Sherman Hemsley
Sherman Hemsley | |
---|---|
El Paso, Texas, U.S. | |
Resting place | Fort Bliss National Cemetery |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1968–2012 |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Air Force |
Signature | |
Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 – July 24, 2012) was an American actor. He was known for his roles as
Biography
Early life, education and service
Hemsley was born and raised in South Philadelphia by his mother, who worked in a lamp factory.[1] Hemsley did not meet his father until he was 14.[1] Hemsley graduated from Barrat Middle School.[citation needed] For high school, Hemsley attended Central High School for ninth grade and Bok Technical High School for tenth. Hemsley dropped out of school after the tenth grade and joined the United States Air Force, where he served for four years.
On leaving the Air Force, Hemsley returned to Philadelphia, where he worked for the United States Postal Service during the day while attending the Academy of Dramatic Arts at night.[1] 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.[2][3]
Career
Stage
Work with Norman Lear
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, at which Lear told him he would hold the role open for him (another actor, Mel Stewart, played his brother during this time). Hemsley joined the cast two years later. The characters of Hemsley and co-star Isabel Sanford were occasional supporting roles in All in the Family, then were given their own spin-off, The Jeffersons, in 1975. The Jeffersons proved to be one of Lear's most successful series, enjoying a run of eleven seasons through 1985.
1980s, 1990s, and 2000s
Hemsley continued to work steadily after the show's cancellation, largely
Hemsley then cut back on his acting career, although Isabel Sanford and he occasionally appeared together in the mid to late 1990s and in the early 2000s, reprising their popular roles in guest appearances on such television series as
Music career
In 1989, Hemsley, who had been a jazz keyboardist, released a single, "Ain't That a Kick in the Head."[8] This was followed in 1992 by Dance, an album of rhythm and blues music.[9] He appeared on Soul Train around the time of the record's release and also performed the song "Eyes in the Dark".[10] Hemsley was an enthusiastic fan of 1970s progressive rock bands,[11][12] including Yes,[11] Gentle Giant, Gong,[12] and Nektar.
Personal life
Unlike the characters he played, 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.
Death
Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas on July 24, 2012, at age 74 due to superior vena cava syndrome, a complication associated with lung and bronchial carcinomas. He had a malignant mass in one of his lungs for which chemotherapy and radiation had been recommended, according to the El Paso County Texas Medical Examiner's report.[15][16][17]
Aftermath
On August 28, 2012, an El Paso news anchor interviewed Flora Isela Enchinton, the sole beneficiary of Hemsley's will, who said that the two were friends and had been business partners for more than two decades.[18] During this time she lived with Hemsley and his friend Kenny Johnston. Enchinton told the Associated Press that Hemsley never mentioned any relatives. "Some people come out of the woodwork - they think Sherman, they think money," Enchinton told AP. "But the fact is that I did not know Sherman when he was in the limelight. I met them when they [Hemsley and Johnston] came running from Los Angeles with not one penny, when there was nothing but struggle."[19]
A Philadelphia man named Richard Thornton claimed to be Hemsley's brother and the true heir to his estate. After contesting the will, Thornton halted progress on funeral arrangements, and as a result, Hemsley's body remained at the San Jose Funeral Home in El Paso and unburied for months.[20] On November 9, 2012, the legal battle over Hemsley's body ended when Judge Patricia Chew ruled in favor of Enchinton.[21] A military funeral was planned for Hemsley. He was interred at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in his adopted hometown of El Paso.[22]
Filmography
Film
- Love at First Bite (1979) - Reverend Mike (film debut)
- Stewardess School (1986) - Mr. Buttersworth
- Ghost Fever (1986) - Buford/Jethro
- Club Fed (1990) - Reverend James Dooley
- Mr. Nanny (1993) - Burt Wilson
- Home of Angels (1994) - Buzzard Bracken
- The Misery Brothers (1995) - Rev. Scheister
- A Christmas Journey Home (1996) - Steve
- Sprung (1997) - Earl
- Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997) - Harvey
- Senseless (1998) - James
- Mafia! (1998) - George Jefferson (uncredited)
- Screwed (2000) - Chip Oswald
- Hanging in Hedo (2008) - Henry Hunter
- For The Love Of A Dog (2008) - George O'Donnell
- American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009) - Pastor Reggie Johnston (final film role)
Television
- All in the Family (1973–1975; 1978) - George Jefferson
- The Jeffersons (1975–1985) - George Jefferson
- The Love Boat (1977–1983) - Henry Bullard / Maurice Marshall
- The Donny & Marie Show (1978?) - Guest star
