Jimmie Walker

Actor

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his three-hour interview, Jimmie Walker talks about his early life and getting his start doing stand-up comedy at the African Room, where he was advised by comedian David Brenner. He describes early television appearances with Joe Franklin and Jack Paar, and his ultimate goal to get on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He recounts being cast by Norman Lear as “J.J. Evans” on the comedy Good Times, a spin-off from Lear’s Maude. He discusses difficulties he had getting along with his castmates on Good Times, including Esther Rolle and John Amos, and how "J.J.'s" catchphrase, "Dyn-o-mite!" made him the breakout character from the show. Walker tells stories of guest-starring on several series including The Love Boat and The Larry Sanders Show, as well as appearing on the game shows Match Game and Hollywood Squares. He concludes by giving an insider’s perspective on Jay Leno taking over The Tonight Show, and discussing his conservatism. John Dalton conducted the interview on February 7, 2017 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Every month during 'Good Times,' Norman Lear would say, 'I beg of you, go get some acting lessons. It would really help you,' and I would say, 'I like what I do.' Then, in the second year, I hate to say it, the laughs got so big, it was bigger than Norman Lear."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Jimmie Walker on being cast as "J.J. Evans" on Good Times

06:55

Jimmie Walker on doing stand-up at the African Room, and on learning from comedian David Brenner

05:19

Jimmie Walker on his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!" and on how Norman Lear felt about it

04:24

Jimmie Walker on television he watched growing up, and his early influences

01:13

Jimmie Walker on how he'd like to be remembered

00:21

Jimmie Walker on the end of Good Times, and on the legacy of the show

02:22

Full Interview

Play Full Video

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on television he watched growing up, and his early influences; on the comedy improv group The Last Poets

On doing stand-up at the African Room, and on learning from comedian David Brenner; on appearing on The Joe Franklin Show; on being discovered to appear on Jack Paar Tonite

On his goal to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on working with Bette Midler at the Continental Baths; on being cast as "J.J. Evans" on Good Times; on his first days playing "J.J. Evans" on Good Times, and on working with producer Norman Lear

On his character, "J.J. Evans," on Good Times, and on "Michael Evans" played by Ralph Carter; on his level of comfort in acting on Good Times, and the difficulty of an African-American actor being the "laugh guy" on a series; on Norman Lear searching for black writers for Good Times, and on Married with Children creator Michael Moye

Chapter 2

On his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!," and on how Norman Lear felt about it; on working with show creator Norman Lear on Good Times, and on Aaron Spelling dealing with actors on Starsky & Hutch; on Good Times co-creator Mike Evans, who also played "Lionel Jefferson" on The Jeffersons

On "J.J. Evans'" denim hat on Good Times, and on show director John Rich; on his friendship with Freddie Prinze; on working with Esther Rolle as "Florida Evans" and John Amos as "James Evans" on Good Times, and on the lack of unity among the cast

On Ralph Carter and Bern Nadette Stanis as "Michael" and "Thelma Evans" on Good Times; on Ja'net Dubois as "Willona Woods" on Good Times; on Janet Jackson as "Penny" on the show

On the experience of being the breakout star of Good Times, and on still working as a stand-up during the series' run; on favorite episodes and guest stars of Good Times; on the end of Good Times, and on the show's legacy

Chapter 3

On Norman Lear wanting to cover controversial topics on Good Times; on how Good Times impacted his career, and on his struggles in show business

On appearing on The Love Boat, and on starring in B.A.D. Cats with Michelle Pfeiffer; on appearing on Match Game and Hollywood Squares; on guest-starring on The Larry Sanders Show and Everybody Hates Chris

On Jay Leno getting The Tonight Show with the help of Helen Kushnick

On what he loves about stand-up comedy; on being conservative in Hollywood

On how the industry has changed since he started and on his friend and mentor comedian David Brenner; on advice to aspiring comedians; on career achievements and regrets, and how he'd like to be remembered

