Jimmie Walker
Known for: Acting
James Carter Walker Jr. (born June 25, 1947), known professionally as Jimmie Walker, is an American actor and comedian. Walker is best known for portraying James Evans Jr. (J. J.), the oldest son of Florida and James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series Good Times which originally ran from 1974–1979. Walker was nominated for Golden Globe awards Best Supporting Actor In A Television Series in 1975 and 1976 for his role. While on the show, Walker's character was known for the catchphrase "Dy-no-mite!" which he also used in his mid–1970s TV commercial for a Panasonic line of cassette and 8-track tape players. He also starred in Let's Do It Again with John Amos, and The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened with James Earl Jones. Walker continues to tour the country with his stand-up comedy routine. In 1967, Walker began working full-time with WRVR, the radio station of the Riverside Church. In 1969, Walker began performing as a stand-up comedian and was eventually discovered by the casting director for Good Times, after making appearances on Rowan & Martin's Laugh In and on the Jack Paar Show. He eventually released one stand-up comedy album during the height of his Good Times popularity: Dyn-o-mite on Buddah Records (5635). During Good Times' 1974–75 season, Walker was 26 years old, though his character was much younger. John Amos, the actor who portrayed Walker's father on Good Times, was actually just eight years older than Walker. Walker credits producer/director John Rich for inventing "Dy-no-mite!" which Rich insisted Walker say on every episode. Both Walker and executive producer Norman Lear were skeptical of the idea, but the phrase and Walker's character caught on with the audience. Also, off- and on-camera, Walker did not get along with series' lead, Esther Rolle, who played Florida Evans, in the series, because she and Amos disapproved of Walker's increasingly buffoonish character and his popularity, and Walker felt hurt by their disdain. Dissatisfaction led Amos (before Rolle), to leave the show, making Walker the star of the show. Walker was the only Good Times star to not attend Rolle's funeral.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Guest
1961
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
1975
Series
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
1998
Series
Scrubs
Jimmie Walker
2001
Series
Sherri
Self - Guest
2022
Series
ER
Jay Jay
1994
Series
The Love Boat
Ronald Baker
1977
Series
The Love Boat
Mickey Garner
1977
Series
The Love Boat
Wally
1977
Series
The Love Boat
Marvin Jones
1977
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
Late Night with David Letterman
Self
1982
Series
The Drew Carey Show
Lewis' stunt double
1995
Series
Cagney & Lacey
Tony Brown
1982
The Tony Danza Show
Self
2004
Series
Everybody Hates Chris
Gene
2005
Series
The Larry Sanders Show
Jimmie Walker
1992
Series
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self
2009
Series
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994
Series
Worst Cooks in America
Self - Contestant
2010
Series
The John Larroquette Show
Slyde Wilson
1993
Series
The Bold and the Beautiful
Count Bouche
1987
Series
Blossom
1990
Series
Good Times
James "JJ" Evans
1974
Series
Gotham Comedy Live
Self - Host
2012
Film
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Celeb #3
1992
Series
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
Film
Airplane!
Windshield Wiper Man
1980
Series
Son of the Beach
2000
Series
Donny & Marie
Self
1976
Series
George Lopez
Lionel
2002
Series
The White Shadow
Jimmie Walker
1978
Series
Good Times
Jim Bean (voice)
2024
Series
Traffic Light
Swinger Dude
2011
Series
Dark Side of Comedy
Self
2022
Series
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self
1974
Comedy.tv
Self
2009
Series
Cher
Self
1975
Series
Beat the Geeks
2001
Film
Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th
Pimp
2000
Series
Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution
Self
2022
The Very Very Best of the 70s
Self - Commentator
2019
Series
The Comedy Store
Self
2020
Series
At Ease
1983
Film
The Concorde... Airport '79
Boisie
1979
Series
Bustin' Loose
Sonny Barnes
1987
Series
B.A.D. Cats
1980
Back to the Grind
2007
Film
Let's Do It Again
Bootney Farnsworth
1975
Film
The Guyver
Striker
1991
Film
Monster Mash: The Movie
Hathaway
1995
Film
The Comedian
Jimmie Walker
2016
Film
I Am Richard Pryor
Self - Actor and Comedian
2019
Film
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
Self
2019
Film
Water
Jay Jay
1985
Film
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self - Village People
1980
Film
Plump Fiction
Stingy Costumer
1997
Film
Murder Can Hurt You!
Parks the Pusher
1980
Film
Super Shark
Dynamite Stevens
2011
Film
Open Season
Homer (as Jimmy Walker)
1995
Film
A Wrestling Christmas Miracle
Dr. Lemon
2020
Film
Show Business Is My Life (But I Can't Prove It)
Self
2022
Norman Lear: A Life on Television
Self
2023
Film
Joys
Self
1976
Film
The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened
Morris Bird III
1977
Film
Big Money Rustlas
The Husband
2010
Film
Don't Suck
Dale
2023
Film
The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
Self
1977
Film
Doin' Time
Shaker
1985
Film
Rabbit Test
Umbuto
1978
Film
Imps*
Thomas
1983
Film
David E. Talbert's What Goes Around Comes Around
Preacher
2012
Film
The Jerk, Too
Card Player (uncredited)
1984
But... Seriously
Self (archive footage)
1994
Film
Going Bananas
Mozambo
1987
Film
Chasing Robert
Himself
2007
Film
Kidnapped
Chester
1988
Film
Telethon
Himself
1977
Film
Jimmie JJ Walker & Michael Winslow: We Are Still Here
Himself
2018
Sweet Lorraine
Rudy ray
2015
Film
Sing Sing Thanksgiving
Self
1974
Film
Forgotten Fortune