A terrific actress who originally signed on with the show for its wholesome portrayal of a struggling family, Esther temporarily left the show before its fifth season on the pretense of illness because she didn't like how JJ's character developed.

The young man became a smooth-talking, aimless, and shady purveyor of dishonest schemes and she didn't think he was setting a positive example for young black men. She returned for its sixth and final season after showrunners agreed to make JJ's character more respectable. Esther went on to be featured in multiple TV series and films after the end of Good Times, including Driving Miss Daisy and How To Make an American Quilt. She passed away in 1998.