Cast of the sitcom 'Good Times'

Bern Nadette Stanis | Biography

Bern Nadetter Stanis' famous character Thelma from the sitcom 'Good Times,' inspired her to write the book 'The Last Night'

• By Shruti Pokharel
• Original : December 11, 2021

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Bern Nadetter Stanis is an American actress and author.

Who is Bern Nadetter Stanis?

Bern Nadetter Stanis is an American actress based in New York, better known for her character Thelma from the sitcom Good Times (1974). Stanis was the first-ever black female teenager to star on television.

Early Life and Education

Bern Nadetter Stanis, birth name, Bernadette Stanislaus, was born on 22 December 1953 in eastern Brooklyn, New York. She is 67 years as of 2021. 

She attended Erasmus High School. After high school, she went to Juilliard School and earned a BA degree in Drama. As a teenager, she participated in multiple beauty pageants. Stanis also won the title of Miss Brooklyn and also became the first runner-up in the Miss New York state pageant. Her height was also a contributing factor to compliment her beauty. Stanis stands at a height of 1.62 meters. 

Thelma from 'Good Times'

Stanis started her acting career with the CBS sitcom Good Times. She portrayed Thelma Ann Evans-Anderson, the only daughter of James and Florida Evans, on the sitcom. The sitcom aired for 5 years, from 1974 to 1979, and Stanis appeared in a total of 133 episodes. 

During the 1970s, Stanis embodied the definition of black beauty. Her charm, comedic timing, intelligence, dignity, and sexy but innocent image were some of her highly praised qualities that made her a fan favorite. Her wonderful and graceful dancing was also showcased on the show from time to time. 

In September 2009, she starred in a Thelma promotion called Battle of the Thelmas, alongside actress Anna Maria Horsford, who portrayed Thelma Frye in the TV show Amen. Battle of the Thelmas specifically aired the wedding scenes of Thelmas from their respective TV shows. 

In February 2010, Stanis appeared on a 30-minute program in Color TV for Way Back Then promotion alongside her former co-star Jimmie Walker. The duo was invited in honor of Black History Month. They shared their experiences, memories, and thoughts on their hit sitcom Good Times. 

Besides acting, she is also into writing. Her famous character from the Good Times, Thelma, inspired her to write a book called 'The Last Night.' The book gives an overview of the life of Thelma Evans. It also touches a sensitive side of Stanis' personal life on how her mother suffered from Alzheimer's. Following the immense appreciation for her first book, Stanis went on to write three more books, 'Situation 101: relationships, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly,' 'For Men Only,' and 'Situation 101 Finances.'

Movies and TV Shows

After making her mark on television with her role Thelma Ann Evans-Anderson in the Good Times, in 1980, Stanis appeared in the TV show The Love Boat as Jane Reeves for just 3 episodes. She then appeared in a single episode of several TV shows, including What's Happening Now!!, Bustin' Loose, The Cosby Show, The Good News, The Wayans Bros., and The Parent 'Hood in the span of 14 years from 1985 to 1999. 

Stanis made her movie debut in 2000 with Hidden Blessings portraying the role of Jackson's Lawyer. After that, she featured in two movies in 2004, Land of the Free? and Still 'Bout It. Between 2006 and 2010, she starred in 5 movies, The Engagement: My Phamily BBQ 2, CAUTION! Heartache Ahead, The Adventure of Umbweki, In the Midnight Hours, and N-Secure. 

Her most recent movie appearance was in 36 Hour Layover as Nina's Mother. The movie was released in 2015. Her latest television appearance was in July 2016 in an episode of Centric's Being in which she shared her life and career.

Husband

Stanis has married four times in her lifetime. She got married for the first time in June 1974 to Thomas Fauntleroy. The marriage lasted for only 4 years. At 26, she married Kerwin Darnell Johnson, but this marriage ended within less than 2 years. Her third marriage was with mechanical engineer Terrence Redd on December 27, 1981. The marriage did not last long, but the date of their divorce is not known. Currently, Stanis is a wife to Kevin Fontana. Reports suggest that the couple has been married for 31 years now. 

Daughter

The American actress has two daughters Dior Ravel and Brittany Rose. She gave birth to her first daughter, Dior, in April 1982 with her third husband, Terrence Redd. But, some sources claim that Stanis was already married to her fourth husband in 1982 when she gave birth to her first child. Her second daughter, Brittany Rose, was born to her fourth husband, Kevin Fontana. 

Stanis' eldest daughter Dior also has a daughter named Leto MaNon.

Net Worth

Bern Nadette Stanis is estimated to hold a net worth of $6 million as of 2021.