This Tragic Esther Rolle Moment in ‘Good Times’ Cannot Be Forgotten
You probably remember Esther Rolle best from the classic seventies TV series Good Times. It was really something of an anomaly back then: the show, which ran for six seasons from 1974-79, showcased a Black family, trying to support each other the very best they could.
Originally, the writers and Norman Lear himself wanted Esther’s character, Florida Evans, to be a mother raising her three kids on her own. But Esther put her foot down and demanded that John Amos, the actor who had appeared as her husband on Maude, be an integral part of the show as well. And you know what? It worked. Esther and John had great chemistry together.
Sadly, an always-simmering conflict between John and the producers came to a head at the end of the third season, and Norman Lear made the decision to fire him from the show. The news was delivered in a phone call where Norman informed John that the show had been renewed, but he would not be a part of it. The writers subsequently killed off his character, James Evans, in the Season 4 premiere, a move that sent shockwaves through the audience and left a void in the series. While I do think the decision was a bad one, it ultimately led to one of the most powerful moments in television history. And yes, it was all Esther Rolle.
Everett Collection
Esther was deeply unhappy with John’s dismissal and shared many of his concerns about the show’s comedic direction, feeling the emphasis on J.J.’s (Jimmie Walker) antics was undermining its integrity. Her grief over the loss of her onscreen husband was palpable in the now-iconic scene where Florida, upon learning of James’ death, shatters a bowl against the floor and cries, “Damn. Damn. Damn.” This tragic TV moment was a powerful and raw display of emotion fueled by Esther’s real-life frustrations.
Esther herself would leave the show just a year later due to her ongoing disagreements but eventually returned for the final season under the condition that the scripts would be improved.
When asked about her departure from the show in 1977, Esther told the Oakland Times: “There’s too much clowning on the show, and it’s becoming meaningless. I feel that the show lacks truth, honesty and sincerity, and lacks the quality it had when we first started out.”
Gene Trindl/TV Guide/Everett Collection
Prior to Good Times, Esther’s most notable work was on stage. Her New York debut was in the 1962 play called The Blacks, and a prominent early role for her was as Ms. Mabel in the 1973 Melvin Van Peebles play Don’t Play Us Cheap. After Good Times came to an end on CBS, Esther made a lot of fun guest appearances on shows like The Incredible Hulk and The Love Boat. Looking at her filmography, I think it’s fair to say that Hollywood appreciated her talents and kept her busy throughout the 1980s and even into the 1990s.
Esther Rolle passed away on November 17, 1998, in Culver City, California, from complications due to diabetes, just nine days after her 78th birthday. In her obituary that appeared in The Washington Post, Norman Lear referencing her strong presence on screen said, “Wherever she was, you knew she was there.”
And, you know what? I couldn’t agree more.
1970s Fall TV
September 2023
Take a trip back to the ’70s by looking at the TV Guide Magazine Fall Preview primetime lineups.
Buy This Issue