Judyann Elder

2025-06-16T18:21:47Z

2601:240:CF82:17A0:A861:E861:531B:2CC6:

{{short description|American actress}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption = Elder in 2015.
| name = Judyann Elder
| birth_name = Judith Ann Johnson<ref>["United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages, 1980-2015", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKW9-8VF8 : Sat Jul 06 11:32:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Elder 3rd and Judyann Johnson Elder, 13 Jun 1996.]</ref>
| birth_date = {{ birth date and age|1948|8|18}}<ref>["United States, Public Records, 1970-2009", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KTP2-F1N : 23 December 2019), Judith Ann Elder, 2007-2008.]</ref>
| birth_place = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
| other_names =
| alma mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|director|writer}}
| years_active = 1968–present
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Lonne Elder III]]<br>|1969|1994|end=divorced}}<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=jkIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=judyann+elder+lonne+elder&pg=PA55 JET Magazine – 10 Inducted Into Black Filmmakers Hall Of Fame In Oakland – March 15, 1979]</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/13/arts/lonne-elder-69-pioneering-playwright-dies.html?mcubz=1 New York Times – Lonne Elder, 69, Pioneering playwright dies – June 13, 1996]</ref>
| children = 2 
}}

'''Judyann Elder''' (born '''Judith Ann Johnson'''; August 18, 1948) is an American actress, director, and writer. She played Nadine Waters on the FOX sitcom ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]''. She also played Harriette Winslow on [[CBS]]' ''[[Family Matters]]'' for the remaining eight episodes of its ninth and final season, after the departure of [[Jo Marie Payton]]. Elder is also a veteran of the stage who has appeared in scores of theatrical productions throughout the United States and Europe.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=U1Pe45NhU08C&dq=judyann+elder&pg=PA127 The A to Z of African-American Television – Judyann Elder – By Kathleen Fearn-Banks]</ref>

== Early life and career ==
A founding member and resident actor with the [[Tony Award]]-winning [[Negro Ensemble Company]],<ref>[http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/negro-ensemble-company-1967 "Negro Ensemble Company, The (1967– )"], BlackPast.org.</ref><ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/negro-ensemble-co-about-the-negro-ensemble-co/666/ "About the Negro Ensemble Co."], American Masters, August 18, 2004.</ref> Elder originated roles in the premier productions of ''The Song of the Lusitanian Bogey'', ''Daddy Goodness'', ''[[Kongi's Harvest]]'', and ''God is a (Guess What?)''.{{Citation needed |date=September 2024}}

In 1969, she played the role of Russell B. Parker's young love interest in [[Lonne Elder III]]'s ''[[Ceremonies in Dark Old Men]]'' and toured with the company to London and Rome. She married the play's [[Pulitzer Prize]]-nominated author early that same year, changing her name to Judyann Elder.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mastermind with Marionettes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2VYEAAAAMBAJ&q=marionettes+lonne+elder+life&pg=PA80|magazine=Life|author = Lonne Elder III|date = December 15, 1972}}</ref> Elder and her husband moved to Los Angeles soon after, where she broadened her career to include roles on screen. She made guest star roles in series such as ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]'', ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'', and ''[[The White Shadow (TV series)|The White Shadow]]''. In 1976, she made her Broadway debut at the [[Ambassador Theatre (New York City)|Ambassador Theatre]] as [[Coretta King]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Billy Dee Williams Scores in 'I Have a Dream' Play|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ccADAAAAMBAJ&q=judyann+elder+interview+martin&pg=PA59 |work=Jet magazine|date = April 22, 1976|publisher = Johnson Publishing Company}}</ref> opposite [[Billy Dee Williams]] in ''I Have a Dream'',<ref>{{cite web|title= Billy Dee Williams Plays M. L. King in Hit Stage Play|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UsADAAAAMBAJ&q=judyannelder+interview&pg=PA56 |work=Jet magazine|date = June 3, 1976|publisher = Johnson Publishing Company}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title = The Theater: A King in Darkness | newspaper = Time | date = October 4, 1976 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918426,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110220103806/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918426,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 20, 2011 | accessdate = January 3, 2009 }}</ref> directed by [[Robert Greenwald]]. She subsequently portrayed the role of Bernette Wilson in the television miniseries ''[[A Woman Called Moses]]'', starring [[Cicely Tyson]]. Several roles on screen followed, including ''[[Forget Paris]]'' with [[Billy Crystal]], ''[[The Players Club]]'' directed by [[Ice Cube]], and ''[[Seven Pounds]]'' with [[Will Smith]].

