When Family Matters graced television screens in 1989, it quickly became a beloved part of ABC’s iconic TGIF lineup. Emerging as a spin-off from Perfect Strangers, this sitcom distinguished itself by centering on a Black family, the Winslows, portrayed not as stereotypes, but as relatable, well-developed individuals. Leading the ensemble were Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson), a Chicago police officer, and his wife, Harriette (Jo Marie Payton), alongside Harriette’s sister Rachel (Telma Hopkins) and her son Richie (Bryton James), and Carl’s mother, Estelle (Rosetta LeNoire).
Central to the family dynamic were the Winslow children: Eddie (Darius McCrary), Laura (Kellie Shanygne Williams), and the youngest, Judy (Jaimee Foxworth). For four seasons, viewers watched as these siblings navigated typical family issues, always resolving conflicts with heartwarming sitcom endings. However, a peculiar turn of events saw Judy Winslow vanish from the series without explanation. No dramatic exit, no recast – Judy simply disappeared, never to be mentioned again. This decision sparked confusion and frustration among both dedicated fans and the show’s cast.
Family Matters TV Poster
Who Was Judy Winslow in Family Matters?
At the start of Family Matters, Judy Winslow was depicted as a typical nine-year-old girl. While not always at the forefront of every storyline like her older siblings, Judy was far from a mere background character. She embodied the traits of a regular child: playing with dolls, facing school challenges, and sharing a close, if sometimes turbulent, relationship with her siblings, particularly her older sister Laura. As the youngest, Judy occasionally felt overlooked by her busy parents, leading to typical childhood antics, but ultimately, the love and support of Carl and Harriette were always present.
Judy Winslow had her moments to shine. In the Season 2 episode “Ice Station Winslow,” her academic achievement took center stage. Overjoyed with a good grade, especially given her academic struggles, Judy excitedly shares the news with her mother. However, Harriette is preoccupied with crafting a costume for Richie, the youngest cousin. Envious of the attention Richie receives, Judy, in a moment of childish frustration, damages the costume. This incident leads to a touching conversation between Judy and Laura. Laura, drawing from her own experiences of feeling overshadowed when Judy was born, reassures her younger sister about the advantages of growing older, like later bedtimes. Feeling remorseful, Judy apologizes to Richie. This episode encapsulates the essence of Family Matters: lighthearted family situations evolving into heartfelt resolutions and valuable life lessons within a comforting half-hour format.
The Steve Urkel Effect and the Shift in Family Matters
Midway through the first season, the episode “Laura’s First Date” introduced Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) to the world. This nerdy neighbor, with his oversized glasses, suspenders, and distinctive voice, became an instant sensation. His appeal was undeniable. Steve Urkel, with his unwavering infatuation with Laura Winslow and his constant, often chaotic, interactions with Carl, was undeniably hilarious. Perhaps, too hilarious. Gradually, Family Matters increasingly revolved around Steve Urkel and his comedic escapades, with the Winslow family often taking a supporting role. While the show retained its wholesome core message, the humor shifted from gentle family comedy to broader, more slapstick scenarios. Urkel’s physical comedy, often involving pratfalls and accidental destruction of the Winslow house, became a staple, punctuated by his famous catchphrase, “Did I do that?”
Steve Urkel transcended television character status, becoming a pop culture icon. “Did I do that?” permeated everyday language. By Season 4, Steve Urkel’s popularity was so immense that it overshadowed other aspects of the show. It was in this climate that showrunners made a controversial decision: the removal of Judy Winslow. After Season 4 concluded, Jaimee Foxworth, then thirteen years old, was dismissed from Family Matters, reportedly to provide more screen time for Steve Urkel. It wasn’t a reduction in role; Judy Winslow was entirely erased. She wasn’t written out with a storyline, killed off, or replaced with another actress. She simply vanished. When Season 5 of Family Matters premiered, neither Foxworth nor Judy Winslow were present. For the remaining five seasons, Steve Urkel’s stories continued alongside the Winslows, but Judy was never mentioned again. This omission felt like an insult, not only to the character and the actress who portrayed her, but also to the audience. It suggested that Judy’s presence was insignificant, her absence unnoticeable, and that viewers were too engrossed in Urkel’s antics to care.
In a 2017 interview with The Root, Foxworth expressed her feelings about the situation:
“The producers felt that they could do it and no one would notice. They’d done it with previous shows they had. They figured no one would really care. My fans took notice of it. They figured they could just throw me away, no explanation at all. Some of my cast members knew before I did. It affected my self-esteem as an actress. And I started feeling like I wasn’t good at my job.”
The extent of Judy Winslow’s erasure from Family Matters history was further highlighted when Foxworth was not invited to an Entertainment Weekly cast reunion photoshoot that year:
“I was not invited at all. I wasn’t even contacted… It was a slap in the face from Entertainment Weekly. I don’t think there’s any good explanation.”
Jo Marie Payton’s Displeasure at Judy Winslow’s Departure
Unsurprisingly, several Family Matters cast members were unhappy with the decision to remove Judy Winslow. Beyond losing a fellow cast member, it meant saying goodbye to a child they had grown close to off-screen. Darius McCrary, who played Judy’s brother Eddie, offered a more pragmatic perspective in a 2019 interview with Comedy Hype:
“I just think that what happened to Jamie Foxworth, who is just a beautiful…multitalented individual…I think it was just a casualty of war, and all is fair in war… Whatever happened, whatever took place, it just didn’t work for the producers. In this game, it’s not about what works for you as a talent. It’s about what works for the producers.”
However, Jo Marie Payton, the veteran actress who portrayed Judy’s mother, Harriette Winslow, voiced her strong disapproval. In a 2022 interview with People, Payton openly shared her reaction, including her conversations with the showrunners:
“I said, You guys need to tell me something that is not only creative, but also politically correct to straighten out this situation because there’s nowhere in the world a family … You gave me three kids, you took away my baby. If you had taken away my oldest child, we could have always come up with [various excuses in the episodes] that she was at the mall or with her friends. You took away my baby, and when I asked you, ‘Why did you take away my baby girl?,’ you said, ‘Nobody would notice.’ I said, ‘You know what, when we’re walking down the street, nobody’s gonna notice you because they’re not going to ask you, they’re going to ask me what happened to Judy.'”
Payton held onto hope for a resolution, envisioning a Family Matters reunion that would rectify Judy’s absence. She stated:
“The very first episode has to be that [Judy] comes down those stairs. The worst feeling in the world for a parent is not to know where your child is, so if [a reboot were to happen], and Judy comes back, I will do Family Matters again!”
Despite Payton’s wish, a reunion featuring Jaimee Foxworth, or any reunion at all, seems improbable. Following Family Matters, Foxworth left acting, later transitioning to adult films. As she mentioned in The Root interview, this career shift likely contributed to her exclusion from the reunion photoshoot. This less family-friendly aspect of her later career might also deter any invitations to a Family Matters revival. It’s unfortunate, as Family Matters at its core celebrated family. Even with the increased focus on Steve Urkel, the show still revolved around his integration into the Winslow family and their acceptance of him. Removing Judy Winslow from the narrative as if she never existed contradicted the show’s central theme and even its very title. Family Matters, yet, in the show’s narrative, Judy Winslow’s character seemingly did not.
Family Matters is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