Shows

Battle of the Network Stars

Jimmie Walker on appearing on Battle of the Network Stars

02:38

Everybody Hates Chris

Jimmie Walker on guest-starring on Everybody Hates Chris

02:01

Good Times

Jimmie Walker on being cast as "J.J. Evans" on Good Times

06:55

Jimmie Walker on his first days playing "J.J. Evans" on Good Times, and on working with producer Norman Lear

05:15

Jimmie Walker on his character, "J.J. Evans," on Good Times, and on "Michael Evans" played by Ralph Carter

05:36

Jimmie Walker on his level of comfort in acting on Good Times, and the difficulty of an African-American actor being the "laugh guy" on a series

05:37

Jimmie Walker on Norman Lear searching for black writers for Good Times, and on Married with Children creator Michael Moye

03:24

Jimmie Walker on his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!" and on how Norman Lear felt about it

04:24

Jimmie Walker on working with show creator Norman Lear on Good Times, and on Aaron Spelling dealing with actors on Starsky & Hutch

06:16

Jimmie Walker on Good Times co-creator Mike Evans, who also played "Lionel Jefferson" on The Jeffersons

02:22

Jimmie Walker on "J.J. Evans'" denim hat on Good Times, and on show director John Rich

04:15

Jimmie Walker on working with Esther Rolle as "Florida Evans" and John Amos as "James Evans" on Good Times, and on the lack of unity among the cast

04:29

Jimmie Walker on Esther Rolle as "Florida Evans" and John Amos as "James Evans" leaving the cast of Good Times, and on the chemistry of the cast

01:40

Jimmie Walker on Ralph Carter and Bern Nadette Stanis as "Michael" and "Thelma Evans" on Good Times

04:21

Jimmie Walker on Ja'net Dubois as "Willona Woods" on Good Times

02:15

Jimmie Walker on Janet Jackson as "Penny" on Good Times

01:48

Jimmie Walker on the experience of being the breakout star of Good Times, and on still working as a stand-up during the series' run

03:59

Jimmie Walker on favorite episodes and guest stars of Good Times

03:39

Jimmie Walker on the end of Good Times, and on the legacy of the show

02:22

Jimmie Walker on Norman Lear wanting to cover controversial topics on Good Times

02:32

Jimmie Walker on how Good Times impacted his career, and on his struggles in show business

12:07

Hollywood Squares, The

Jimmie Walker on appearing on Match Game and Hollywood Squares

04:43

Jack Paar Tonite

Jimmie Walker on being discovered and appearing on Jack Paar Tonite

06:35

Jeffersons, The

Jimmie Walker on Good Times co-creator Mike Evans, who also played "Lionel Jefferson" on The Jeffersons

02:22

Joe Franklin Show, The

Jimmie Walker on appearing on The Joe Franklin Show

01:36

Larry Sanders Show, The

Jimmie Walker on appearing on The Larry Sanders Show starring Garry Shandling

04:13

Love Boat, The

Jimmie Walker on appearing on The Love Boat

01:01

Match Game

Jimmie Walker on appearing on Match Game and Hollywood Squares

04:42

Starsky and Hutch

Jimmie Walker on working with show creator Norman Lear on Good Times, and on Aaron Spelling dealing with actors on Starsky & Hutch

06:16

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The

Jimmie Walker on his goal to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on working with Bette Midler at the Continental Baths

06:23

Topics

Advice

Jimmie Walker on advice to aspiring comedians

01:38

Characters & Catchphrases

Jimmie Walker on his character, "J.J. Evans," on Good Times, and on "Michael Evans" played by Ralph Carter

05:36

Jimmie Walker on his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!" and on how Norman Lear felt about it

04:24

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Jimmie Walker on discovering he wanted to be a stand-up comedian due partly to Dick Gregory

02:41

Jimmie Walker on doing stand-up in the African Room, and on learning from David Brenner

05:19

Pivotal Career Moments

Jimmie Walker on discovering he wanted to be a stand-up comedian due partly to Dick Gregory

