“Family Matters” star JoMarie Payton, 75, revealed in a Facebook update that she’s been relearning how to walk and talk amid a recent health scare.
Payton, who played matriarch Harriete Winslow on the hit sitcom, shared that two months ago, she never thought her ability to walk and talk would improve so much since her health began to decline five months ago.
JoMarie Payton Remains Positive Amid Health Scare
“Two months ago, I couldn’t walk — I couldn’t talk. It started from last year,” Payton said in a video shared to her Facebook. “But I’m walking better than I thought I would walk. I’m talking better than I thought I would talk. I’m doing OK — keep praying for me, I’ll be back.”
The ‘90s star captioned the clip by reiterating how far she’s come in the last five months. “Hello All!! Happy Easter and Thank You for all your prayers.. It’s been a long 5 months, stay with me,” she wrote. “I’ll be back! Slow and steady wins the race 😉 Jo 💐🥰.”
Payton’s fans showered her with love in the comments of her video by praying over her quick recovery.
“Keep healing Queen. We love you,” wrote one.
“Praying for a speedy recovery won’t God do it yes he will. You still looking fabulous family ❤️😘🌹💐💐,” said another.
“Praise God! We are Blessed to have you back and Healthy,” added a third.
Just one month before Payton’s health began to decline, she reunited with her “Family Matters” co-star Reginald VelJohnson, who played her husband, Carl Winslow. The pair joined each other on the “Sherri Shepherd Show” in October 2025.
During their joint appearance, Payton sweetly discussed how she and VelJohnson would get the biggest reactions from their live audience when they embraced the love their characters innately had for each other.
JoMarie Payton Talks About ‘Family Matters’ Reboot
Although “Family Matters” stopped renewing seasons in 1998 after season 9, Payton opened up at a previous ‘90s Con appearance about returning for a “Family Matters” reboot.
While talking to the audience, Payton explained that she’d return to “Family Matters” only if her youngest on-screen daughter, Judy Winslow, played by actress Jamiee Foxworth, was welcomed back to the show after she was mysteriously written off during season 4, People reported.
Payton told the crowd that “the very first episode has to be that [Judy] comes down those stairs,” adding, “The worst feeling in the world for a parent is not to know where your child is, so if [a reboot were to happen], and Judy comes back, I will do Family Matters again.”
