
Sherman Hemsley
Actor · 1938 – 2012 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 – July 24, 2012) was an American actor, best known for his roles as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen, and B.P. Richfield on the ABC series Dinosaurs. For his work on The Jeffersons, Hemsley was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. He also won an NAACP Image Award. Hemsley was born and raised in South Philadelphia by his mother, who worked in a lamp factory.[1] He did not meet his father until he was 14. He attended Barrat Middle School, Central High School for 9th grade and Bok Technical High School for 10th, when he dropped out of school and joined the United States Air Force, where he served for four years. On leaving the Air Force, he returned to Philadelphia, where he worked for the United States Postal Service during the day while attending the Academy of Dramatic Arts at night. He then moved to New York, continuing to work for the Post Office during the day while working as an actor at night. He starred as Gitlow in the early 1970s Broadway musical Purlie. While Hemsley was on Broadway with Purlie, Norman Lear called him in 1971 to play the recurring role of George Jefferson in his new sitcom, All in the Family. Hemsley was reluctant to leave his theatre role, but Lear told him that he would hold the role open for him. Hemsley joined the cast two years later. The characters of Hemsley and co-star Isabel Sanford were supporting occasional roles on All in the Family, but were given their own spin-off, The Jeffersons, two years after Hemsley made his debut on the sitcom. The Jeffersons proved to be one of Lear's most successful series, enjoying a run of 11 seasons through 1985. Hemsley was a shy and intensely private man, described by some as reclusive. He avoided the Hollywood limelight and little of his personal life was public knowledge beyond the facts that he never married and he had no children.[9] In 2003, however, Hemsley granted a rare video interview to the Archive of American Television. "It [playing George Jefferson] was hard for me. But he was the character. I had to do it." On July 24, 2012, Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas, at age 74. The cause of death was given as superior vena cava syndrome, a complication associated with lung and bronchial carcinomas. He had had a malignant mass on one of his lungs for which chemotherapy and radiation had been recommended, according to the El Paso County Texas Medical Examiner's report. CLR
Series24
TV7.4AnimationComedySick, twisted, politically incorrect and Freakin' Sweet animated series featuring the adventures of the dysfunctional Griffin family. Bumbling Peter and long-suffering Lois have three kids. Stewie (a brilliant but sadistic baby bent on killing his mother and taking over the world), Meg (the oldest, and is the most unpopular girl in town) and Chris (the middle kid, he's not very bright but has a passion for movies). The final member of the family is Brian - a talking dog and much more than a pet, he keeps Stewie in check whilst sipping Martinis and sorting through his own life issues.
Family Guy
1999 · 5.1K votes
TV6.9ComedyNewsA late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
Saturday Night Live
1975 · 527 votes
TV6.3DramaComedyPassengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or mysterious countries, decide to pass their vacation aboard the "Love Boat", where Gopher, Dr. Bricker, Isaac, Julie, and Captain Stubing try their best to please them, and sometimes help them fall in love. Things are not always so easy, but in the end, love wins.
The Love Boat
1977 · 199 votes
TV7.3ComedyFamilySitcom following a successful African-American couple, George and Louise “Weezyö Jefferson as they “move on up” from working-class Queens to a ritzy Manhattan apartment. A spin-off of All in the Family.
The Jeffersons
1975 · 130 votes
TV6.8ComedyFamilyA long-running dramedy centering on the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, and their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers.
Family Matters
1989 · 371 votes
TV5.3Action & AdventureComedyWhile attending a Hollywood premiere with a famous action star, a crazed fan pulls a gun—but her movie hunk turns into a coward, and it's Vallery who becomes the hero. Suddenly, she's thrown into a world of action and danger as owner of a Hollywood protection agency, Vallery Irons Protection (V.I.P.), taking risks to protect others at a price few are willing to pay.
V.I.P.
