Sherman Hemsley, the man best known for movin’ George Jefferson and his family on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky, died this past Tuesday.Hemsley passed away at his home in El Paso, Texas. The cause of death appears to be by natural causes and was discovered by his nurse, who thought he was sleeping when she realized something was amiss and called the authorities. He was 74 years old.
Hemsley's George Jefferson began as a recurring character on Norman Lear's 1970s sitcom "All in the Family." Spinoff "The Jeffersons," starring Hemsley and Isabel Sanford as his wife, "Weezy," ran from 1975-85. Hemsley was nominated for an Emmy for lead actor in a comedy in 1984. (Sanford died in 2004.)
The Jeffersons ultimately became one of Lear's most popular shows thanks to Hemsley; and it remains the longest-running sitcom with a predominantly black cast. The show aired for 11 seasons, from 1975-1985.
The actor went on to star in another successful series, Amen, which ran for five seasons, from 1986-1991.
The actor reprised the role of George Jefferson in the mid-'90s on two episodes of "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," starring Will Smith, and in a 2011 episode of Tyler Perry sitcom "House of Payne." He also played Jefferson in an uncredited bit in the 1998 feature comedy "Jane Austen's Mafia."
The Jeffersons ultimately became one of Lear's most popular shows thanks to Hemsley; and it remains the longest-running sitcom with a predominantly black cast. The show aired for 11 seasons, from 1975-1985.
The actor went on to star in another successful series, Amen, which ran for five seasons, from 1986-1991.
The actor reprised the role of George Jefferson in the mid-'90s on two episodes of "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," starring Will Smith, and in a 2011 episode of Tyler Perry sitcom "House of Payne." He also played Jefferson in an uncredited bit in the 1998 feature comedy "Jane Austen's Mafia."
Hemsley never married or had any children.
TEMPLAR DIGITAL:
We, here at Templar Digital are deeply saddened for another loss of a great entertainment icon. Our prayers go to Hemsley's family and friends as they go through this difficult process. Below we also included the links to some of our past posts of Andy Griffith and Ernest Borgnine passings.
Andy Griffth
Ernest Borgnine
-Brian Lansangan
TEMPLAR DIGITAL:
We, here at Templar Digital are deeply saddened for another loss of a great entertainment icon. Our prayers go to Hemsley's family and friends as they go through this difficult process. Below we also included the links to some of our past posts of Andy Griffith and Ernest Borgnine passings.
Andy Griffth
Ernest Borgnine
-Brian Lansangan
follow me on Twitter @MrSnugglenutz84
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