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About That Popular 'Black Films Don't Sell ...RIP Sherman Hemsley
Star of stage and screen, Sherman Hemsley, has reportedly died this afternoon, in his El Paso, TX home.
The actor is likely most famous for his roles as George Jefferson on the CBS TV series All in the Family and The Jeffersons (a spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker), and as Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen.
The Jeffersons received 11 Emmy Award nominations during its 10-year run. Sherman Hemsley was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, each year from 1981 through 1985.
The series holds the record as the longest-running sitcom with a predominantly Black cast in the history of American television.
Before his TV career, Hemsley studied with the Negro Ensemble Company, and would eventually make his Broadway debut in Purlie in 1971, and toured with the show for a year. It was while on tour with Purlie that Norman Lear called him to play the role of George Jefferson on his then burgeoning new sitcom, All in the Family.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
After Amen ended its 5-season original run, Hemsley slowed down quite a bit, appearing mostly in bit parts on other TV sitcoms and in movies.
He worked heavily during an era that saw a wave of successful sitcoms on TV in the 1980s and 1990s which featured entirely or almost-entirely black casts.
The cause of his death is not public at the moment.
Hemsley was 74 years old.
RIP.
9 Comments
Emmanuel | July 25, 2012 1:50 PM
He is a true television icon. When I get home tonight, I'll probably watch my favorite episode of 'Martin', titled "D.M.V. Blues", which guest-starred Hemsley. RIP.
Cherish | July 25, 2012 1:35 PM
Wow what an actor. Surprised more love isn't shown here for Mr. Hemsley. The George Jefferson character was practically revolutionary....
Zeus | July 24, 2012 10:24 PM
RIP Mr. Hemsley. -------> http://youtu.be/jjhzhK2zryg
James Madison | July 24, 2012 10:01 PM
Thank you Mr. Hemsley. True Icon.
ALM | July 24, 2012 8:59 PM
He lived a long, full life. Loved the Old Navy commercials......Weezy! RIP
ChgoSista | July 24, 2012 6:53 PM
Truly a one-of-a-kind legend--an ORIGINAL, indeed--thanks for such memorable television.
jai | July 24, 2012 5:20 PM
God rest his soul.
BluTopaz | July 24, 2012 5:18 PM
RIP & thank you Mr. Hemsley, you gave us a memorable character who said what a lot of us were thinking. Just this morning I saw a man walking like him and thought, dude walks just like George Jefferson.