'The Jeffersons' Star Sherman Hemsley at 74

[CindyLouWho]

Sherman Hemsley, who played cantankerous dry cleaner George Jefferson on the hit sitcom "The Jeffersons," was found dead Tuesday in his El Paso, Texas, home, TMZ reports, He was 74.


No cause of death was disclosed.

Hemsley rose to fame on the sitcom "All in The Family," from which "The Jeffersons" was spun off in 1975. The series ran until 1985 on CBS, lasting 11 seasons and 253 episodes. As the patriarch of the series, Hemsley charmed audiences with his cocky strut and readiness with brash verbal zingers.

Overall, "The Jeffersons" racked up 11 Emmy nominations, with Hemsley receiving Best Actor nominations from 1981 to 1985. (His co-star, Isabel Sanford -- who played his wife Louise, affectionately referred to as "Weezy" -- would take home an Emmy in 1981. She died in 2004 at 86.)

Hemsley would go on to many other television roles, notably as Deacon Ernest Frye in the late-'80s sitcom "Amen."

Hemsley most recently reprised the role of George Jefferson on the TV series "House of Pain" last year.

[APACHESmooth]

What some may not know about the late Sherman Hemsley....

Music career
In 1989, Hemsley, who had previously been a jazz keyboardist, released a single titled "Ain't That a Kick in the Head"[4]. This was followed in 1992 with Dance, an album of rhythm and blues music[5]. In 1999, Hemsley collaborated with Yes lead singer Jon Anderson on an album titled Festival of Dreams which was not released.[6]

Hemsley was a fan of 1970s progressive rock bands including Yes, Gentle Giant, Gong, and Nektar.
Sherman Hemsley in his GROOVE

[brandon45]

Interesting. Never knew any of that about him. I grew up watching re-runs and loved the show!

[Squid]

Always disliked the show.  He always looked like Joe Cocker when he moved, which is not flattering.  He was always yelling, too.  Very unsavory.  I hope he Rests In Peace, though.