Cherie Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cherie Johnson
Johnson in 2010
Born	(1975-11-21) November 21, 1975 (age 49) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Actress writer film producer author
Years active	1984–present
Children	1

Cherie Johnson was born on November 21, 1975. She is an American actress, writer, film producer, and author. Many people know her from her roles on the TV shows Punky Brewster and Family Matters. On Punky Brewster, she played Punky's best friend, also named Cherie. On Family Matters, she was Laura Winslow's best friend, Maxine Johnson, for eight seasons.

Cherie Johnson has also written and produced movies. In 2009, she wrote, starred in, and produced an independent film called I Do... I Did!. She has produced eight films in total. In 2010, she became an author when she released her first book, Around The World Twice. She has written several other books since then.

Cherie Johnson's Early Life and Career

Cherie Johnson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has a mixed background, being both African-American and Puerto Rican. Her journey into acting started thanks to her uncle, David W. Duclon. He was a successful writer and TV producer, known for his work on Happy Days.

How Cherie Started Acting

Her uncle, David Duclon, encouraged Cherie to act. He helped her get an audition. In 1984, after working on another show, Duclon created a new TV show idea. It was about an orphaned young girl who is taken in by an older man. This idea was approved by NBC, a big TV network.

Starring in Punky Brewster

The NBC programming chief, Brandon Tartikoff, named the new show Punky Brewster. Cherie Johnson was chosen to play Punky's best friend. Her character was even named after her! Punky Brewster quickly became popular with young audiences. Cherie continued to play her character throughout the show's run, from 1984 to 1988.

Playing Maxine on Family Matters

In 1990, Cherie Johnson began a new role as Maxine "Max" Johnson. She played the best friend of Laura Winslow on the show Family Matters. She appeared in this role until the show ended in 1998. Her uncle, David Duclon, was also an executive producer for Family Matters during this time.

Other Acting Roles and Producing Films

Besides her main roles, Cherie Johnson has made guest appearances on other TV shows. These include The Parkers and Days of Our Lives. She also voiced a character on the Disney Channel cartoon The Proud Family. In the early 2000s, Cherie started producing films. After I Do... I Did! in 2009, she starred in several other films in 2010. These included Lights Out, Nobody Smiling, and Guardian of Eden. She also appeared in the romantic film Fanaddict, which was filmed in 2011.

In 2020, NBC announced a new Punky Brewster show for its Peacock streaming service. Both Soleil Moon Frye (who played Punky) and Cherie Johnson returned to play their original roles.

Cherie Johnson as a Writer

Cherie Johnson's first novel, Around The World Twice, was released on August 10, 2010. On April 14, 2011, she also released a poetry book called Two Different Walks of Life. Her second novel was Peaches and Cream. Her book of diary entries, Stupid Guys Diary, was released in August 2014. She also wrote a children's book called Lil Cherie Dresse's Herself, which came out in 2016. Writing has become a second career for Cherie Johnson.

Cherie Johnson's Personal Life

Cherie Johnson is involved in a reading campaign called "Take Time to Read." She is the national spokesperson for this campaign. She shares why reading is important for everyone, no matter what job they choose. She has mentioned that her favorite music artists are Prince and Dr. Dre.

Cherie is also a big sports fan. Her favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and she likes former NBA player Paul Pierce. In an interview, Cherie described herself as a bit of a "nerd" and someone who enjoys staying home. She loves to read, write, paint, eat, and travel. She also enjoys music and spending time with her family. She has said she uses Twitter a lot.

Cherie Johnson spends her free time helping many children's charities. She is also on the board of the Alzheimer's Association.

Cherie Johnson's Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Books Written by Cherie Johnson

• 2010: Around the World Twice
• 2011: Two Different Walks of Life: "A Celebrity and Average Housewife"
• 2012: Peaches & Cream
• 2013: Stupid Guys Diary
• 2018: Lil Cherie Dresse's Herself

Awards and Nominations