The Jeffersons

Background:

American actor of television, film and stage Sherman Hemsley first came to prominence playing the externally shambling but actually rather dodgy Gitlow on the highly flourishing, Broadway musical version of “Purlie” (1970). However, it was his famed portrayal of George Jefferson on the popular sitcom “The Jeffersons” (1975-1985) that made the actor a household name. Delivering a bright acting, he received an Image Award and an Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. In 2004, nearly two decades after the demise of the show, the industrious actor earned a citation as Favorite Cantankerous Couple from the TV Land, which he shared with his costar, Isabel Sanford (born in 1917, died 2004). His character on the series was named one of TV Guide's “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time” in 2004. Other TV credits include regular roles in “Amen” (NBC, 1986-1991) and “Goode Behavior” (UPN, 1996) and recurring roles in ABC's “Family Matters” (1994-1995), “Sister, Sister” (1995-1998) and Fox's “The Hughleys”(1999-2000). He also voiced B P Richfield in the ABC animated series “Dinosaurs” (1991-1994). As film actor, Hemsley, who made his debut in “Love at First Bite” (1979), has amassed a number of credits, including “Mr. Nanny” (1993), “The Misery Brothers” (1995), “Senseless” (1998), “Up, Up, and Away!” (2000, TV), “Hanging in Hedo” (2007) and “For the Love of a Dog” (2008).

In his free time, Hemsley likes writing, reading and relaxing outdoors in the sun. He practices meditation and Yoga to maintain his spirit centered.

Postal Worker

Childhood and Family:

Sherman Hemsley was born on February 1, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Son of a factory worker mother, he dropped out of school and then spent four years with the U.S. Air Force. Upon completing his service, he returned to Philadelphia and worked as a clerk at the U.S. Postal Service. It was during his days as postal worker that Sherman restlessly honed his acting skill and finally became a member of the prestigious Negro Ensemble Company. He also studied the craft at the University of Philadelphia Academy of Dramatic Arts and with Lloyd Richards in New York.

Amen

Career:

Sherman Hemsley made his TV debut in his native Philadelphia on a local comedy series named “Black Book.” Moving to New York in the late 1960s, the member of Douglas Turner Ward's noted Negro Ensemble Company appeared in his first off-Broadway show in a 1968 production of “The People vs. Ranchman” and went on to play the role of Mad Hatter in another off-Broadway play, “Alice in Wonderland,” the following year. However, Hemsley did not get his first break until he landed the role of Gitlow on the Broadway musical “Purlie” (1970). The show was a huge hit, and Hemsley earned kudos for his performance. During that period, Hemsley supported himself by working at the main post office in Manhattan.

After “Purlie,” Hemsley joined the touring company of the successful musical “Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope” (1973). During its run in San Fransisco, the actor, who played “Cat,” was discovered by television producer Norman Lear, who then gave him a recurring role on the CBS ground-breaking comedy series “All in the Family.” As George Jefferson, the actor was so popular that after two years on the show he was given his own sitcom.

Debuted in January 1975, the spin-off “The Jeffersons,” which delivered a rare albeit comic portrayal of a successful African-American family, went on to become one of three highly booming television sitcoms having African-Americans in starring roles and maintained a strong run for 11 seasons, during which time he picked up a 1982 Image Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy Series or Special, a 1984 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and a 1985 Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series- Comedy/Musical. Actress Isabel Sanford, who was twenty-one years older than him, played his onscreen wife, Louise.

In between the sitcoms, the petite actor made his feature film acting debut as Reverend Mike in “Love at First Bite” (1979), a horror/comedy starring George Hamilton and directed by Stan Dragoti. In addition, he appeared as Robert in a 1979 episode of “The Incredible Hulk,” reprised his acclaimed stage role of Gitlow Judson for the TV movie version of “Purlie” (1981), played two different characters in two TV episodes of “Fantasy Island” (1981, 1982) and appeared in three episodes of “The Love Boat” (1977-1983). In 1984, he played George Jefferson on a two-part pilot of the short-lived comedy series “E/R,” starring Elliott Gould.

After the cancellation of “The Jeffersons” in 1985, Hemsley was cast as an ill-natured Philadelphia clergyman named Ernest Frye on the NBC sitcom “Amen,” costarring with Anna Maria Horsford. Another great series, it enjoyed five-season run from 1986 to 1991. While working on “Amen,” the hard-working actor was seen in such movies as “Stewardess School” (1986), “Combat High” (1986, TV), “Ghost Fever” (1987), “Club Fed” (1990) and “Camp Cucamonga” (1990, TV). He made a successful comeback on the series TV with his voice role as B P Richfield, the authoritarian triceratops boss, on the Emmy Award-winning animated series “Dinosaurs” (ABC, 1991-1994).

Hemsley appeared in the episodes of “Wallace Pitney” (1992), “Designing Women” (1993), “Burke's Law” (1994), “Thunder in Paradise” and “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” (both 1994), played the supporting role of Burt Wilson on the independent film “Mr. Nanny” (1993), opposite Hulk Hogan, costarred as Buzzard Bracken on the Christmas movie “Home of Angels” (1994) and was cast as Rev. Scheister in the comedy “The Misery Brothers” (1995). 1994 to 1995 also saw Hemsley play the recurring role of Carl Winslow's boss, Captain Savage, on the ABC sitcom “Family Matters.”

In 1996, Hemsley starred as Willie Goode in the UPN sitcom “Goode Behavior,” along side Dorien Wilson, Bianca Lawson,Alex Datcher and Scott Grimes, but the series only lasted one season. He kept on his present on television by having a series of guest spots, including “In the House,” “Martin,” “Minor Adjustments,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (played George Jefferson), “Clueless,” “Cousin Skeeter, “Sister, Sister” and “City Guys.” His movie credits included “Casper: A Spirited Beginning” (1997, TV), “Senseless” (1998) and “Jane Austen's Mafia!” (1998), in which he made a cameo as George Jefferson. It was in 1999 that Hemsley was reunited with Isabel Sanford to appear in a series of Old Navy Commercials playing the Jefferson couple. The same year also found the actor filing for bankruptcy.

Entering the new millennium, Hemsley was cast as Edward Marshall/Steel Condor in the made-for-TV film “Up, Up, and Away!” (2000), starring and directed by Robert Townsend, and played the supporting role of Chip Oswald on the comedy film “Screwed” (2000), along side Danny DeVito. The same year, he also completed his four-episodic part as Mr. Williams on the Fox sitcom “The Hughleys” (1999-2000).

Hemsley resurfaced in 2004 when he provided the voice of “Mr. Ed” in the made-for-TV film of the same name. Also in that same year, he was awarded a TV Land for Favorite Cantankerous Couple for his work in “The Jeffersons,” which he shared with Isabel Sanford, who died in July that same year due to cardiopulmonary arrest and heart disease. Hemsley then guested as Sherman Hemsley in a 2005 episode of “Family Guy” and played Henry Hunter on the comedy film “Hanging in Hedo” (2007). Recently, he starred as Mr. O'Donnell on “For the Love of a Dog” (2008), a family movie penned and helmed by Sheree Le Mon.

Awards:

• TV Land: Favorite Cantankerous Couple, “The Jeffersons,” 2004

• Image: Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy Series or Special, “The Jeffersons,” 1982