Posted on 07/24/2012 3:43:41 PM PDT by Morgana
EL PASO, Texas, -- Police say Sherman Hemsley, the actor who made the character George Jefferson famous in "The Jeffersons," has died.
He was 74.
Hemsley first became famous during his appearances on the hit show "All in the Family" in the early 1970's.
Two years later, Hemsley got his own spin-off series, "The Jeffersons."
The Jeffersons was hugely successful, enjoying a run of 11 seasons through 1985.
After its cancellation, Helmsley joined the cast of the TV show, "Amen."
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
“Movin’ on up!” RIP
He’s moving on up. RIP
that show so exploited african americans /s
I’m comin’ Wheezy!
RIP Mr. Jefferson..cant believe he’s gone.
...To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
RIP.
He never married or had children (don’t see that very often these days), and cause of death not known, released.
RIP! I always had a soft spot for George Jefferson.
The Sun appears to be unsure as to what Sherman’s last name was. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t related to Leona Helmsley.
Wrong show.
11 seasons?
The show essentially had one joke. How the heck did it run for 11 years (especially in an era when prime-time shows rarely made it past 5 years).
Say hi to Florida and Gilligan.
Isabel Sanford (August 29, 1917 – July 9, 2004) was an American actress best known for her role as Louise “Weezy” Jefferson on the CBS television sitcoms All in the Family (1971–1975) and The Jeffersons (1975–1985).
Since “weezy” (Isabel Sanford) was already dead, I thought it appropriate.
I was not referring to Fred Sanford: “I’m coming Elizabeth”
Thanks for the memories, Sherman. We will miss you................
One less Obama voter.
How do you know anything about that? Sherman Hemsley was a four year Ar Force vet.
That’s one way to STIFF the California Franchise Tax Board!
http://www.search.com/reference/Sherman_Hemsley
R.I.P.
“Tropic Thunder” mentions the theme song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOu9TmWGKLg
I loved this guy.
Godspeed, Mister Hemsley.
“He never married or had children”
I waited on him a few time up in Tahoe. I believe there is a valid reason for your statement.
No one remembers him for Amen.
Just remember, his character “didn’t build that.” Mr. Jefferson’s hard work and risk-taking only played a tiny role in building his dry-cleaning business and in “Movin’ On Up.” Mostly it was the roads and other things that “society” paid for.
Oh. I see.
Ok, so I have a 95+% chance of being right. Black and in Hollywood would raise the likelihood of being an Obama voter.
He’s moved on up to that dee-luxe apartment in the sky...
RIP.
Making a ‘guess’ like that in an obit thread is tacky in the extreme, especially considering he didn’t to my knowledge make his politics public.
He also did lots of voice work.
He was the boss character in the ABC TGIF show Dinosaurs.
Many evenings of laughter back in the day, thank you, Sir...RIP
The most shocking thing about him. He was a big Prog Rock fan, his favorite band was Gentle Giant.
Who else besides me remembers another hit show Hemsley starred in?
It was called “Amen”. He played a Deacon.
I liked that show.
So Weezy was over 20 years older than George. I frankly thought he was much older than 74.
He’s dancing with Lenny Kravitz’s mom there.
There were always rumors. I remember one that he refused to leave the hospital room of his blonde bodybuilder “friend.”
Anyway, in spite of the fact that he was a racist, I always liked George Jefferson. Hemsley was always likeable in the roles he played.
Oh no. I just loved him in that show. He was so cute.
There was a an episode where George flashed back to the moment he heard MLK had been killed. He picked up a stool and threw it through the window of his own business. I always thought that was a ridiculous reaction.
Amen was a great show.
RIP.
That's Norman Lear for you.
________________
Well, I was going to say that he really, really, really, really hated that Bain guy ...
But that was another guy on a whole other 70s show ...
Pity ...
I don’t remember that scene. But I do remember that Lionel was angry and agitated and was ready to join the mob violence in the streets.
George and Weezy had to restrain him. It was a very emotional scene.
Bringing politics into a non-political entertainer’s death is really tasteless.
He didn’t fit into stereotypes. His favorite musical band is my favorite - the English band, Yes.
“Hemsley was a self-proclaimed fan of 1970s progressive rock bands including Yes,Gentle Giant and Nektar. On his appearance on Dinah!, Hemsley performed a dance to the Gentle Giant song “Proclamation” from The Power and the Glory. After his dance, Shore was laughing and asked what kind of music that was. Sherman then proceeded to give a 5-minute speech on Gentle Giant. In 1999, he collaborated with Yes founder Jon Anderson on an album titled Festival of Dreams which was not released.”
RIP Sherman.
Lionel was funny on All In the Family.....he’d always play up to Archie, and Archie didn’t even think anything of it.
Yeah, I was a fan of the show (in spite of not being a fan of Lear’s). A guy in George’s position might even have done that (like the LA rioters tearing up their own neighborhoods). It just made me shake my head.
There was an episode of All in the Family where Mike was being his typical smug, paternalistic white liberal self and Lionel called him on it. I don’t remember the context, but it ended up with Lionel saying, “I don’t mind Mr. Bunker, because that’s how he was raised and he doesn’t know any better. You should.” I think Mike might have been throwing around “Uncle Tom,” which I generally find to be an unadvisable thing for a white guy to do. “He’s not a real black!” Bill Maher thinks he can make that kind of judgment.
We also watch the show "Amen."
RIP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.