Susie Garrett was a talented actress, singer, and teacher who is best remembered for her role as Betty Johnson, the grandmother of Cherie Johnson, on the popular sitcom Punky Brewster. She also appeared on other shows such as The Jeffersons and 227, and co-starred with her sister Marla Gibbs in the movie Wicked Stepmother. But what was Susie Garrett’s cause of death and how did she cope with her illness?
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Susie Garrett’s Early Life and Career
Susie Garrett was born on December 29, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan. She had a passion for music and performed as a jazz vocalist at various clubs in the city. She also had an associate degree in psychology from Shaw College at Detroit. She married and had four sons, one of whom died in infancy.
She started her acting career later in life, when she was in her 50s. She moved to Los Angeles with her sister Marla Gibbs, who was already a successful actress on The Jeffersons. Together, they founded the Crossroads Art Academy, an acting school that trained many aspiring performers.
Susie Garrett made her television debut in 1984, when she guest-starred as Amanda on two episodes of The Jeffersons. Later that year, she landed the role of Betty Johnson on Punky Brewster, a show about a spunky orphan girl who is adopted by a foster father. Susie Garrett played the loving and wise grandmother of Punky’s best friend Cherie, who lived in the same apartment building. She became a regular cast member and appeared in 88 episodes of the show until it ended in 1988.
She also had a small role in the 1989 film Wicked Stepmother, a comedy-horror movie starring Bette Davis and Barbara Carrera. She played Mandy, a friend of Jenny Fisher (Colleen Camp), who is terrorized by her evil stepmother Miranda (Davis). Susie Garrett’s last television appearance was on an episode of 227 in 1989, where she played a woman who was mistaken for a decoy by the police.
Susie Garrett’s Cancer Diagnosis and Death
In the early 1990s, Susie Garrett was diagnosed with cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but the disease continued to spread. She decided to move back to Detroit to be closer to her family and friends. She also continued to teach at the Crossroads Art Academy until her health deteriorated.
On May 24, 2002, Susie Garrett passed away at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan. She was 72 years old. Her sister Marla Gibbs and her niece Angela Elayne Gibbs were by her side when she died. She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
Susie Garrett’s death was mourned by her fans and colleagues, who remembered her as a warm, generous, and talented person. Her co-star Soleil Moon Frye, who played Punky Brewster, said that Susie Garrett was like a grandmother to her and that she taught her many valuable lessons about life. She also said that Susie Garrett was brave and optimistic until the end and that she never complained about her pain.
Susie Garrett’s legacy lives on through her work and her students. She is still admired for her portrayal of Betty Johnson, one of the first positive representations of black grandmothers on television. She is also remembered for her contribution to the arts and education, as well as for her love and kindness.
Conclusion
Susie Garrett was a remarkable woman who touched many lives with her talent and spirit. She faced many challenges and tragedies in her life, but she never gave up on her dreams and passions. She inspired many people with her courage and grace. Susie Garrett’s cause of death was cancer, but she will always be remembered for how she lived.