02:41

Jimmie Walker on doing stand-up at the African Room, and on learning from comedian David Brenner

05:19

Pop Culture

Jimmie Walker on his character, "J.J. Evans," on Good Times, and on "Michael Evans" played by Ralph Carter

05:36

Jimmie Walker on his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!" and on how Norman Lear felt about it

04:24

Television Industry

Jimmie Walker on how the industry's changed since he started

01:43

Jimmie Walker on advice to aspiring comedians

01:38

Professions

Comedian

View Profession

Jimmie Walker on dealing with disappointment and rejection in his career

01:37

Jimmie Walker on what he loves about stand-up comedy

00:55

Performers

View Profession

Jimmie Walker on dealing with disappointment and rejection in his career

01:37

Jimmie Walker on what he loves about stand-up comedy

00:55

Genres

Comedy Series

Jimmie Walker on playing "J.J. Evans" on Good Times

26:44

Jimmie Walker on playing "J.J. Evans" on Good Times

47:26

Jimmie Walker on playing "J.J. Evans" on Good Times

14:40

Jimmie Walker on appearing on The Love Boat

01:01

Jimmie Walker on appearing on The Larry Sanders Show starring Garry Shandling

04:13

Jimmie Walker on guest-starring on Everybody Hates Chris

02:01

Game Shows

Jimmie Walker on appearing on Match Game and Hollywood Squares

04:42

Jimmie Walker on appearing on Battle of the Network Stars

02:38

Talk Shows

Jimmie Walker on being discovered and appearing on Jack Paar Tonite

06:35

People

John Amos

View Interview Page

Jimmie Walker on working with Esther Rolle as "Florida Evans" and John Amos as "James Evans" on Good Times, and on the lack of unity among the cast

06:09

David Brenner

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on his friend and mentor comedian David Brenner

00:38

Johnny Carson

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on his goal to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on working with Bette Midler at the Continental Baths

06:23

Mike Evans

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on Good Times co-creator Mike Evans, who also played "Lionel Jefferson" on The Jeffersons

02:22

Joe Franklin

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on appearing on The Joe Franklin Show

01:36

Dick Gregory

View Interview Page

Jimmie Walker on discovering he wanted to be a stand-up comedian due partly to Dick Gregory

02:41

Janet Jackson

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on Janet Jackson as "Penny" on Good Times

01:48

Norman Lear

View Interview Page

Jimmie Walker on his first days playing "J.J. Evans" on Good Times, and on working with producer Norman Lear

05:15

Jimmie Walker on his Good Times catch phrase, "Dyn-o-mite!," and on how Norman Lear felt about it

04:24

Jimmie Walker on working with show creator Norman Lear on Good Times, and on Aaron Spelling dealing with actors on Starsky & Hutch

06:16

Jimmie Walker on Norman Lear wanting to cover controversial topics on Good Times

02:31

Jay Leno

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on Jay Leno getting The Tonight Show with the help of Helen Kushnick

15:23

Bette Midler

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on his goal to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on working with Bette Midler at the Continental Baths

06:23

Jack Paar

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on being discovered and appearing on Jack Paar Tonite

06:35

Michelle Pfeiffer

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on starring in B.A.D. Cats with Michelle Pfeiffer

01:02

Freddie Prinze

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on his friendship with Freddie Prinze

05:22

John Rich

View Interview Page

Jimmie Walker on "J.J. Evans'" denim hat on Good Times, and on show director John Rich

04:16

Esther Rolle

View Person Page

Jimmie Walker on working with Esther Rolle as "Florida Evans" and John Amos as "James Evans" on Good Times, and on the lack of unity among the cast

06:09

Garry Shandling

View Interview Page

Jimmie Walker on appearing on The Larry Sanders Show starring Garry Shandling

04:13

Aaron Spelling

View Interview Page

Jimmie Walker on working with show creator Norman Lear on Good Times, and on Aaron Spelling dealing with actors on Starsky & Hutch

06:16