First it was Sherman Hemsley, George Jefferson on the hit CBS sitcom “The Jeffersons” who died at 74 of natural causes. George was conceived as a black version of Archie Bunker from “All in the Family.” He was so popular he moved on up to the East Side.
Hemsley started off in the Negro Ensemble Company with the renowned actor and director Lloyd Richards (later dean of the Yale School of Drama) and performed with Vinnette Carroll’s Urban Arts Corps. He also appeared in Off Broadway productions. In one — a double bill of “Old Judge Mose Is Dead” and “Moon on a Rainbow Shawl” (1969). In the Broadway musical “Purlie,” Sherman Hemsley originated the role of Gitlow and toured with the show for a year. In the summer of 1972 he joined the ensemble of the successful Vinnette Carroll musical Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope. His most recent theatrical credit was the Fats Waller revue Ain’t Misbehavin’, which played the Josephine Theatre in San Antonio earlier this year.
Then Chad Everett who starred in the 1970s TV drama”Medical Center,” died at 75 from lung cancer. Everett’s acting career spanned more than 40 years. From “The Love Boat,” to “Murder, She Wrote,” “Melrose Place” and as a closeted gay police officer on “Cold Case,” and in 2009 the CW’s “Supernatural” and recently in the TV series “Castle.”
His film credits include “Mulholland Dr.,” “The Jigsaw Murders,” “The Firechasers” and director Gus Van Sant’s “Phycho.”
Everett is survived by his two daughters and six grandchildren. He was married 45 years to actress Shelby Grant — who appeared opposite him on “Medical Center” as a dying young woman — until her death last year.
Today saw the loss of Mexican-American Actress Lupe Ontiveros of Selena Fame.
All these talented actors will be missed.
Posted by Suzanna Bowling
on July 27, 2012. Filed under ENTERTAIMENT,Movies,NEWS,Obituaries,Theatre,TV.
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