<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1985--1998 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Known for </Th> <Td> Justine Phillips--The Cosby Show Myra Monkhouse--Family Matters </Td> </Tr> <P> Michelle Doris Thomas (September 23, 1968--December 22, or 23, 1998) was an American actress and comedian . She was best known for her roles as Justine Phillips on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1988--90), and Myra Monkhouse, Steve Urkel's girlfriend on the ABC / CBS sitcom Family Matters (1993--98). </P> <P> Thomas was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on September 23, 1968 to Dennis Thomas, a member of music group Kool & the Gang, and Phynjuar Thomas, a stage actress . Thomas grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and was an alumna of West Essex High School; graduating in 1987 . She was crowned Miss Talented Teen New Jersey in Hal Jackson's Talented Teen pageant, and in July 1984, at the age of 15, became International Queen in the International competition in Montego Bay, Jamaica . </P>

Who died in the cast of family matters