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While Sherman Hemsley was a postal worker in Philadelphia, he also appeared in a local television show and children’s theatre. When he was transferred to the New York post office, he became a member of the Negro Ensemble Company. In the 1969, he was victorious in landing the role of Gitlow Judson on Broadway in Purlie. Four years later, while watching Hemsley in Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, Norman Lear discovered the man who would play George Jefferson for two years on All in the Family, followed by eleven years on The Jeffersons.
Hemsley enjoyed the benefits of being a 1970s TV star with appearances on Saturday Night Live (in its second season), The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Battle of the Network Stars.
After The Jeffersons ended, Hemsley landed another leading role as Deacon Ernest Frye on Amen. He was also on Dinosaurs, voicing D.P. Richfield, and the star of his own short-lived series, Goode Behavior.
He was the voice of the Magic Mirror in 1987’s Golden Anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and in 2003 was the voice of Mister Ed in the pilot of the remake. He has been a Hollywood Square, as well as a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and The Great American Celebrity Spelling Bee.
Recently, he has been popular on the reality-show circuit, appearing in Being Bobby Brown, living The Surreal Life, and headlining on Living in TV Land.
He also played George Jefferson in other shows, such as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and E/R (the 1984 sitcom), the movie Jane Austen’s Mafia!, and onstage in The Real Live Jeffersons. He and Isabel Sanford appeared together again on a series of Old Navy and Denny’s commercials.
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