Sherman Hemsley

Actor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his one-hour interview, Sherman Hemsley (1938-2012) talks about his early career as a stage actor (while continuing to work a day job at the post office) and his rise to fame as "George Jefferson" on All in the Family. He speaks of his being cast for the role and the subsequent spin-off, The Jeffersons. Hemsley discusses other shows he performed in after All in the Family went off the air, including Amen and Goode Behavior, as well as his guest appearances on various shows such as Fantasy Island and The Sonny and Cher Show. Karen Herman conducted the interview on August 17, 2003 in Burbank, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"...once you find the rhythm of the character, for me anyway...the words just fall right into place."

People Talking About ...

Sherman Hemsley

Highlights

Sherman Hemsley on direction he was given for the "George Jefferson" character, and his first entrance on All in the Family

02:08

Sherman Hemsley on his first "starring" role -- in elementary school

00:41

Sherman Hemsley on Norman Lear making the rounds of Broadway shows to look for talent, and being spotted when he was part of the cast of the musical Purlie

01:04

Sherman Hemsley on how The Jeffersons worked as a sitcom

00:33

Sherman Hemsley on the creation of the "walk" for George Jefferson's character on The Jeffersons

02:04

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his upbringing in Philadelphia; on studying at the Philadelphia Academy of Dramatic Arts and becoming part of the Negro Ensemble Company; on playing "Gitlow" in Purlie on Broadway

On getting the part of "George Jefferson" after Norman Lear saw him in Purlie

On playing "George Jefferson" on All in the Family; on first meeting Isabel Sanford on the show, and his character's relationship with the rest of the cast

On developing the character of "George Jefferson"; the trademark "walk"

On Norman Lear, Isabel Sanford's "Weezy" character, and settling into The Jeffersons

Chapter 2

On audience reception of The Jeffersons; on his feelings about individual cast members

On favorite episodes of The Jeffersons; on the legacy of the show

On Amen

On Goode Behavior; on his appearance on variety shows, and shows like Fantasy Island and The Love Boat

On reflecting on his career, his old neighborhood, and career advice for actors

Chapter 3

On the theme of The Jeffersons; on good advice he got when starting out -- to "give it two years" in New York

Shows

All in the Family

Sherman Hemsley on his impressions of All in the Family as a viewer

00:34

Sherman Hemsley on direction he was given for the "George Jefferson" character, and his first entrance on All in the Family

02:51

Sherman Hemsley on the relationship between "George Jefferson" and "Archie Bunker"

00:53

Amen

Sherman Hemsley on how Amen came about, and how he got into the character of "Deacon Ernest Frye"

04:06

Sherman Hemsley on the religious consultants on the show, and his admiration for Ed. Weinberger

01:38

Donny & Marie

Sherman Hemsley on doing a musical number from 42nd Street on the show

00:20

Fantasy Island

Sherman Hemsley on his guest appearance as the world's strongest man

00:18

Goode Behavior

Sherman Hemsley on how the show "came together" only toward the end of its run

02:19

Jeffersons, The

Sherman Hemsley on the creation of the "walk" for the of character "George Jefferson" on The Jeffersons

01:36

Sherman Hemsley on how "George" changed over the course of The Jeffersons

01:21

Sherman Hemsley on walking on Paul Benedict's back during The Jeffersons

01:22

Sherman Hemsley on how Isabel Sanford's character's "Weezy" nickname came about on The Jeffersons, and his working relationship with her

01:04

Sherman Hemsley on audience reception of The Jeffersons

01:36

Sherman Hemsley on Zara Cully's "Mother Olivia Jefferson" character

00:56

Sherman Hemsley on some of his favorite episodes of The Jeffersons

01:29

Sherman Hemsley on how The Jeffersons functioned as a sitcom, and what "George" might be doing today

00:56

Sonny and Cher Show, The

Sherman Hemsley on playing an aging "Snow White" on the show

00:35

Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

Sherman Hemsley on the creation of the "walk" for George Jefferson's character on The Jeffersons

01:36

Sherman Hemsley on how Isabel Sanford's character's "Weezy" nickname came about on The Jeffersons

01:04

Comedy

Sherman Hemsley on his first entrance as "George Jefferson" on All in the Family

02:04

Sherman Hemsley on some of his favorite episodes of The Jeffersons

01:28

Professions

Actor

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Sherman Hemsley on his craft, and what was "rhythmically" different about the characters he played on The Jeffersons and Amen

01:49

Producers

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Sherman Hemsley on Norman Lear working with the actors during the cast "readings" on The Jeffersons

00:43

People

Carroll O'Connor

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Sherman Hemsley on the relationship between "George Jefferson" and "Archie Bunker"

00:53

Ed. Weinberger

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Sherman Hemsley on his admiration for Ed. Weinberger when he worked with him on Amen

00:27

Isabel Sanford

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Sherman Hemsley on meeting Isabel Sanford for the first time, and the moment their characters clicked

01:24

Sherman Hemsley on how Isabel Sanford's character's "Weezy" nickname came about on The Jeffersons, and his working relationship with her

01:04

Mike Evans

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Sherman Hemsley on "Lionel" from The Jeffersons

00:44

Norman Lear

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Sherman Hemsley on Norman Lear making the rounds of Broadway shows to look for talent, and being spotted when Hemsley was part of the cast of the musical Purlie

01:04

Sherman Hemsley on Norman Lear working with the actors during the cast "readings" on The Jeffersons

00:43

Paul Benedict

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Sherman Hemsley on walking on Paul Benedict's back during The Jeffersons

01:22

Zara Cully

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Sherman Hemsley on Cully's "Mother Olivia Jefferson" character

00:56

Sherman Hemsley on Zara Cully lying about her age to get on The Jeffersons, and feeling bad about it

00:48