1998 · 70 votes
TV6.9Action & AdventureDramaA much more lavish version of the popular Superman television series which had first aired forty years earlier, Lois & Clark focused more on the Man of Steel's early adult years in Metropolis. With the unknowing help of Lois Lane, Clark Kent created Superman there in Metropolis after finding work at the world-famous Daily Planet newspaper, where he meets fellow reporter Lois Lane.
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993 · 516 votes
TV7.7Sci-Fi & FantasyDramaThis 1980s revival of the classic sci-fi series features a similar style to the original anthology series. Each episode tells a tale (sometimes two or three) rooted in horror or suspense, often with a surprising twist at the end. Episodes usually feature elements of drama and comedy.
The Twilight Zone
1985 · 264 votes
TV7.2Sci-Fi & FantasyAction & AdventureDuring an experiment gone bad, radiation turns a scientist into a raging green behemoth whenever he becomes agitated. Unable to control his transformations, David Banner searches for a cure as he crosses the country, fugitive-style, with a dogged tabloid reporter on his trail.
The Incredible Hulk
1977 · 514 votes
TV7.5ComedyDramaSassy sitcom centering on radio and television personality Martin Payne. Series focuses on his romantic relationship with girlfriend Gina, her best friend Pam and escapades with best friends Tommy and Cole.
Martin
1992 · 140 votes
TV7.9ComedyFamilyWill, a street-smart teenager, moves from the tough streets of West Philly to posh Bel-Air to live with his Uncle Philip, Aunt Vivian, his cousins — spoiled Hilary, preppy Carlton and young Ashley — and their sophisticated British butler, Geoffrey. Though Will’s antics and upbringing contrast greatly with the upper-class lifestyle of his extended relatives, he soon finds himself right at home as a loved part of the family.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990 · 2.5K votes
TV7.8Sci-Fi & FantasyComedyDinosaurs follows the life of a family of dinosaurs, living in a modern world. They have TV's, fridges, microwaves, and every modern convenience.
Dinosaurs
1991 · 1.1K votes
TV7.0Dinah's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started out the 70's with Dinah's Place which usually featured one guest and was more of a home oriented show about cooking, crafts and occasionally music. This format lasted until May of 1974. When the show came back in October of 1974 the format had changed drastically to a variety talk show which was called Dinah. and went on until 1981. This show was also known as "Dinah and Friends" during the summer of 1976.
Dinah!
1974 · 4 votes
TV7.8ComedyArchie Bunker, a working class bigot, constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
All in the Family
1971 · 187 votes
TV7.0ComedyFamilyTwins Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell were separated and adopted at birth. Fourteen years later, they encounter each other by chance at the mall. After the families meet, Tia's widowed father agrees to let Tamera and her single mother move in with them.
Sister, Sister
1994 · 134 votes
TV6.8ComedyFamilyThe Hughleys is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 22, 1998 to April 28, 2000 and on the UPN network from September 11, 2000 to May 20, 2002. It starred comedian D. L. Hughley as the main character, Darryl Hughley, and Elise Neal as Yvonne, his hard-working wife, who move their family from the inner city to suburban Los Angeles.
The Hughleys
1998 · 14 votes
TV6.3AnimationHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is an American anthology animated television series.
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995 · 11 votes
TV6.8ComedyJulia Sugarbaker, Mary Jo Shively, Charlene Frazier-Stillfield and Suzanne Sugarbaker are associates at their design firm, Sugarbaker and Associates. Julia is the owner and is very outspoken and strong-willed. Mary Jo is a divorced single-parent whom is just as strong-willed as Julia, but isn't as self-confident. Charlene is the naive and trusting farm girl from Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Suzanne is the self-centered ex-beauty queen whom has a number of wealthy ex-husbands.
Designing Women
1986 · 39 votes
- TV6.5Talk Show
Singer-actress Vicki Lawrence hosted this talk and entertainment show.
Vicki!
