Bern Nadette Stanis
Born	December 22, 1953 (1953-12-22) (age 56) Brooklyn, New York, United States
Years active	1974-present
Spouse(s)	Kevin Fontana (1981-present) Tom Fauntleroy (1975-?)

Bern Nadette Stanis (born December 22, 1953) is an American actress best known for her role as the strong-willed Thelma Evans on the CBS sitcom, Good Times. She is of African American descent.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 Girlfriends appearance 2 Personal life 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Career

Stanis played the role of middle child Thelma Evans on Good Times from its run from 1974 to 1979. After Good Times ended, she made appearances on several television shows, including The Cosby Show and What's Happening Now!!. She and former co-star Jimmie Walker lent their voices to a radio spot for AT&T. Stanis was most recently seen in a Nationwide Insurance commercial.

In a "Thelma" promotion that aired on September 19, 2009 for the TV One network, Stanis and actress Anna Maria Horsford appeared in the "Battle of the Thelmas" that specifically aired their weddings from their prospective TV series. (Horsford portrayed "Thelma Frye" in the TV series Amen.)

[edit] Girlfriends appearance

One of Stanis' most recent television appearances was on the UPN sitcom Girlfriends. There she appeared as the cousin of quick-witted Maya Wilkes, played by Golden Brooks. In the episode, William Dent (Reggie Hayes) expresses a strong desire to meet Thelma from Good Times. Maya reveals that Stanis is her cousin and agrees to arrange a date. The date is held in the show's popular hangout, Skia.

William repeatedly refers to Bern Nadette Stanis as Thelma and talks about her Good Times family as if it were real. It initially upsets her, but after she sets Will straight, they agree to go on with a normal date. After a moment of silence, both Hayes and Stanis realize that there was not much to talk about, so she starts a new conversation as Thelma.

[edit] Personal life

Stanis was born in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from the Juilliard School.^[1]

Stanis has two daughters, Dior Ravel and younger sister Brittany Rose Cole. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with husband Kevin Fontana, whom she married in 1981.

She is the author of two books, Situations 101: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly and a collection of her poetry entitled, For Men Only.

[edit] Filmography

• In the Midnight Hours (2009) (pre-production) (attached) as Cheryl
• The Adventures of Umbweki (2009) (post-production) as Usahnisa
• CAUTION! Heartache Ahead (2009) as Vera
• The Engagement: My Phamily BBQ 2 (2006) as Mrs. Clark
• Still 'Bout It (2004) (V) as Aunt Tee Dee
• Land of the Free? (2004) as Psychiatrist
• Hidden Blessings (2000) (TV) as Jackson's lawyer
• The Parent 'Hood as L'Tonya, T.K.'s Mother (1 episode, 1999)
• The Wayans Bros. as Thelma (1 episode, 1997)
• The Good News (1 episode, 1997)
• The Cosby Show as Carolyn Thompson (1 episode, 1991)
• What's Happening Now!! as Marcie (1 episode, 1985)
• The Love Boat as Jane Reeves (1 episode, 1980)
• Good Times as Thelma Evans /(132 episodes, 1974-1979)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official web site

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Bern Nadette Stanis

• BernNadette Stanis at the Internet Movie Database