Directed by Herbert Kenwith Written by Eric Monte   Mike Evans   Norman Lear   Roger Shulman   John Baskin   Norman Paul   Jack Elinson   Cast Esther Rolle ... Florida Evans John Amos ... James Evans, Sr. Ja'net DuBois ... Willona Woods (as Ja'net du Bois) Ralph Carter ... Michael Evans (credit only) BernNadette Stanis ... Thelma Evans (as Bern Nadette Stanis) Jimmie 'JJ' Walker ... James 'J.J.' Evans, Jr. Debbie Allen ... Diana Buchanan (as Deborah Allen) Sonny Jim Gaines ... Fred Buchanan Marie Moore ... Lucille Buchanan Philip Baker Hall ... The Motel Owner Edward Crawford ... The Kid Produced by Jack Elinson   Norman Lear   Whitney J. LeBlanc   Allan Manings   Norman Paul

Additional Info Premiere: January 13, 1976 DVD Release: August 10, 2004 Country: Distributor: Sony Home Entertainment Websites: Production Companies Tandem Productions Distributors CBS   (1974-1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing) Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment   (2003) (USA) (DVD) (season 1) Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment   (2004) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 2 and 3) Amazon Freevee   (2021) (USA) (video) (VOD) Mill Creek Entertainment   (2014) (USA) (DVD) (season one) Mill Creek Entertainment   (2014) (USA) (DVD) (season two) Mill Creek Entertainment   (2014) (USA) (DVD) (seasons three & four) Mill Creek Entertainment   (2015) (USA) (DVD) (complete series) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment   (2005) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 4 and 5) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment   (2006) (USA) (DVD) (season 6) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment   (2008) (USA) (DVD) (complete series) Rating Stats Overall Rating -- / 10 Our Rating -- / 10 Your Friends -- / 10 Male Users -- / 10 Female Users -- / 10 Site Ranking #4,996 / 20,886 Site Ranking