Mamie Johnson (The Young and the Restless)
Encyclopedia
Mamie Johnson is a fictional character
on the CBS
soap opera
The Young and the Restless
. The role was originated in 1980 by Marguerite Ray, who was replaced in 1990 by Veronica Redd
. Redd departed the series in 1995, and returned from 1999 to 2004. Mamie is the series' first regular African American
character.
(Jerry Douglas
), and functioned as a surrogate mother to John's three oldest children: Jack (Terry Lester
, Peter Bergman
), Ashley
(primarily Eileen Davidson
), and Traci (Beth Maitland
). John and his first wife Dina
(Marla Adams
) divorced after she left John and the children, prior to their arrival in Genoa City
, Wisconsin
. When Jack was eighteen, Dina sent him a letter asking him to join her in Paris
. However, Mamie recognized Dina's handwriting and intercepted the letter, ensuring that Jack would not leave John and the rest of the family.
Mamie often proved to be a thorn in the side of John's younger second wife, the former Jill Foster
(Brenda Dickson
, Jess Walton
). Often, Jill and Mamie found themselves at odds with each other as Mamie would easily find out Jill's latest schemes, which would incense Jill as she wished that Mamie would act less like a confidante and more like the hired help.
Mamie had no relatives on Y&R until 1990, when the series introduced her two nieces, physician Olivia Barber
(Tonya Lee Williams
) and aspiring ballerina turned runaway Drucilla Barber (Victoria Rowell
). The sisters would eventually marry half-brothers Malcolm Winters
(Shemar Moore
) and Neil Winters
(Kristoff St. John
), respectively. The Barber/Winters family is now one of the core families appearing on The Young and the Restless.
After John filed for a divorce from Jill (during their second marriage), he suffered a stroke. Nursing him back to health, Mamie confessed to John that she was in love with him. John admitted his love for Mamie, but soon lapsed into a coma. When Jill learned of their relationship, she fired Mamie and offered her millions of dollars to leave Genoa City
. When John recovered from his coma, he agreed to remain with Jill for the sake of his youngest child, Billy
. A devastated Mamie accepted Jill's money and left town with Chancellor Industries executive Trent Jordan.
However, Mamie remained close to John and the Abbott family. She has returned to Genoa City several times, visiting both the Abbotts and her own family.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
. The role was originated in 1980 by Marguerite Ray, who was replaced in 1990 by Veronica Redd
Veronica Redd
Veronica Redd is an American actress who played the recurring character of Mamie Johnson on The Young and the Restless. She is the second actress to play the role, having taken over from Marguerite Ray. Redd played the role from 1990 to 1995, and again from 1999 to 2004.-Filmography:*Blue Hill...
. Redd departed the series in 1995, and returned from 1999 to 2004. Mamie is the series' first regular African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
character.
Character's background
Mamie was the Abbott family's trusted housekeeper for many years. She was an invaluable treasure to patriarch John Abbott, Sr.John Abbott (The Young and the Restless)
John Abbott, Sr. is a fictional character on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. He is the patriarch of the Abbotts, one of the core families that was introduced to the show in 1980. The character was originated by Brett Halsey from May 1980 to March 1981...
(Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas (actor)
Jerry Douglas is an American television and film actor. For 25 years Jerry Douglas reigned in fictional Genoa City as patriarch John Abbott on the daytime television serial The Young and the Restless...
), and functioned as a surrogate mother to John's three oldest children: Jack (Terry Lester
Terry Lester
Terry Lester was an American actor.Lester was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, graduating from high school at Southport High School, and began an acting career while at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. His acting career consisted of musical theater, concert performances, numerous primetime...
, Peter Bergman
Peter Bergman
Peter Bergman is an American soap opera actor best known for his portrayals as Dr. Cliff Warner on All My Children, as well as Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless.-Biography:...
), Ashley
Ashley Abbott
Ashley Suzanne Abbott McCall is a fictional character from the American soap opera The Young and the Restless, currently played by American actress Eileen Davidson, who had played the character for a total of more than 16 years prior to her return in September 2008...
(primarily Eileen Davidson
Eileen Davidson
Eileen Davidson is an American film and soap opera actress. She is known for her role as Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful and for the multiple roles she portrayed on Days of our Lives....
), and Traci (Beth Maitland
Beth Maitland
Beth Maitland is American actress, best known for her portrayal of Traci Abbott Connolly in the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1982 to 1996 and from 2001 to the present on a recurring basis.-Early life:...
). John and his first wife Dina
Dina Mergeron
Dina Mergeron is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. She was played by actress Marla Adams from 1983 to 1986 on contract. She returned for guest appearances in 1991 and 1996...
