
Sherman Hemsley
Born
February 1, 1938
Died
July 24, 2012 (74 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 – July 24, 2012) was an American actor, best known for his roles as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen, and B.P. Richfield on the ABC series Dinosaurs. For his work on The Jeffersons, Hemsley was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. He also won an NAACP Image Award.
Hemsley was born and raised in South Philadelphia by his mother, who worked in a lamp factory.[1] He did not meet his father until he was 14. He attended Barrat Middle School, Central High School for 9th grade and Bok Technical High School for 10th, when he dropped out of school and joined the United States Air Force, where he served for four years.
On leaving the Air Force, he returned to Philadelphia, where he worked for the United States Postal Service during the day while attending the Academy of Dramatic Arts at night. He then moved to New York, continuing to work for the Post Office during the day while working as an actor at night. He starred as Gitlow in the early 1970s Broadway musical Purlie.
While Hemsley was on Broadway with Purlie, Norman Lear called him in 1971 to play the recurring role of George Jefferson in his new sitcom, All in the Family. Hemsley was reluctant to leave his theatre role, but Lear told him that he would hold the role open for him. Hemsley joined the cast two years later. The characters of Hemsley and co-star Isabel Sanford were supporting occasional roles on All in the Family, but were given their own spin-off, The Jeffersons, two years after Hemsley made his debut on the sitcom. The Jeffersons proved to be one of Lear's most successful series, enjoying a run of 11 seasons through 1985.
Hemsley was a shy and intensely private man, described by some as reclusive. He avoided the Hollywood limelight and little of his personal life was public knowledge beyond the facts that he never married and he had no children.[9] In 2003, however, Hemsley granted a rare video interview to the Archive of American Television. "It [playing George Jefferson] was hard for me. But he was the character. I had to do it."
On July 24, 2012, Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas, at age 74. The cause of death was given as superior vena cava syndrome, a complication associated with lung and bronchial carcinomas. He had had a malignant mass on one of his lungs for which chemotherapy and radiation had been recommended, according to the El Paso County Texas Medical Examiner's report. CLR
Known For

Clunkers
Boss
2015

American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
Pastor
2009

For the Love of a Dog
George O'Donnell
2008
Back to the Grind
(1 episode)
2007
Living in TV Land
(1 episode)
2004
Mr. Ed
Mr. Ed (voice)
2004

The Surreal Life
Self · (9 episodes)
2003

Screwed
Chip Oswald
2000

Up, Up, and Away
Edward Marshall / Steel Condor
2000

Family Guy
Sherman Hemsley (voice) · (1 episode)
1999

V.I.P.
Sherman Hemsley · (1 episode)
1998

The Hughleys
(2 episodes)
1998

Jane Austen's Mafia!
George Jefferson (uncredited)
1998

Senseless
Smythe/Bates Doorman
1998

Casper: A Spirited Beginning
Grocer
1997

City Guys
(1 episode)
1997

Sprung
Brotha #1
1997
A Christmas Journey Home
Homeless Guy
1996

Clueless
(1 episode)
1996
Goode Behavior
Willie Goode · (23 episodes)
1996

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
The Miller (voice) · (1 episode)
1995

The Wayans Bros.
Mr. Stone · (1 episode)
1995

The Misery Brothers
Rev. Scheister
1995

The Secret World of Alex Mack
Professor Lake · (1 episode)
1994

The Magic School Bus
Mr. Junkett (voice) · (1 episode)
1994

Sister, Sister
Jimmy · (3 episodes)
1994

Sister, Sister
Grandpa Campbell · (1 episode)
1994

Burke's Law
Judge Powell · (1 episode)
1994

Home of Angels
1994

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Mr. Schott · (1 episode)
1993

Mr. Nanny
Burt Wilson
1993

The Ben Stiller Show
(1 episode)
1992

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Wallace Pitney · (1 episode)
1992
Vicki!
Self · (1 episode)
1992

Martin
(1 episode)
1992

Dinosaurs
B.P. Richfield (voice) · (29 episodes)
1991

Camp Cucamonga
Herbert Himmel
1990

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
George Jefferson · (2 episodes)
1990

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Judge Carl Robertson · (3 episodes)
1990

Club Fed
The Reverend
1990

Who Shrunk Saturday Morning?
The Master Programmer
1989

Family Matters
Captain Savage · (3 episodes)
1989

Golden Anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Magic Mirror
1987

Ghost Fever
Buford / Jethro
1987

Combat Academy
Judge Daley
1986

Designing Women
(1 episode)
1986

Amen
Deacon Ernest Frye · (110 episodes)
1986

Stewardess School
Mr. Buttersworth
1986

Alice in Wonderland
Mouse · (1 episode)
1985

The Twilight Zone
Sam (segment "I of Newton") · (1 episode)
1985

E/R
George Jefferson · (2 episodes)
1984

Purlie
Gitlow
1981

The Big Show
Self · (1 episode)
1980

Pink Lady
Self · (1 episode)
1980

The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self
1980

Love at First Bite
Reverend Mike
1979

The Incredible Hulk
Robert · (1 episode)
1977

The Love Boat
Maurice Marshall · (1 episode)
1977

Battle of the Network Stars
(1 episode)
1976

The Sonny and Cher Show
(2 episodes)
1976

Donny & Marie
Self · (2 episodes)
1976

The Jeffersons
George Jefferson · (248 episodes)
1975

Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self · (1 episode)
1974

Dinah!
Self · (1 episode)
1974

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self · (1 episode)
1973

All in the Family
George Jefferson · (11 episodes)
1971