Sherman Hemsley, a veteran of the Air Force and a talented actor, brought joy and laughter to audiences around the world through his iconic characters. Born on February 1, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hemsley was introduced to acting at a young age, playing different characters in school plays.
As a child, Hemsley's first role was in a play about fire prevention, where he played the fire. He eventually dropped out of school and joined the Air Force, where he served his country before considering a career in acting.
After his military service, Hemsley moved to New York City, where he worked a graveyard shift as a post office clerk and acted during the day. He was a part of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC),a prestigious theater company that helped actors and actresses obtain roles in theater, television, and film.
Hemsley made his professional acting debut on Broadway in the play "Purlie," and he toured with the show for a year. In 1971, he received a call from producer Norman Lear to audition for a role in the sitcom "All in the Family." Due to his commitment to "Purlie," Hemsley declined the role, but Lear kept the door open for him, and Hemsley joined the cast two years later.
Hemsley's breakout role came when he was chosen to star in the spin-off of "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons," alongside Isabel Sanford. Despite their age difference, the on-screen couple's hilarious portrayal of George and Louise Jefferson earned Hemsley a Golden Globe nomination.
After "The Jeffersons" ended its successful 11-season run in 1985, Hemsley continued to work on various projects, including the NBC sitcom "Amen" and the ABC live-action-puppet series "Dinosaurs." He also made guest appearances on popular television shows such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "House of Payne."
Throughout his career, Hemsley brought laughter and joy to audiences, and he will be remembered as an actor who addressed serious issues while also bringing humor into people's homes every week.
