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Judyann Elder (born Judith Ann Johnson; August 18, 1948) is an American actress, director, and writer. She played Nadine Waters on the FOX sitcom ''
Martin Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * M ...
''. She also played Harriette Winslow on
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
' '' Family Matters'' for the remaining eight episodes of its ninth and final season, after the departure of Jo Marie Payton. Elder is also a veteran of the stage who has appeared in scores of theatrical productions throughout the United States and Europe.


Early life and career

A founding member and resident actor with the
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
-winning
Negro Ensemble Company The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) is a New York City-based theater company and workshop established in 1967 by producer-actor Robert Hooks, playwright Douglas Turner Ward, and theater manager Gerald S. Krone, with funding from the Ford Foundatio ...
, Elder originated roles in the premier productions of ''The Song of the Lusitanian Bogey'', ''Daddy Goodness'', '' Kongi's Harvest'', and ''God is a (Guess What?)''. In 1969, she played the role of Russell B. Parker's young love interest in Lonne Elder III's '' Ceremonies in Dark Old Men'' and toured with the company to London and Rome. She married the play's
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...
-nominated author early that same year, changing her name to Judyann Elder. Elder and her husband moved to Los Angeles soon after, where she broadened her career to include roles on screen. She made guest star roles in series such as ''
The Streets of San Francisco ''The Streets of San Francisco'' is an American television crime drama filmed on location in San Francisco and produced by Quinn Martin, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros. Television (QM produced the show on its ow ...
'', '' Sanford and Son'', ''
Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...
'', and '' The White Shadow''. In 1976, she made her Broadway debut at the Ambassador Theatre as Coretta King opposite
Billy Dee Williams William December Williams Jr. (born April 6, 1937) is an American retired actor, novelist and painter. He has appeared in over 100 films and television roles over six decades. He is best known for portraying Lando Calrissian in the ''Star Wars ...
in ''I Have a Dream'', directed by Robert Greenwald. She subsequently portrayed the role of Bernette Wilson in the television miniseries '' A Woman Called Moses'', starring
Cicely Tyson Cecily Louise "Cicely" Tyson (; December 19, 1924January 28, 2021) was an American actress. In a career that spanned more than seven decades, she is known for her portrayals of complex and strong-willed African American women. She received sev ...
. Several roles on screen followed, including '' Forget Paris'' with
Billy Crystal William Edward Crystal (born March 14, 1948)On page 17 of his book ''700 Sundays'', Crystal displays his birth announcement, which gives his first two names as "William Edward", not "William Jacob" is an American comedian, actor, and filmmaker. ...
, '' The Players Club'' directed by
Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson Sr. (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. His lyrics on N.W.A's 1989 album '' Straight Outta Compton'' contributed to gangsta rap's widespread popu ...
, and ''
Seven Pounds ''Seven Pounds'' is a 2008 American drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino, written by Grant Nieporte, and starring Will Smith as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people; Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Pepper also ...
'' with
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. In the 1991–92 season of TV's ''
Murphy Brown ''Murphy Brown'' is an American television sitcom created by Diane English that premiered on November 14, 1988, on CBS. The series stars Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news presenter, news anch ...
'' starring
Candice Bergen Candice Patricia Bergen (born May 9, 1946) is an American actress. She won five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards as the title character on '' Murphy Brown'' (1988–1998, 2018). She is also known for her role as Shirley Schmi ...
, Elder portrayed Murphy Brown's obstetrician, Dr. Barton. Her recurring role culminated with the historic season finale where Dr. Barton delivered Murphy Brown's baby. She played Gina's mother, Nadine Waters, on ''
Martin Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * M ...
'' (1992—97), starring
Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald LawrenceStated in interview on '' Inside the Actors Studio'' (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor and comedian. Lawrence began his career doing comedy shows, including in '' The Improv''. After his first acting role in t ...
; Gina was played by
Tisha Campbell Tisha Michelle Campbell (born October 13, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut appearing in the 1986 rock musical comedy film ''Little Shop of Horrors'', and later starred on the NBC musical comedy drama ''Rags to ...
. In 1998, Elder replaced Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow in the last episodes of the popular show '' Family Matters''. Elder has frequently returned to the stage, and last appeared at Arkansas Rep as Rose in
August Wilson August Wilson (né Frederick August Kittel Jr.; April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005) was an American playwright. He has been referred to as the "theater's poet of Black America". He is best known for a series of 10 plays, collectively called '' ...
's '' Fences''. She also has many theatre directorial credits, including ''The Book of the Crazy African'' (Skylight Theatre), '' The Meeting'' (Inner City Cultural Center, LA and New Federal Theatre, NY), '' Ceremonies in Dark Old Men'' (Beverly Canon Theatre), and ''A Private Act'' ( Robey Theatre Company). Her direction of Matthew Lopez' ''The Whipping Man'' starring Charlie Robinson at the Skirball Cultural Center for LA Theatre Works radio series was broadcast nationally in 2016.


Filmography


Film


As director

* 1989: ''Behind God's Back'' – short film (also narrator) * 2013: ''A Private Act'' – short film (also screenplay)


Television


References


External links

*
Judyann Elder
' at the Lortel Archives – The Internet Off-Broadway Database * {{DEFAULTSORT:Elder, Judyann Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American women theatre directors American television actresses American film actresses American stage actresses 20th-century American actresses 20th-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century African-American actresses American theatre directors