Sherman "George Jefferson" Hemsley Dies at 74...

The last time I saw Sherman Hemsley was in San Antonio at the San Antonio Museum of Arts at a reception for Martin Luther King III.  He took a picture with Ashton Thompson...during the reception.  He spent some time in San Antonio at the beginning of the year because he was the headliner of stage play "Ain't Misbehavin".

Reports: Actor Sherman Hemsley dies in El Paso

© July 24, 2012

EL PASO, Texas

Sherman Hemsley, the actor known for his portrayal of George Jefferson in the television show "The Jeffersons," has died, according to reports by KVIA.com and TMZ.com.

The 74-year-old actor reportedly died in his El Paso home today. KVIA, an El Paso television station, cited a friend of Hemsley's, and TMZ cited the El Paso police.

Hemsley was born and raised in Philadelphia, according to his biography on IMDB.com. He dropped out of school to join the Air Force and didn't consider pursuing an acting career until after he left the service.

He worked as a post office clerk during the day and actor during the night, the IMDB profile said. He joined The Negro Ensemble Company in New York City and made his professional acting debut in the Broadway play "Purlie." He toured with the show for a year.

While on tour in 1971, he received a call from producer/creator/writer Norman Lear offering him a role on the television show "All in the Family." He initially declined because of his role in "Purlie" but joined the cast two years later, IMDB said in the biography.

"The Jeffersons" was a spin-off of "All in the Family."

Hemsley later starred in the television show "Amen," playing deacon Ernest Frye.

For more details, return to PilotOnline.com later and read tomorrow's Virginian-Pilot.