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	2

Cherie Johnson (born November 21, 1975) is an American actress, writer, movie producer, and author. She is well-known for her roles on two popular TV shows. She played Punky's best friend, also named Cherie, on Punky Brewster. Later, she played Maxine Johnson, Laura Winslow's best friend, on Family Matters for eight seasons.

Cherie Johnson has also written several books and produced many films. Her first book, Around The World Twice, came out in 2010. She has produced eight movies, including I Do... I Did! where she also starred.

Cherie Johnson's Early Life and Acting Career

Cherie Johnson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has a mixed background, with both African-American and Puerto Rican heritage. Her journey into acting began thanks to her uncle, David W. Duclon. He was a successful writer and producer for TV shows like Happy Days. He encouraged Cherie's dream of acting and helped her get an audition.

In 1984, her uncle created a new TV show idea about an orphaned girl. This show became Punky Brewster, named after a girl the NBC programming chief knew. Cherie Johnson was chosen to play Punky's best friend, a character named after herself! The show was very popular with young viewers. Cherie played her character throughout the show's run from 1984 to 1988.

In 1990, Cherie joined another hit TV show, Family Matters. She played Maxine "Max" Johnson, who was the best friend of Laura Winslow. Her uncle, David W. Duclon, was also a producer on this show. Cherie was a recurring character until the show ended in 1998.

Besides her main roles, Cherie has made guest appearances on other shows like The Parkers and Days of Our Lives. She also lent her voice to a character on the Disney Channel cartoon, The Proud Family.

Producing and Writing Films

In the early 2000s, Cherie started producing movies. In 2009, she wrote, starred in, and produced the film I Do... I Did!. She also appeared in several other movies around 2010, such as Lights Out and Nobody Smiling.

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

Cherie Johnson as an Author

Writing has become a big part of Cherie Johnson's career. Her first novel, Around The World Twice, was released in 2010. She also released a poetry book called Two Different Walks of Life in 2011. Other books include her novel Peaches and Cream and a book of diary entries called Stupid Guys Diary. In 2016, she released a children's book titled Little Cherie Dresses Herself.

Cherie has also worked in the magazine world. She is an assistant editor for Fever magazine. She used to be an executive director for Dimez magazine and wrote a monthly article called "Cherie Picking" for Temptation and Glam Couture magazines.

Cherie Johnson's Personal Life and Interests

Cherie Johnson is passionate about reading and helping others. She is the national spokesperson for Shadow Play Entertainment's "Take Time to Read" campaign. She believes reading is very important for everyone, no matter what job they choose.

She loves music, and her favorite artists are Prince and Dr. Dre. Cherie is also a big sports fan! Her favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and she admires former NBA player Paul Pierce.

In interviews, Cherie has described herself as a bit of a "nerd" and a "homebody." She enjoys reading, writing, painting, eating, and traveling. She doesn't watch much TV or many movies, but she loves music and spending time with her family. She has also mentioned that she enjoys tweeting a lot!

Cherie spends her free time working with many charities that help children. She is also on the board of the Alzheimer's Association, helping with efforts related to this disease.

Filmography

Film

Television

Cherie Johnson's Books

• 2010: Around the World Twice
• 2011: Two Different Walks of Life: "A Celebrity and Average Housewife"
• 2012: August 7 novel Peaches & Cream
• 2013: "Stupid Guys Diary"
• 2018: "Lil Cherie Dresse's Herself"

Awards and Nominations