Deluxe Apartment In The Sky: Rest In Peace Sherman Hemsley, 74
One of Hollywood’s (and in particular, “Black Hollywood”) most revered sitcom actors, The Jeffersons‘ Sherman Hemsley, has died at 74.
Hemsley was found in his El Paso, TX home yesterday. Police say he was discovered by his nurse and had apparently died of natural causes.
From 1973-75 Hemsley played the iconic George Jefferson character on All In The Family where he became Archie Bunker’s just as cranky (although more clever and calculating) counterpart. He then starred opposite the late Isabel Sanford (who was roughly 20 years older than him in real life) from 1975 to 1985 in their own spinoff, The Jeffersons. As his tribute on Philly.com (he was born in Philadelphia) describes: “George Jefferson was a character unlike any seen on TV before, a proud and successful African American businessman, cocky, edgy, and opinionated, determined not to be pushed around.”
Hemsley later became known to a new generation of TV fans with guest appearances in shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and in commercials for Old Navy and Gap.
a proud and successful African American businessman, cocky, edgy, and opinionated, determined not to be pushed around.