Sherman Hemsley Deserved Better: The Truth About ‘The Jeffersons’ Star’s Legacy

Not enough has been written about Sherman Hemsley, the actor who brought us one of television’s most wonderful characters: The Jeffersons‘ George Jefferson, the greatest dry cleaner of all time. Sherman’s journey to stardom wasn’t a traditional one by any means; before becoming an actor, Sherman served in the Air Force and also worked for the Postal Service.  There is something truly special about actors who actually have lived a relatively normal life before discovering fame and fortune. In Hollywood, they seem more grounded and more real, which helps them to become more authentic in whatever role they play.

After turning in his mailbag for the very last time, Sherman doubled down on his dream, honing his skills in live theater and eventually landing roles on Broadway. But it was his role as George Jefferson, initially on All in the Family, that really launched his career.

Everett Collection

The Jefferson family on that show was just so much darn fun that it led to the spinoff that we all know and love. And just like All in the Family, The Jeffersons cleverly tackled important social issues like race, class, and prejudice, all while delivering side-splitting laughs.

At the heart of it all was George Jefferson, a proud and often hilarious businessman who “moved on up” to the East Side. Sherman’s portrayal of George was nothing short of masterful. He brought a sophisticated level of complexity to the character that made him both relatable and still larger than life. Whether it was George’s strut, his witty comebacks, or perhaps most importantly, his relationship with his wife Louise (played by Isabel Sanford), Sherman forever etched the character of George Jefferson into television history.

Despite its success, The Jeffersons was abruptly canceled after 11 seasons, leaving fans without a proper series finale. This decision, even decades later, remains a point of contention for many. It has been reported that Sherman said he found out about the show’s cancellation by reading about it in the newspaper. The lack of closure felt disrespectful to the cast, crew, and loyal viewers who had invested years into the show. It also denied the characters, especially George and Louise, the dignified sendoff that they truly deserved. Both Sherman and Isabel were heartbroken about how the series came to an end. Quite frankly, the producers and the network failed both of them and everyone involved with the show. They all deserved better.

Courtesy Everett Collection

Of course, Sherman’s talent extended far beyond The Jeffersons. He continued to shine in other roles, most notably as Deacon Ernest Frye in the sitcom Amen. Throughout the eighties, Sherman continued to showcase his versatility as an actor, proving that he could handle both comedic and dramatic roles with equal skill. For a time, Sherman was the most visible and successful black TV actor after Bill Cosby, whom he loved to antagonize whenever he could.

In a 2015 article in The Week, Sherman is quoted posthumously as having said this of The Cosby Show back in the eighties: “It’s a very well-executed show. Very professional. Of course, it’s not very funny. But it is professional.”

Sadly, while he was able to land many roles on popular TV shows, he was never able to truly make the transition to the motion picture screen. Sure, Sherman’s filmography lists more than a dozen movie roles, but most of them were low-budget B-movies, and none of them truly utilized his talents.

Back on the small screen, with the cancellation of Amen in 1991, Sherman accepted an offer to be a voice actor on the ABC television series Dinosaurs, where he played Bradley P. (or B.P.) Richfield, the boss of the main character, Earl. I also remember seeing him make a handful of appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

News of Sherman’s passing in July of 2012 came as a surprise to many due to the fact that he was just 74 years old. That said, his health had been declining because of a malignant mass that had been found in one of his lungs which had not been treated adequately. I don’t know if this was due to Sherman’s declining fortunes; but sadly, according to The Hollywood Reporter, whatever was left was fought over for the next few months while his body remained in a morgue. Interment finally happened months later. All I can say about that is, just like the cancellation of The Jeffersons, Sherman deserved better.