In the 1991–92 season of TV's ''[[Murphy Brown]]'' starring [[Candice Bergen]], Elder portrayed Murphy Brown's obstetrician, Dr. Barton. Her recurring role culminated with the historic season finale where Dr. Barton delivered Murphy Brown's baby. She played Gina's mother, Nadine Waters, on ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'' (1992—97), starring [[Martin Lawrence]]; Gina was played by [[Tisha Campbell]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Primetime Blues: African Americans on Network Television – Martin Mania: The Rise of Martin Lawrence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V2UNCgAAQBAJ&q=judyann+elder+interview+martin&pg=PA421 |author = Donald Bogle|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |date = 2001| isbn= 0-374-52718-0}}</ref> In 1998, Elder replaced [[Jo Marie Payton]] as Harriette Winslow in the last episodes of the popular show ''[[Family Matters]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Family Matters: Was JoMarie Payton Really in the Finale? How About a Reunion?|url=http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/family-matters-jomarie-payton-reunion-16893/ |publisher=tvseriesfinale.com|date = July 28, 2010}}</ref>

Elder has frequently returned to the stage, and last appeared at Arkansas Rep as Rose in [[August Wilson]]'s ''[[Fences (play)|Fences]]''. She also has many theatre directorial credits, including ''The Book of the Crazy African'' (Skylight Theatre), ''[[The Meeting (play)|The Meeting]]''<ref>{{Citation | title = The National Black Drama Anthology: Eleven Plays from America's Leading African-American Theaters| editor = Woodie King, Jr.| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8zuRFuhX_I4C&q=judyann+elder+interview+martin&pg=PA428 | publisher = Applause| isbn = 1-55783-219-6|year = 1995 }}</ref> (Inner City Cultural Center, LA and New Federal Theatre, NY), ''[[Ceremonies in Dark Old Men]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-05-ca-27554-story.html|title='Ceremonies' Marks Tribute to Black History Month : Judyann Elder Directs Husband's Classic Play That Offers Sad but Hopeful Statement|author = Janice Arkatov|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 5, 1988}}</ref> (Beverly Canon Theatre), and ''A Private Act'' ([[Robey Theatre Company]]). Her direction of Matthew Lopez' ''The Whipping Man''<ref>{{Citation | title = LA Theatre Works: The Whipping Man | url = https://store.latw.org/plays/the-whipping-man/ | publisher = latw.org | access-date = April 17, 2016 | archive-date = June 30, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160630031754/https://store.latw.org/plays/the-whipping-man/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> starring [[Charlie Robinson (actor)|Charlie Robinson]] at the [[Skirball Cultural Center]] for [[L.A. Theatre Works|LA Theatre Works]] radio series was broadcast nationally in 2016.

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Melinda (film)|Melinda]]'' || Gloria ||
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Blume in Love]]'' || Lulu ||
|-
| 1978 || ''[[A Woman Called Moses]]'' || Bernette Wilson || Television miniseries
|-
| 1981 || ''The Oklahoma City Dolls'' || Helen || Television movie
|-
| 1982 || ''[[In the Custody of Strangers]]'' || Marni Blake, Prosecutor|| Television movie
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Right to Die (film)|Right to Die]]'' || || Television movie
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Those She Left Behind]]'' || Counselor || Television movie
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Forget Paris]]'' || Ivy ||
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Sweet Temptation (film)|Sweet Temptation]]'' || Teak || Television movie
|-
| 1997 || ''[[The Pest (1997 film)|The Pest]]'' || Mrs. Kent ||
|-
| 1998 || ''[[The Players Club]]'' || Mrs. Armstrong ||
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Dead Man on Campus]]'' || Guidance Counselor ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Seven Pounds]]'' || Holly ||
|-
| 2016 || ''Viral'' || Mrs. Toomey ||
|}

===As director===
* 1989: ''Behind God's Back'' – short film (also narrator)
* 2013: ''A Private Act'' – short film (also screenplay)

