What's Happening!!: Who played Roger in the ABC sitcom? Career and personal life, explored

ABC's popular sitcom What's Happening!!, starring Ernest Thomas and Haywood Nelson, debuted in 1976. Created by Good Times' Eric Monte, this African-American series was based on the lives of three teenagers, Roger Raj Thomas, Dwayne Nelson, and Freddy Rerun Stubbs, who lived in Los Angeles. Dwayne was portrayed by Haywood Nelson and Freddy by Fred Berry.

Ernest Thomas played the role of Roger Raj Thomas in What's Happening!!, a smart and kind teenager who always found himself in troublesome situations. He lived with his single mother and sister in the southern Los Angeles neighborhood, Watts. This role made Thomas a household name, winning viewers with his quick wit, warm smile, and charm that made Roger a fan favorite.

Ernest Thomas' journey to television success was just as compelling as the character he made famous. Continue reading to know more.

What's Happening!! Star Ernest Thomas: Life, career, and the role that made him famous

Born on March 26, 1949, in a working-class neighborhood of Gary, Indiana, Ernest Thomas had a humble beginning. Thomas dreamt of becoming an actor, and to make his dreams come true, he moved to New York City and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Initially, he began with theater; he made his Broadway debut in 1974 in Love for Love. The following year, he appeared in The Member of the Wedding. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he moved to Los Angeles and landed guest roles on Baretta, The Brady Bunch, and The Jeffersons. It was during a taping of The Jeffersons that he heard about auditions for a new sitcom. Out of 200 audition tapes, Ernest Thomas was chosen to play Raj.

Thomas was 26 then, but he captured the charm of Raj, a high school student. Raj was funny, a little awkward, and deeply relatable. Viewers embraced him instantly, and many related to his character. The show ran for three seasons and ended in 1979 despite strong ratings.

During that time, he also got the opportunity to be a part of a comedy film, A Piece of the Action, starring Bill Cosby, and the popular miniseries Roots (1977).

However, after the sitcom ended, he fell into depression, became an addict, and was soon homeless. With his sister's support and a deepening faith, he overcame the difficult situation.

In 1985, Thomas returned as Roger Raj Thomas in the sequel series, What's Happening Now!!. This time, Raj was older, married, and working as a writer. The show ran for three years. When the sequel ended, Thomas made guest appearances as Roger in The Steve Harvey Show, All About Andersons, Just Jordan, Martin, Soul Food, and more.

Some of his notable projects include Malcolm X, Everybody Hates Chris, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, The Lords of Salem, Earworm, and more. Some of his upcoming projects include The Gospel Truth, Dive, and The Truth.

The What's Happening!! star has an eye condition called amblyopia, which results in decreased vision. Even though not much is known about his personal life, he mentioned in several interviews that he had a relationship with Kim Cattrall during his time in the Academy.

Even after fifty years of his memorable TV debut, Ernest Lee Thomas is still remembered for his role as Roger Raj Thomas in What's Happening!! Roger might have been a regular sitcom character, but it was Ernest Thomas who made it a lasting piece in television history.

All episodes of What's Happening!! are available to stream on Roku and Tubi.

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