The cause of death of Good Times star Ja’Net DuBois has been revealed.
The actress, who passed away unexpectedly in her sleep last month, died of cardiac arrest, according to her death certificate obtained by TMZ.
To her family’s surprise, the autopsy revealed she suffered from peripheral vascular disease and chronic kidney disease for years.
Gone too soon: Good Times’ Ja’Net DuBois, who tragically passed away unexpectedly in her sleep last month, passed from cardiac arrest
Hypertension was also confirmed to be a contributing factor to her death.
The mother-of-three was cremated and ‘some of her ashes were scattered at sea’ and the rest left with her family, according to the outlet.
While it is largely reported her age was 74, Extra reviewed documents suggesting she was actually 87.
Unknown battle: To her family’s surprise, the autopsy revealed DuBois was suffering from peripheral vascular disease and chronic kidney disease for years
Her silent and unknown health battle shocked fans, as the CBS soap star appeared healthy just weeks before her death at a meet and greet at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel back on February 1.
DuBois is best known for starring in the hit 1970s sitcom Good Times, but she made history with her earlier role on the CBS soap opera Love of Life – becoming the first African-American actress to have a regular role on daytime TV.
She starred as Loretta Allen on that drama between 1971 and 1972.
Passionate: DuBois was born in Brooklyn in 1945, and started her career on Broadway
The star’s last film was 2016’s She’s Got A Plan; prior to that she appeared in the TV series short G.I. Joe: Renegades.
DuBois was born in Brooklyn in 1945, and started her career on Broadway.
She appeared in a number of prominent plays throughout the 1950s and 60s, including A Raisin In The Sun and Golden Boy.
Making moves: In 1971, after scoring her history-making role on Love of Life, DuBois went on to secure spots on several other TV programs during that decade
DuBois soon moved to Hollywood and scored her first film role in 1966.
The film, A Man Called Adam, saw her appear opposite Sammy Davis Jr.
Critical acclaimed soon followed and she received a Peabody Award for her role in the 1969 CBS children’s movie, J.T.
In 1971, after scoring her history-making role on Love of Life, DuBois went on to secure spots on several other TV programs during that decade.
Groundbreaking: The series was created by Norman Lear, and was known for being television’s first African American two-parent family sitcom
However, it was her turn as neighbor and gossip maven Willona Woods in the sitcom Good Times that secured her stardom.
The series was created by Norman Lear, and was known for being television’s first African American two-parent family sitcom.
It ran from 1974 to 1979.
Legend: She won two Emmy Awards for her voice-over work on The PJs – a stop-motion comedy about the ups and downs of a black family living in a housing project
Afterward, DuBois continued to appear in a variety of films and TV shows.
She won two Emmy Awards for her voice-over work on The PJs – a stop-motion comedy about the ups and downs of a black family living in a housing project.
Meanwhile, DuBois also appeared opposite Demi Moore in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle in 20013.
The star was also a talented composer and singer, who created the theme song for thr 1970s series, The Jeffersons.