Clunkers
2015 · Movie
as Boss
Sherman Hemsley
1938-02-01
•
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
Filmography
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
2009 · Movie
as Pastor
For the Love of a Dog
2008 · Movie
as George O'Donnell
No image
Back to the Grind
2007 · TV Show
No image
Living in TV Land
2004 · TV Show
The Surreal Life
2003 · TV Show
as Self
Screwed
2000 · Movie
as Chip Oswald
Up, Up, and Away
2000 · Movie
as Edward Marshall / Steel Condor
Family Guy
1999 · TV Show
as Sherman Hemsley (voice)
Jane Austen's Mafia!
1998 · Movie
as George Jefferson (uncredited)
Senseless
1998 · Movie
as Smythe/Bates Doorman
The Hughleys
1998 · TV Show
as James Williams
V.I.P.
1998 · TV Show
as Sherman Hemsley
Casper: A Spirited Beginning
1997 · Movie
as Grocer
Sprung
1997 · Movie
as Brotha #1
City Guys
1997 · TV Show
Figure It Out
1997 · TV Show
as Self
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A Christmas Journey Home
1996 · Movie
as Homeless Guy
Clueless
1996 · TV Show
as Murray's Grandpa
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Goode Behavior
1996 · TV Show
as Willie Goode
The Misery Brothers
1995 · Movie
as Rev. Scheister
The Wayans Bros.
1995 · TV Show
as Mr. Stone
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995 · TV Show
as The Miller (voice)
Home of Angels
1994 · Movie
The Secret World of Alex Mack
1994 · TV Show
as Professor Lake
Burke's Law
1994 · TV Show
as Judge Powell
The Magic School Bus
1994 · TV Show
as Mr. Junkett (voice)
Sister, Sister
1994 · TV Show
as Jimmy, Grandpa Campbell
Mr. Nanny
1993 · Movie
as Burt Wilson
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993 · TV Show
as Mr. Schott
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The Ben Stiller Show
1992 · TV Show
Martin
1992 · TV Show
as Mr. Washington
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992 · TV Show
as Wallace Pitney
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Vicki!
1992 · TV Show
as Self
Dinosaurs
1991 · TV Show
as B.P. Richfield (voice)
Camp Cucamonga
1990 · Movie
as Herbert Himmel
Club Fed
1990 · Movie
as The Reverend
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990 · TV Show
as George Jefferson, Judge Carl Robertson
Who Shrunk Saturday Morning?
1989 · Movie
as The Master Programmer
Family Matters
1989 · TV Show
as Captain Savage
Ghost Fever
1987 · Movie
as Buford / Jethro
Golden Anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1987 · Movie
as Magic Mirror
Stewardess School
1986 · Movie
as Mr. Buttersworth
Combat Academy
1986 · Movie
as Judge Daley
Designing Women
1986 · TV Show
Amen
1986 · TV Show
as Deacon Ernest Frye
The Twilight Zone
1985 · TV Show
as Sam (segment "I of Newton")
Alice in Wonderland
1985 · TV Show
as Mouse
E/R
1984 · TV Show
as George Jefferson
Purlie
1981 · Movie
as Gitlow
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
1980 · Movie
as Self
The Big Show
1980 · TV Show
as Self
Pink Lady
1980 · TV Show
as Self
Love at First Bite
1979 · Movie
as Reverend Mike
The Magic of David Copperfield
1978 · TV Show
as Self
The Love Boat
1977 · TV Show
as Maurice Marshall
The Incredible Hulk
1977 · TV Show
as Robert
The Sonny and Cher Show
1976 · TV Show
Donny & Marie
1976 · TV Show
as Self
Battle of the Network Stars
1976 · TV Show
The Jeffersons
1975 · TV Show
as George Jefferson
Saturday Night Live
1975 · TV Show
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Tony Orlando and Dawn
1974 · TV Show
as Self
Dinah!
1974 · TV Show
as Self
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973 · TV Show
as Self
All in the Family
1971 · TV Show
as George Jefferson, George
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Mr. Ed
· TV Show
as Mr. Ed (voice)
