Florida Evans
Encyclopedia
Florida Evans Dixon was the fictional supporting character
on the sitcom Maude
and the lead character in its spin-off
, Good Times
. She was the hard-working mother of the Evans family. She first appeared as Maude and Walter's housekeeper on Maude (1972
–1974
), but later she quit to be a housewife
, which was when Good Times began (1974
–1977
, 1978
–1979
). Florida Evans was portrayed by Emmy Award
-winning actress Esther Rolle
.
on August 4, 1935. Originally, her character had worked for Maude and Walter Findlay, who lived in Tuckahoe
, New York
, while appearing on Maude. Maude was somewhat her foil, but Florida got along wonderfully with Walter and especially Carol, whom she called "honey". At first her background was that she was from Harlem, and married to Henry Evans, and would commute from Harlem to Tuckahoe to work at Maude's house.
However, Florida's background was rewritten when Good Times began, with the character now having spent most of her life in Chicago; no further references were made to the Findlays or New York. Florida grew up poor. She never finished high school
because she wanted to support her parents and did so by working at minimum wage
jobs. As a young adult, she met the man of her dreams: James Evans, Sr.
(name changed). They were later married, made the move to north-side Chicago from south-side, and had three children together: James Evans Jr., Thelma
, and Michael
. The family lived in various housing projects for many years after living in a cold water flat
.
Her husband James fought to get out of the ghetto
and almost succeeded. James had left to find a job in Mississippi and the family was scheduled to follow him shortly after, but he was killed in a car accident while in Mississippi. That left the now-widowed Florida to support herself and her three children. Also giving her much needed moral support was her best friend, Willona Woods.
Halfway through the fourth season (1976
—1977
), Florida met a man named Carl Dixon
(played by Moses Gunn) and fell in love with him over the course of the next season and a half, despite the fact that he was an atheist and Florida was a Southern Baptist and a devout churchgoer. However, due to his diagnosis and subsequent battle with lung cancer
, he moved to Arizona, where the dry air would be better for his condition and improve his chances of longevity; Florida moved with him. (This was done to accommodate Esther Rolle's departure from the show during the 1977–1978 season). Florida returned to Chicago for the final 1978–1979 season, but little mention was made of Carl, leaving the viewers to wonder if he'd either lost his battle with lung cancer or decided to remain in Arizona without her.
In the final episode of the show, Florida finally moved to an apartment with Keith and Thelma, after Thelma revealed that she was pregnant. She said she didn't know how to raise a baby and would feel more comfortable if Florida was there. Also, Florida's best friend Willona wound up moving to the same luxury apartment around the same time as Florida, making the two best friends once again neighbors.
Supporting character
A supporting character is a character of a book, play, video game, movie, television or radio show or other form of storytelling usually used to give added dimension to a main character, by adding a relationship with this character...
on the sitcom Maude
Maude (TV series)
Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with...
and the lead character in its spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
. She was the hard-working mother of the Evans family. She first appeared as Maude and Walter's housekeeper on Maude (1972
1972 in television
The year 1972 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1972.For the American TV schedule, see: 1972-73 American network television schedule.-Events:...
–1974
1974 in television
The year 1974 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1974.For the American TV schedule, see: 1974-75 American network television schedule.-Events:...
), but later she quit to be a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
, which was when Good Times began (1974
1974 in television
The year 1974 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1974.For the American TV schedule, see: 1974-75 American network television schedule.-Events:...
–1977
1977 in television
The year 1977 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1977.For the American TV schedule, see: 1977-78 American network television schedule.-Events:...
, 1978
1978 in television
The year 1978 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1978.For the American TV schedule, see: 1978-79 American network television schedule.-Events:...
–1979
1979 in television
The year 1979 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1979.For the American TV schedule, see: 1979-80 American network television schedule.-Events:...
). Florida Evans was portrayed by Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
-winning actress Esther Rolle
Esther Rolle
Esther Rolle was an American actress. She was perhaps best known for her portrayal of Florida Evans on the CBS television sitcom Maude and its spin-off series Good Times.-Biography:...
.
Florida Evans Bio
Florida was born in Tuskegee, AlabamaTuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
on August 4, 1935. Originally, her character had worked for Maude and Walter Findlay, who lived in Tuckahoe
Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York
Tuckahoe is a village in the town of Eastchester in Westchester County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village's population was 6,486....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, while appearing on Maude. Maude was somewhat her foil, but Florida got along wonderfully with Walter and especially Carol, whom she called "honey". At first her background was that she was from Harlem, and married to Henry Evans, and would commute from Harlem to Tuckahoe to work at Maude's house.
However, Florida's background was rewritten when Good Times began, with the character now having spent most of her life in Chicago; no further references were made to the Findlays or New York. Florida grew up poor. She never finished high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
because she wanted to support her parents and did so by working at minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
jobs. As a young adult, she met the man of her dreams: James Evans, Sr.
James Evans, Sr.
James Evans Sr. was a supporting character portrayed by TV actor John Amos in the 1970s American sitcom Good Times, from the first season in 1974, until the end of the third season in 1976....
(name changed). They were later married, made the move to north-side Chicago from south-side, and had three children together: James Evans Jr., Thelma
Thelma Evans
Thelma Evans Anderson is a supporting character of the 1970s family sitcom Good Times. She was portrayed by Bern Nadette Stanis. She was the middle child of the Evans family....
, and Michael
Michael Evans (Good Times)
Michael Evans is an American supporting character from the 1970s American sitcom Good Times. The character was apparently named after Good Times co-creator Michael Evans. He was portrayed by Ralph Carter....
. The family lived in various housing projects for many years after living in a cold water flat
Cold water flat
A cold water flat is an apartment that has no running hot water.In most developed countries, current building codes make cold water flats illegal, but they used to be common in cities such as Detroit and Chicago, through the mid-twentieth century....
.
Her husband James fought to get out of the ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
and almost succeeded. James had left to find a job in Mississippi and the family was scheduled to follow him shortly after, but he was killed in a car accident while in Mississippi. That left the now-widowed Florida to support herself and her three children. Also giving her much needed moral support was her best friend, Willona Woods.
Halfway through the fourth season (1976
1976 in television
The year 1976 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1976.-Global television events:*The Olympics, broadcast from Montreal, Canada, draw an estimated one billion viewers worldwide....
—1977
1977 in television
The year 1977 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1977.For the American TV schedule, see: 1977-78 American network television schedule.-Events:...
), Florida met a man named Carl Dixon
Carl Dixon (Good times)
Carl Dixon was the fictional character who appeared in the last couple of episodes of the 1976—1977 season of the television program, Good Times. He was portrayed by Moses Gunn....
(played by Moses Gunn) and fell in love with him over the course of the next season and a half, despite the fact that he was an atheist and Florida was a Southern Baptist and a devout churchgoer. However, due to his diagnosis and subsequent battle with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, he moved to Arizona, where the dry air would be better for his condition and improve his chances of longevity; Florida moved with him. (This was done to accommodate Esther Rolle's departure from the show during the 1977–1978 season). Florida returned to Chicago for the final 1978–1979 season, but little mention was made of Carl, leaving the viewers to wonder if he'd either lost his battle with lung cancer or decided to remain in Arizona without her.
In the final episode of the show, Florida finally moved to an apartment with Keith and Thelma, after Thelma revealed that she was pregnant. She said she didn't know how to raise a baby and would feel more comfortable if Florida was there. Also, Florida's best friend Willona wound up moving to the same luxury apartment around the same time as Florida, making the two best friends once again neighbors.