. In real life Bern Nadette was actually 20 years old when the show premiered during 1973-74 season, and was 25 years old when the show ended at the end of the 1978-79 season.
Supporting character
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show or other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character...
of the 1970s family sitcom Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
. She was portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis
Bern Nadette Stanis
Bern Nadette Stanis is an American actress best known for her role as the strong-willed Thelma Evans on the CBS sitcom, Good Times.-Career:...
. She was the middle child of the Evans family.
Thelma was born on June 18, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, to Florida
Florida Evans
Florida Evans Dixon was the fictional supporting character on the sitcom Maude and the lead character in its spin-off, Good Times. She was the hard-working mother of the Evans family...
and James Evans
James Evans, Sr.
James Evans Sr. was a supporting character portrayed by TV actor John Amos in the 1970s American sitcom Good Times, from the first season in 1974, until the end of the third season in 1976....
. She was born in a poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
section of Chicago in a cold water flat. She had an older brother named J. J. Evans
J. J. Evans
James Evans, Jr. is a fictional character on the 1970s sitcom, Good Times. He was created by Norman Lear and portrayed by Jimmie Walker. The character was known as simply "J.J.", and is commonly seen as the show's breakout character. His favorite expression was "Dyno-MITE!"-Character...
. She and her family lived in the cold water flat until her younger brother Michael Evans
Michael Evans (Good Times)
Michael Evans is an American supporting character from the 1970s American sitcom Good Times. The character was apparently named after Good Times co-creator Michael Evans. He was portrayed by Ralph Carter....
was born.
As Thelma grew older, she was into acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
and dancing. Her mother and father signed up for her to be in various schools to learn how become better. She also had various boyfriends like her boyfriend Larry (who was actually mentioned frequently in early episodes). She was also given a chance to marry some of her boyfriends, but her parents disapproved when she was given a chance to be married to a 42 year old (portrayed by Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. is an American actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman and Fiddler in the 1970s television miniseries Roots...
) Her favorite actor was Billy Dee Williams
Billy Dee Williams
William December "Billy Dee" Williams, Jr. is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer.-Early life:Williams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Loretta...
and her favorite musicians were Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
.
J.J. usually bickered Thelma about her cooking skills (or more accurately, lack thereof). However, eventually she became better.
In the fourth season of the show, Thelma was college bound, but didn't live on campus. She still stayed with her family. By the beginning of the sixth season, Thelma had graduated. She also married a young man named Keith Anderson, a college athlete who had a bright future. But at their wedding, Keith tripped over J.J. who was taking pictures, and hurt his knee. This event led to Keith developing a drinking problem and eventually getting a job as a taxicab driver.
At the end of Season 6, Thelma and Keith were moving into a new apartment near Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
after Keith completely recovered from his knee injury had finally got his contract to play football for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. She then allowed her mother to live along with her because of her pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
. In real life Bern Nadette was actually 20 years old when the show premiered during 1973-74 season, and was 25 years old when the show ended at the end of the 1978-79 season.