1992 · 2 votes
TV6.7ComedyFormer NBA player Mark Cooper becomes a dedicated teacher and basketball coach in Oakland after his playing career ends. When he's not dealing with his students and players, Mark spends time with his gorgeous female roommate and other friends.
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
1992 · 38 votes
TV7.2ComedyBrothers Shawn and Marlon are on the lookout for money and success, though the two are complete opposites. Shawn is responsible and conservative while Marlon is free-spirited and liberal. They are not immune to sibling rivalry, but frequently enjoy being each other's partner in crime.
The Wayans Bros.
1995 · 70 votes
TV5.4ComedyThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts is a NBC television special show hosted by entertainer Dean Martin from 1974 to 1984. For a series of 54 specials and shows, Martin would periodically "roast" a celebrity. These roasts were patterned after the roasts held at the New York Friars' Club in New York City. The format would have the celebrity guest seated at a banquet table, and one by one the guest of honor was affectionately chided or insulted about his career by his fellow celebrity friends. In 1973, The Dean Martin Show was declining in popularity. The final season of his variety show would be retooled into one of celebrity roasts, requiring less of Martin's involvement. For the 1973–1974 season, a new feature called “Man of the Week Celebrity Roast" was added to try to pick up the ratings. The roasts seemed to be popular among television audiences and are often marketed in post-issues as part of the official Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and not The Dean Martin Show. After The Dean Martin Show was cancelled in 1974, NBC drew up a contract with Martin to do several specials and do more roast specials. Starting with Bob Hope in 1974, the roast was taped in California and turned out to be a hit, leading to many other roasts to follow.
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973 · 10 votes
TV6.4ComedyCLUELESS is a television series spun off from the 1995 teen film of the same name. The series originally premiered on ABC on September 20, 1996 as a part of the TGIF lineup during its first season. The show then spent its last two seasons on UPN ending on May 25, 1999.
Clueless
1996 · 43 votes
TV6.8DramaCrimeBurke's Law, a revival of the 1960s cop television series of the same name, aired on CBS from 1994 to 1995. The series centers on Amos Burke, a senior Los Angeles police officer and millionaire, and his son, Peter, who is a detective under his command.
Burke's Law
1994 · 4 votes
Movies23
Movie5.3ComedyTen years after the first American Pie movie, three new hapless virgins discover the Bible hidden in the school library at East Great Falls High. Unfortunately for them, the book is ruined, and with incomplete advice, the Bible leads them on a hilarious journey to lose their virginity.
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
2009 · 1.9K votes
Movie5.4AdventureFamilyBefore he met and befriended the other ghouls at Applegate Manor, friendly ghost Casper meets young Chris Carson, a lonely kid who decides to teach Casper how to be a proper ghost.
Casper: A Spirited Beginning
1997 · 342 votes
Movie5.1FamilyComedyA former pro-wrestler is hired to be the bodyguard/nanny for a couple of bratty kids whose inventor father is being stalked by a rival.
Mr. Nanny
1993 · 207 votes
Movie6.2ComedyRomanceA student gets his senses enhanced by an experimental drug. But abuse is not an option.
Senseless
1998 · 416 votes
Movie5.5ComedyCrimeAfter growing up poor in Salmonella, Vincenzo Cortino installs himself as the preeminent, if bumbling, Mafia don of the New World. But now he must pass on power to one of his two sons: either level-headed veteran Anthony or vituperative loose cannon Joey.
Jane Austen's Mafia!
1998 · 225 votes
Movie6.0RomanceComedyDracula and Renfield relocate to '70s era New York in search of Cindy Sondheim, the reincarnation of Dracula's one true love, Mina Harker. "Trouble adjusting" is a wild understatement for the Count as he battles Cindy's psychiatrist, Jeffrey Rosenberg, a descendant of Van Helsing, who may be in love with Cindy too.
