Norman Beaton in London's West End. In 1970 he played the role of Ariel in Shakespeare's "The Tempest", which he described in his autobiography as "the most important role of my acting career", and also played a small role in the Frankie Howerd comedy film "Up the Chastity Belt" the following year. In 1975, he helped to establish the Black Theatre of Brixton. In 1975 Beaton played Nanki-Poo in "The Black Mikado", a modern version of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado". In 1976, Beaton broke into television in the series "The Fosters", which also featured a young Lenny Henry, and the following
The Fosters (1976 TV series) incarnations). The series starred Norman Beaton as Samuel Foster, a hard-working man trying to support his family in a South London multi-storey council flat. The Samuel character was based on the fictional character James Evans Sr. (portrayed by John Amos) in "Good Times". Alongside Beaton was Isabelle Lucas, portraying Samuel's wife, Pearl Foster (Florida Evans in the original "Good Times" series, portrayed by Esther Rolle), who gossips with her best friend, Vilma, played by Carmen Munroe. Vilma was originally the character Willona Woods (portrayed by Ja'Net DuBois), who in the American version, gossips with Florida on every one inside (and