Ja’net Dubois’ death certificate claims that her biological father was Blues Brothers star Cab Calloway, rather than Gordon Dubois.
The singer passed away unexpectedly in her sleep last month, and the document, which was obtained by TMZ earlier this week, had Cab listed as the Good Times star’s secret parent.
It also said on the document, which was released by L.A. County, that she was known as ‘Jeannette T. Calloway-DuBois’, though this is disputed online.
Unexpected: Ja’Net Dubois’ death certificate, which was released earlier this week, ‘lists Blues Brothers star Cab Calloway as her secret biological father’, it was reported on Friday
Ja’Net’s father is listed as Gordon in her online biographies, while Lillian Goudey is named as her mother both in the document and on the internet.
TMZ went on to claim that Ja’Net’s daughter Rani said that Gordon was Lillian’s husband and said he was ‘instrumental’ in raising the singer.
Cab was the American bandleader and singer for The Cotton Club, a world famous jazz club in Harlem, where some of the biggest names in music performed.
Claim: In the document, it is claimed that jazz icon Cab Calloway (pictured in 1946) had secretly fathered Ja’Net, rather than Gordon Dubois
It was revealed earlier this month that the actress died of cardiac arrest, according to her death certificate obtained by the publication.
To her family’s surprise, the autopsy revealed she suffered from peripheral vascular disease and chronic kidney disease for years.
Hypertension was also confirmed to be a contributing factor to her death.
Jazz icon: Cab (pictured in 1951) was the American bandleader and singer for The Cotton Club, a world famous jazz club in Harlem, where some of the biggest names in music performed
The mother-of-three was cremated and ‘some of her ashes were scattered at sea’ and the rest left with her family, according to the outlet.
While it is largely reported her age was 74, Extra reviewed documents suggesting she was actually 87.
Her silent and unknown health battle shocked fans, as the CBS soap star appeared healthy just weeks before her death at a meet and greet at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel back on February 1.
Parenting: TMZ went on to claim that Ja’Net’s daughter Rani said that Gordon was Lillian’s husband and said he was ‘instrumental’ in raising the singer
DuBois is best known for starring in the hit 1970s sitcom Good Times, but she made history with her earlier role on the CBS soap opera Love of Life – becoming the first African-American actress to have a regular role on daytime TV.
She starred as Loretta Allen on that drama between 1971 and 1972.
The star’s last film was 2016’s She’s Got A Plan; prior to that she appeared in the TV series short G.I. Joe: Renegades.
Rest in peace: DuBois is best known for starring in the hit 1970s sitcom Good Times (pictured top centre), and she died of a cardiac arrest in her sleep last month
Throwback: The actress played Willona Woods on the sitcom Good Times in the seventies; she is pictured on the show at right with a young Janet Jackson
DuBois was born in Brooklyn in 1945, and started her career on Broadway.
She appeared in a number of prominent plays throughout the 1950s and 60s, including A Raisin In The Sun and Golden Boy.
DuBois soon moved to Hollywood and scored her first film role in 1966.
The film, A Man Called Adam, saw her appear opposite Sammy Davis Jr.
Critical acclaimed soon followed and she received a Peabody Award for her role in the 1969 CBS children’s movie, J.T.
‘I’ll miss you’: Janet Jackson paid a touching tribute to her former Good Times co-star, the late Ja’Net DuBois, following news of her passing
Iconic: DuBois was known for her stylish outfits on the Good Times. She is pictured center
In the beginning: DuBois got her start on Broadway, and is seen in a 1964 publicity still for the play Golden Boy
In 1971, after scoring her history-making role on Love of Life, DuBois went on to secure spots on several other TV programs during that decade.
Her small-screen credits from the 70s include Sanford and Son, Shaft, Kojak, Caribe and Roots: The Next Generation.
However, it was her turn as neighbor and gossip maven Willona Woods in the sitcom Good Times that secured her stardom.
The series was created by Norman Lear, and was known for being television’s first African American two-parent family sitcom.
It ran from 1974 to 1979.
Afterward, DuBois continued to appear in a variety of films and TV shows.
She won two Emmy Awards for her voice-over work on The PJs – a stop-motion comedy about the ups and downs of a black family living in a housing project.
Meanwhile, DuBois also appeared opposite Demi Moore in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle in 2013.
The star was also a talented composer and singer, who created the theme song for thr 1970s series, The Jeffersons.
More recent role: Bernie Mac, DuBois and Shia Labeouf are pictured in the 2003 film Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle
Famous friends: DuBois is pictured (right) with Quentin Tarantino in the mid 2000s