Jo Marie Payton

Born: 1950-08-03, Albany, Georgia, USA

Biography

Jo Marie Payton is an American actress and singer who starred as Harriette Baines–Winslow, the matriarch of the Winslow family on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1989–1998), a role she originated on its forerunner series Perfect Strangers. From 2001 to 2005, Payton provided the voice for Suga Mama Proud (Penny Proud's grandmother) on Disney Channel's animated series The Proud Family and Disney+’s upcoming revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2005. Payton also had a recurring role as the personal assistant to Gregory Hines' character, Ben Doucette (Will Truman's boss), during season two of Will & Grace (1999–2000).

Filmography

• Will & Grace (1998)
• Family Matters (1989)
• Girlfriends (2000)
• Moesha (1996)
• The Hughleys (1998)
• The Parkers (1999)
• Silver Spoons (1982)
• The Proud Family (2001)
• 227 (1985)
• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022)
• Chibiverse (2022)
• Miss Governor (2025)
• Colors (1988)
• Teachers Only (1982)
• Crossroads (1986)
• The New Odd Couple (1982)
• The Beach Bum (2019)
• Disorderlies (1987)
• Deal of the Century (1983)
• Troop Beverly Hills (1989)
• The Proud Family Movie (2005)
• Christmas Made to Order (2018)
• The Flight Before Christmas (2015)
• A Student's Obsession (2015)
• Conundrum: Secrets Among Friends (2023)
• A Very Charming Christmas Town (2020)
• Woof! Woof!! Uncle Matty's Ultimate Guide to Dog Training (1997)
• A Family Matters Christmas (2022)
• Jerico (2016)
• Momma Said Come Home for Christmas (2023)