Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 490-492. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages . Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
Cast in the recurring role of Louise Jefferson on "All in the Family" (1968) by series creator Norman Lear who remembered her from a stage production of "The Amen Corner.".
Cousin of Dorothy Butts.
First African-American woman to win the Emmy award for "Best Actress in a Comedy" for her work on "The Jeffersons" (1975).
Had a daughter and two sons by her marriage to William "Sonny" Richmond, a housepainter. She gave up her career to raise her family but moved to Los Angeles with her children after her estranged husband drowned in 1960.
Her son Sanford K. Sanford and daughter Pamela Ruff appeared in her profile episode of TV's "Intimate Portrait" (1993) on the Lifetime cable TV network. Has another son named William Eric.
Joined the American Negro Theatre in Harlem following her graduation from high school. Also was a member of the theatre company The Star Players down the road.
Once performed comedy as a teen at the Apollo Theatre's amateur night.
Played the same character, Louise 'Weezy' Mills Jefferson, on four different TV series and one film: Jane Austen's Mafia! (1998), "The Jeffersons" (1975), "All in the Family" (1968), "Roseanne" (1988), and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990).
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was joined at the ceremony by about 300 excited fans, family members and friends, including "All in the Family" (1968) and "The Jeffersons" (1975) creator Norman Lear and Marla Gibbs, who played the Jeffersons' maid Florence. The star is at 7080 Hollywood Blvd.
The youngest of seven children and the only one to survive infancy.
Was over twenty years older than her "The Jeffersons" (1975) co-star Sherman Hemsley who played her husband on the series.