AKA: JoMarie Payton-Noble, Jo-Marie Payton, Jo Marie Payton, JoMarie Payton-France, JoMarie Payton Noble
Nationality: American
Birthdate: 08/03/1950
Birthplace: Albany, Georgia, USA
biography
Payton has gained some measure of celebrity playing Harriet Winslow, first as a recurring character--the sarcastic elevator operator at the newspaper office on the goofy "buddy" sitcom "Perfect Strangers" (ABC, 1987-89)--and subsequently as a regular, the long-suffering Mom who must endure the increasingly cartoonish antics of her blowhard husband and oddball neighbor (the infamous Steve Urkel) on the hit sitcom "Family Matters", a role she vacated in 1997 after the series moved from ABC to CBS. Ironically, though her character was ostensibly the original spur for the spin-off, Payton has been
Began performing for her family while in elementary school
Appeared in variety shows while attending high school in Miami
First major stage role, played Mama in a high school production of "A Raisin in the Sun"
Built up a local following with appearances in local Miami productions
1975
Joined the touring company of "Purlie" when the show reached Miami; took over the principal role of Idealla, opposite Robert Guillaume; remained with the show until it ended its tour in Los Angeles
