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Jimmie Walker

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
84

Gender
Male

Birthday
June 25, 1947 (79 years old)

Place of Birth
The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Jimmie Walker

Biography

James Carter Walker Jr. (born June 25, 1947), known professionally as Jimmie Walker, is an American actor and comedian. Walker is best known for portraying James Evans Jr. (J. J.), the oldest son of Florida and James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times which originally ran from 1974–1979. Walker was nominated for Golden Globe awards Best Supporting Actor In A Television Series in 1975 and 1976 for his role. While on the show, Walker's character was known for the catchphrase "Dy-no-mite!" which he also used in his mid–1970s TV commercial for a Panasonic line of cassette and 8-track tape players. He also starred in Let's Do It Again with John Amos, and The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened with James Earl Jones. Walker continues to tour the country with his stand-up comedy routine.

In 1967, Walker began working full-time with WRVR, the radio station of the Riverside Church. In 1969, Walker began performing as a stand-up comedian and was eventually discovered by the casting director for Good Times, after making appearances on Rowan & Martin's Laugh In and on the Jack Paar Show. He eventually released one stand-up comedy album during the height of his Good Times popularity: Dyn-o-mite on Buddah Records (5635). During Good Times' 1974–75 season, Walker was 26 years old, though his character was much younger. John Amos, the actor who portrayed Walker's father on Good Times, was actually just eight years older than Walker. Walker credits producer/director John Rich for inventing "Dy-no-mite!" which Rich insisted Walker say on every episode. Both Walker and executive producer Norman Lear were skeptical of the idea, but the phrase and Walker's character caught on with the audience. Also, off- and on-camera, Walker did not get along with series' lead, Esther Rolle, who played Florida Evans, in the series, because she and Amos disapproved of Walker's increasingly buffoonish character and his popularity, and Walker felt hurt by their disdain. Dissatisfaction led Amos (before Rolle), to leave the show, making Walker the star of the show. Walker was the only Good Times star to not attend Rolle's funeral.

Known For

Acting

2024Good Timesas Jim Bean (voice)
2023Norman Lear: A Life on Televisionas Self
2023Don't Suckas Dale
2022Show Business Is My Life (But I Can't Prove It)as Self
2022Sherrias Self - Guest
2022Dark Side of Comedyas Self
2022Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolutionas Self
2020A Wrestling Christmas Miracleas Dr. Lemon
2020The Comedy Storeas Self
2019Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"as Self
2019The Very Very Best of the 70sas Self - Commentator
2019I Am Richard Pryoras Self - Actor and Comedian
2018Jimmie JJ Walker & Michael Winslow: We Are Still Hereas Himself
2016The Comedianas Jimmie Walker
2015Sweet Lorraineas Rudy ray
2012Gotham Comedy Liveas Self - Host
2012David E. Talbert's What Goes Around Comes Aroundas Preacher
2011Super Sharkas Dynamite Stevens
2011Traffic Lightas Swinger Dude
2010Big Money Rustlasas The Husband
2010Worst Cooks in Americaas Self - Contestant
2009Celebrity Ghost Storiesas Self
2009Comedy.tvas Self
2007Back to the Grindas
2007Chasing Robertas Himself
2005Everybody Hates Chrisas Gene
2004The Tony Danza Showas Self
2002George Lopezas Lionel
2001Beat the Geeksas
2001Scrubsas Jimmie Walker
2000Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenthas Pimp
2000Son of the Beachas
1998Hollywood Squaresas Self - Panelist
1997Plump Fictionas Stingy Costumer
1995Monster Mash: The Movieas Hathaway
1995The Drew Carey Showas Lewis' stunt double
1995Open Seasonas Homer (as Jimmy Walker)
1994ERas Jay Jay
1994Space Ghost Coast to Coastas
1994But... Seriouslyas Self (archive footage)
1993The John Larroquette Showas Slyde Wilson
1992Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkas Celeb #3
1992The Larry Sanders Showas Jimmie Walker
1991The Guyveras Striker
1990Blossomas
1988Kidnappedas Chester
1987Bustin' Looseas Sonny Barnes
1987Going Bananasas Mozambo
1987The Bold and the Beautifulas Count Bouche
1985Doin' Timeas Shaker
1985Wateras Jay Jay
1984The Jerk, Tooas Card Player (uncredited)
1983Imps*as Thomas
1983At Easeas
1982Cagney & Laceyas Tony Brown
1982Late Night with David Lettermanas Self
1980Airplane!as Windshield Wiper Man
1980Murder Can Hurt You!as Parks the Pusher
1980The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70'sas Self - Village People
1980B.A.D. Catsas
1979The Concorde... Airport '79as Boisie
1978The White Shadowas Jimmie Walker
1978Rabbit Testas Umbuto
1977Telethonas Himself
1977The Greatest Thing That Almost Happenedas Morris Bird III
1977The Love Boatas Marvin Jones
1977The Love Boatas Mickey Garner
1977The Love Boatas Ronald Baker
1977The Love Boatas Wally
1977The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?as Self
1976Joysas Self
1976Donny & Marieas Self
1975Let's Do It Againas Bootney Farnsworth
1975Saturday Night Liveas Self (uncredited)
1975Cheras Self
1974Tony Orlando and Dawnas Self
1974Sing Sing Thanksgivingas Self
1974Good Timesas James "JJ" Evans
1973The Dean Martin Celebrity Roastsas Self
1962The Merv Griffin Showas Self
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
1961The Mike Douglas Showas Self - Co-Host
1961The Mike Douglas Showas Self - Guest
Forgotten Fortuneas

Production

2018Jimmie JJ Walker & Michael Winslow: We Are Still Here...Writer