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 ...
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.
He kept his private life private, we’ll just leave it at that.
How could he be only 74? They had him playing Lionel’s father when he was only 34? He sure seemed at least 40 from his first appearances.
He was great! I had no idea he was so talented.
He liked to do the Stern show and there was that one nasty skit “Ted and Whoopi”... Caution- very poor taste and I just can’t bring myself to post the link
RIP, and thanks for your service.
I do. My late mother loved that show. It was hilarious.
RIP.
Thinking about this now and then has made me even more admiring of Hemsley's talent and thankful to him for making my Dad laugh.
On another note I suppose we are due for the obituary of a third in-the-closet celebrity.
Here's that episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljl9oexWyX0
Episode title: "The Games Bunkers Play"
The scene you are refering to starts at 10:30
What an idiotic comment.
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.