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1968 || ''[[N.Y.P.D. (TV series)|N.Y.P.D]]'' || Barmaid || Episode: "Deadly Circle of Violence"
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law]]'' || || Episode: "Nothing Personal"
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Sanford and Son]]'' || Darlene Edwards|| Episode: "A Pad for Lamont"
|-
| 1973 || ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]'' || Vi Hoskin || Episode: "No Badge for Benjy"
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'' || Marge || Episode: "Light-fingered Lady"
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]'' || Mrs. Hatch|| Episode: "Babies"
|-
| 1979 || ''[[The White Shadow (TV series)|The White Shadow]]'' || Dr. Chatton || Episode: "Me?"
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Today's F.B.I.]]'' || || Episode: "Bank Job"
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Benson (TV series)|Benson]]'' || Patty Stiles || Episode: "Quest for Retire"
|-
| 1982 || ''[[The Devlin Connection]]'' || || Episode: "Allison"
|-
| 1984 || ''[[The Yellow Rose]]'' || || Episode: "Land of the Free"
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Matt Houston]]'' ||Ann Hoyt || Episode: Vanished"
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'' || Irene Chambers || Episode: "Knock, Knock"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[V (TV series)|V]]'' || Mrs. Caniff|| Episode: "The Hero"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'' || Elodie Haber || Episode: "Santa Clause is Dead"
|-
| 1986 || ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' || Karen Olsen || 6 episodes
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]]'' || Sarah Crawford || Episode: "The Minister's Wife"
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Hard Time on Planet Earth]]'' || Mrs. Tillman || Episode: "All That You Can Be"
|-
| 1989—1990 || ''[[Paddington Bear (1989 TV series)|Paddington Bear]]'' || Additional Voices || 2 episodes
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' || Lt. Ballard || Episode: "[[The Offspring (TNG episode)|The Offspring]]"
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]'' || Additional Voices || 1 episode
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone]]'' || Voice || 13 episodes
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Roc (TV series)|Roc]]'' || || Pilot
|-
| 1991—1992 || ''[[Murphy Brown]]'' || Dr. Barton || 3 episodes
|-
| 1992 || ''[[The Powers That Be (TV series)|The Powers That Be]]'' ||Estelle || Episode: "How Sharper Than a Servant's Tooth"
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' || Nora Touissant || Episode: "Hate Is Just a Four Letter Word"
|-
| 1996 || ''[[In the House (TV series)|In the House]]'' || Florence|| Episode: "To Die For"
|-
| 1992—1997 || ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'' || Nadine Waters || 6 episodes
|-
| 1997 || ''[[The Steve Harvey Show]]'' || Ms. Crabtree || Episode: " I'm Not a Chauvinist, Piggy"
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' || Diane Peck || Episode: "From Top to Bottom"
|-
| 1994; 1998 || ''[[Family Matters]]'' || Harriette Winslow / Sister Bernadette || 9 episodes
|-
| 1996—1999 || ''[[Mad About You]]'' || Nurse Lily || 4 episodes
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Family Law (American TV series)|Family Law]]'' || Judge || Episode: "The Quality of Mercy"
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Becker (TV series)|Becker]]'' || Judge Miriam Reinhold|| 2 episodes
|-
| 2002 || ''[[First Monday]]'' || Darla Collins || Episode: "Court Date"
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Wanda at Large]]'' || Mrs. Hawkins || Episode: "Alma Mater"
|-
| 2004 || ''[[That's So Raven]]'' || Nana Loretta || Episode: "Leave It to Diva"
|-
| 2005 || ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'' || Debra Graham || Episode: "Refusal of Care"
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Blind Justice (TV series)|Blind Justice]]'' || Judy Dwyer || Episode: "In Your Face"
|-
| 2006 || ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' || Marny Mathers|| Episode: "Escaped"
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'' || Dr. Brody || Episode: "[[Gossip (Desperate Housewives)|Gossip]]"
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Cold Case (TV series)|Cold Case]]'' || Cecilia || Episode: "Sabotage"
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Love That Girl!]]'' || Phyliss || Episode: "Break of Dawn"
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Castle (TV series)|Castle]]'' || Melinda Parish || Episode: "Bad Santa"
|-
| 2012—2017 || ''[[Family Time (TV series)|Family Time]]'' || Beverly Stallworth || 10 episodes
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' || Angelica Paulson || Episode: "You’re Gonna Need Someone on Your Side"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*''[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/CreditableEntity/23978 Judyann Elder]'' at the Lortel Archives – The Internet Off-Broadway Database
*{{IMDb name|id=0253068|name=Judyann Elder}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elder, Judyann}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American women theatre directors]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:American theatre directors]]

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Judyann Elder