(Marla Adams
Marla Adams
Marla Adams is an American soap opera actress, best known for her roles as Belle Clemens on The Secret Storm, from 1968 to 1974, and as Dina Abbott Mergeron on The Young and the Restless, from 1983 to 1986 and in 1996...
) divorced after she left John and the children, prior to their arrival in Genoa City
Genoa City (fictional city)
Genoa City, Wisconsin is the fictional setting for the long-running American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. The real U.S. village of the same name is otherwise unlike and unrelated to the mid-size city depicted in the series.- Overview :...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. When Jack was eighteen, Dina sent him a letter asking him to join her in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. However, Mamie recognized Dina's handwriting and intercepted the letter, ensuring that Jack would not leave John and the rest of the family.
Mamie often proved to be a thorn in the side of John's younger second wife, the former Jill Foster
Jill Foster Abbott
Jill Abbott Fenmore is a fictional character on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless. She is one of the series' original characters, and the only one remaining from its debut in March 1973...
(Brenda Dickson
Brenda Dickson
Brenda Irene Dickson ) is an American actress who originated the role of Jill Foster Abbott on the soap opera The Young and the Restless.-Work:...
, Jess Walton
Jess Walton
Jess Walton is an American actress, best known for her role as Jill Foster Abbott on the American soap opera, The Young and the Restless.-Early life:...
). Often, Jill and Mamie found themselves at odds with each other as Mamie would easily find out Jill's latest schemes, which would incense Jill as she wished that Mamie would act less like a confidante and more like the hired help.
Mamie had no relatives on Y&R until 1990, when the series introduced her two nieces, physician Olivia Barber
Olivia Winters
Dr. Olivia Winters, M.D. is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. Canadian actress Tonya Lee Williams originated the role in June 1990 and departed on September 7, 2005, reappearing as a guest star on April 12 and 13, 2007. The actress returned on October 23, 2008...
(Tonya Lee Williams
Tonya Lee Williams
Tonya Lee Williams is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Dr. Olivia Barber Winters on the American soap opera The Young and the Restless, from 1990 to 2005, and for a brief time in 2007. She returned to the series in the fall of 2008.-Early life:Williams was born in London, England to...
) and aspiring ballerina turned runaway Drucilla Barber (Victoria Rowell
Victoria Rowell
Victoria "Vicki" Lynn Rowell is an American actress and dancer. She is best known for her portrayal of ballerina-turned-model Drucilla Winters on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless, and medical examiner/pathologist Dr. Amanda Bentley on the CBS drama Diagnosis: Murder...
). The sisters would eventually marry half-brothers Malcolm Winters
Malcolm Winters
Malcolm Winters is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed by actor Shemar Moore from May 1994 to February 14, 2002 and from November 1, 2004 to September 1, 2005...
(Shemar Moore
Shemar Moore
Shemar Franklin Moore is an American actor and former male fashion model. His most notable roles are that of Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 2005, Derek Morgan on CBS's Criminal Minds, and as the third permanent host of Soul Train from 1999 to 2003.-Early life:Moore was...
) and Neil Winters
Neil Winters
Neil Winters is a fictional character in the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed by actor Kristoff St. John since his first appearance in January 1991...
(Kristoff St. John
Kristoff St. John
Kristoff St. John is an American actor, best known for his role as Neil Winters on the daytime US drama The Young and the Restless.-Career:...
), respectively. The Barber/Winters family is now one of the core families appearing on The Young and the Restless.
After John filed for a divorce from Jill (during their second marriage), he suffered a stroke. Nursing him back to health, Mamie confessed to John that she was in love with him. John admitted his love for Mamie, but soon lapsed into a coma. When Jill learned of their relationship, she fired Mamie and offered her millions of dollars to leave Genoa City
Genoa City (fictional city)
Genoa City, Wisconsin is the fictional setting for the long-running American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. The real U.S. village of the same name is otherwise unlike and unrelated to the mid-size city depicted in the series.- Overview :...
. When John recovered from his coma, he agreed to remain with Jill for the sake of his youngest child, Billy
Billy Abbott
William "Billy" Abbott is a fictional character in the American soap opera The Young and the Restless. He is portrayed by Billy Miller as of September 19, 2008; other actors that have played the part include a set of child actors, and three contract actors: David Tom, Ryan Brown and Scott Seymour...
. A devastated Mamie accepted Jill's money and left town with Chancellor Industries executive Trent Jordan.
However, Mamie remained close to John and the Abbott family. She has returned to Genoa City several times, visiting both the Abbotts and her own family.