<Li> "Grandpa" Henry Evans (Richard Ward) is James' long lost father . He abandoned the family years before because he was ashamed that he could not do more to provide for them . This hurt James deeply, who disregarded his father's existence, telling everyone he was dead . Thelma learns about her grandfather while doing some family research . She meets him and invites him to the Evans' home to surprise James for his birthday, not knowing that James was well aware of his whereabouts but chose to stay out of his life . After Henry arrives at the Evans home and meets the rest of the family, he realizes that James would not welcome him in the home and decides to leave . Florida convinces him to stay and talk to James and explains that there may never be another chance to do so . Henry and James have a heart - to - heart talk, with Henry being remorseful and apologetic . James ultimately forgives his father . After James' death, the Evans family embraces Henry into the family, alongside his common law (and eventually legal) wife Lena in later episodes . </Li> <Li> Wanda (Helen Martin) is another resident in the apartment building where the Evans reside . Earlier episodes show her at a women's support group, and the tenants rallying around her by giving her a rent party . Later episodes show her appearing and crying at several funerals, whether she knew the person or not, thus earning her the nickname "Weeping Wanda" from J.J. and Willona . </Li> <Li> Lynnetta Gordon (Chip Fields) is Penny's abusive biological mother . Her first appearance is in the four part Fifth season opening episode, "The Evans Get Involved". Lynnetta's father abandoned her when she became pregnant at 16 . As a result, she takes her anger and frustrations out on Penny, including burning her with a hot iron . After the abuse is finally brought to light, she tells the Evans family that she, herself, was abused as a child . She gets into a fighting match with Willona and Thelma, and they plead for her to seek therapy . Just before she disappears, she expresses regret for hurting her child, telling Willona that Penny deserves better than her . This clears the way for Willona to adopt Penny . She reappears more than a year later, in the sixth - season episode, "A Matter of Mothers", having gotten married, and reveals that her new husband is from a very wealthy family . She uses her husband's wealth to send Penny anonymous gifts, and in an effort to regain custody of Penny, she also attempts to frame Willona as an unfit adoptive mother who throws wild parties with less than wholesome attendees . However, her scheme is exposed by being recorded on tape admitting that the scheme was a set up to get Penny back . After trying to get the tape from Penny and threatening to hurt her again, which is stopped by Willona, Penny tells her birth mother that no matter what anyone says, she will always consider Willona her mother . Devastated, she agrees to drop the charges against Willona and leaves Penny with her, never to be seen again . </Li> <Li> Cleatus (Jack Baker) is a cousin of J.J. Evans, Thelma Evans Anderson, and Michael Evans and nephew of Florida Evans and James Evans . He made one appearance in the episode "Cousin Cleatus". </Li>

How old is the cast of good times