- The Incredible Hulk (1979, season 2 episode 18 "No Escape") - Robert
- Pink Lady (1980; guest-starred) - Himself
- Purlie (1981, TV Movie) - Gitlow Judson
- Fantasy Island (November 7, 1981) (Season 5, Episode 5, "Mr. Nobody/La Liberatora") - Charlie Atkins
- E/R (1984) (guest spots as Nurse Julie Williams') - Uncle George Jefferson
- I of Newton") - Sam
- Alice in Wonderland (1985, TV Movie) - Mouse
- Candid Camera (1986) - Dick Sherman
- Amen (1986–1991) - Deacon Ernest Frye
- 227 (1988, guest starred in the episode "The Big Deal") - Thurmond Fox
- Camp Cucamonga (1990, TV Movie) - Herbert Himmel
- Dinosaurs (1991–1994) - B.P. Richfield (voice)
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1992–1996, guest starred, TV Series) - Judge Carl Robertson / George Jefferson
- Designing Women (1993, in the episode "Wedding Redux") - Mr. Ray Toussant
- In Living Color (February 14, 1993) - guest appearance as George Jefferson in sketch, Lashawn: Dry Cleaners
- Burke's Law (1994, in "Who Killed the Legal Eagle?") - Judge J.R. Powell
- Winslow Schott
- The Magic School Bus (1995, guest starred, in "Revved Up") - Mr. Junkit
- The Wayans Bros. (1995, episode "It's Shawn! It's Marlon! It's The Superboys!") - Mr. Stone
- Sister, Sister (1995, guest spots) - Grandpa Campbell
- Goode Behavior (1996–1997) - Willie Goode
- Martin (1996) - Mr. Washington
- All That (1997; guest starred in two episodes) - Doctor
- The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer (1998, guest starred in "Up, Up and Away") - Union Spy
- The Hughleys (1999–2000) - James Williams
- Family Matters (Captain Marion Savage — Carl's superior)
- All That (1997, Good Burger food critic / Mr. Gurman)
- Figure It Out (1999) (Guest Panelist)
- City Guys (1999) (Episode Face the Music) - Slick Willy
- Up, Up, and Away (2000, TV Movie) - Edward Marshall / Steel Condor
- Mister Ed (2004, TV Movie) - Mr. Ed (voice)
- Family Guy (2005, in a voice cameo ("The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz") - Himself
- The Surreal Life (2006, cast member in 2006)
- Clunkers (2011, 8 episodes) - Boss
- Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2011, guest starred) - George Jefferson
- One Love (2014) - Grandpa Roy (final television role, filmed 2012)
Discography
- Dance (1992)
See also
References
- ^ Philadelphia Inquirer. Archivedfrom the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ Guttman, Monika (September 3, 1989). "Ask Monika". St. Petersburg Times. p. 16-TV Dial. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Claudia (September 3, 1989). "Hemsley turns to stand-up comedy". The Washington Times. p. M2.
- ^ KVIA News. September 24, 2012. Archivedfrom the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ Fretts, Bruce; Carter, Alan (April 16, 1993). "The Jeffersons take the stage". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (April 19, 1993). "Dinosaurs If You Were a Tree". Variety. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-3454-5542-0.
- ^ O'Neal, Sean (July 24, 2012). "R.I.P. Sherman Hemsley". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- Allmusic. Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Sherman Hemsley performs "Eyes in the Dark" on Soul Train (1992) Archived February 22, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Bing.com; accessed October 8, 2016.
- ^ a b Condran, Ed (May 20, 2001). "Sherman Hemsley moves on up to Cherry Hill". Calkins Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
- ^ a b "George Jefferson: World's Biggest Gong Fan". Magnet. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Watkins, Mel (July 24, 2012). "Sherman Hemsley, 'Jeffersons' Star, Is Dead at 74". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
- ^ "Sherman Hemsley of 'The Jefferson's' fame, found dead in El Paso". Alamogordo Daily News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ "County of El Paso: Post Mortem Report: Sherman Alexander Hemsley" (PDF). Autopsyfiles.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ Walsh, Michael (July 24, 2012). "Sherman Hemsley dead: 'Jeffersons' star dies at age 74". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ "'The Jeffersons' star Sherman Hemsley found dead at home". The Indian Express. Mumbai. July 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ Dougherty, Matt; Martinez, Leonard (August 29, 2012). "Body of actor Sherman Hemsley stored in funeral home cooler, not buried, weeks after his death". KVIA News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- The Advocate. Archivedfrom the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ Duke, Alan (August 30, 2012). "Actor Sherman Hemsley unburied amid fight over his remains". CNN. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ^ "Will of Jeffersons star Sherman Hemsley is valid actor can be buried". Fox News. Associated Press. November 9, 2012. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ McKay, Hollie (November 14, 2012). "Military funeral planned for Sherman Hemsley months after death". Fox News. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2012.