Love at First Bite
1979 · 116 votes
Movie5.5ActionComedyA chauffeur kidnaps his rich boss's dog to hold it for ransom, but when she accidentally gets the dog back, she thinks that it's the chauffeur who's been kidnapped.
Screwed
2000 · 113 votes
Movie5.4ComedyRomanceTwo pairs of best friends - Montel & Clyde and Brandy & Adina meet at the party, where Clyde makes Adina think he is very rich and gets her into bed the same evening. When Adina finds out that she's been fooled, she becomes Clyde's worst enemy. Meanwhile Montel and Brandy fall in love and plan to marry, and Adina and Clyde try to do everything to stop them.
Sprung
1997 · 21 votes
Movie5.4ComedyTV Movie"Police Academy"-style comedy set in a military school. Two errant high-school students are ordered by a judge to spend a year at a prestigious military academy, where one of the cadets finds out who is responsible for a spate of midnight thefts.
Combat Academy
1986 · 34 votes
Movie5.5ActionFamilyA boy is the only member of his family without superpowers, yet the world depends on him saving his family from computerized brainwashers. Will he realize that it doesn't take superpowers to be a hero in time to help them defeat the villains?
Up, Up, and Away
2000 · 55 votes
Movie5.0ComedyA group of varied misfits (including a former prostitute/stripper and a bumbler who can't see more than 6 inches in front of his face) enter a school to become flight attendants. Somehow, the group makes it through to the final test: a cross-country flight.
Stewardess School
1986 · 47 votes
Movie4.8ComedyDramaStandard camp shenanigans and romance amongst the counselors and the campers at a lake front summer camp.
Camp Cucamonga
1990 · 38 votes
MovieA prime-time special previewing NBC's 1989-90 Saturday morning lineup, hosted by the cast members of NBC's "Saved by the Bell."
Movie8.0FamilyIn Disneyland, the Wicked Queen has cast a spell over the seven dwarfs that makes them feel they're too old and decide to retire, so Dick Van Dyke tries to convince them to stay. The show includes many celebrities sharing their Snow White memories and features a new performance of the deleted song "You're Never Too Old to Be Young".
Golden Anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1987 · 1 votes
Movie4.0MusicDocumentaryA look back at the people, events, music, and trends of the 1970s.
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
1980 · 1 votes
Movie5.5ComedyA powerful gangster is murdered. However, All of his holdings were in his girlfriend's name. So she is charged and sent to a minimum-security prison, where all of the prisoners are filthy rich. There she meets and falls in love with an undercover FBI agent.
Club Fed
1990 · 6 votes
Movie2.8HorrorComedyTwo policeman are sent on a routine assignment to serve an eviction notice. It becomes anything but run-of-the-mill when they become involved in the ghostly happenings.
Ghost Fever
1987 · 14 votes
MovieComedyWhen an injury crushes Ritchie's dreams of playing Major League baseball, he is forced to join a dubious team of used car salesmen. With a drunk receptionist and a not-so-handy mechanic, you'll get more than you bargained for.
Clunkers
2015 · 1 votes
Movie5.0ComedyWhen two misfits set out on a journey to correct their cursed family's misfortunes, they encounter wacky surprises at every turn.
The Misery Brothers
1995 · 2 votes
MovieFamilyComedyHome of Angels
1994
Movie6.5DramaMusicPurlie is a musical based on Ossie Davis' 1961 play Purlie Victorious. In the early days of the civil rights movement, a Southern plantation owner holds his sharecroppers in virtual slavery. Purlie comes home as a preacher who will shake things up and bring freedom to his people. This 1981 television adaptation won a CableACE Award.
Purlie
1981 · 4 votes
- MovieComedy
Young Billy sneaks his grandfather out of the nursing home for one last Christmas. On their way home, they become targets of a New York City street gang, but must make it home in time for Christmas.
Movie5.4DramaFamilyWhen the family dog gets sick, the kids and their friends rally to earn the money to pay for the veterinarian.
For the Love of a Dog
2008 · 4 votes