Iconic TV Legend Marla Gibbs Shares Untold Stories from The Jeffersons and 227

November 14, 2024

Marla Gibbs Reflects on Decades in Television, Sharing Memories of The Jeffersons, 227, and Her Journey as a Pioneer in Black Entertainment

By Saquan Stimpson

On Wednesday, 93-year-old television icon Marla Gibbs appeared at the Wilmington Library in Wilmington, Delaware, for “A Conversation with Marla Gibbs.” Before a captivated audience, Gibbs reflected on her enduring career, sharing personal stories and insights about her life on and off screen.

The event was moderated by author and journalist Rhonda Crowder and included a special appearance by The Jeffersons cast member Ernest Harden Jr., known for his role as Marcus Henderson in Seasons 3 and 4. Together, they revisited the cultural impact of The Jeffersons and its unforgettable characters.

Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side, Gibbs made her way to Detroit in 1956, originally setting her sights on a singing career. With a love for jazz, Gibbs later opened her own club—Marla’s Memory Lane Jazz and Supper Club—on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Los Angeles, a move that blended her passion for music with a space for community engagement.

Known for her role as Florence Johnston, the wise-cracking maid on The Jeffersons, Gibbs shared memories of her dynamic on-screen relationship with the late Sherman Hemsley, who portrayed George Jefferson. She recalled a moment during rehearsal when Hemsley admitted he hadn’t memorized his lines. “I told him, ‘Your mind took a picture of it. Let’s go through the motions, say something that makes sense—and I’ll follow you,’” Gibbs said, smiling at the memory of their seamless improvisation.

Remarkably, Gibbs kept her job as a reservations agent for United Airlines during her early days on The Jeffersons. “I had already been with United for 10 years when I got the role,” she shared. Her job provided travel passes, which would be hard to give up. “This TV thing was new to me, so I wasn’t going to give up my job until I knew where it was going,” Gibbs joked, adding that one of the producers eventually had to confirm she was still employed by United.

After her success on The Jeffersons, Gibbs took on 227, a sitcom based on a 1978 stage play by Christine Houston. The show, set in a predominantly Black apartment building in Washington, D.C., provided a humorous and poignant portrayal of urban life. Gibbs not only starred in 227 but also served as a creative consultant, helping to cast a young Regina King in her first television role.

Gibbs recounted her advocacy for Jackée Harry, who won the role of the flirtatious Sandra Clark. Originally, Sheryl Lee Ralph had been considered for the part. “I knew Jackée was the one when I saw her read,” Gibbs explained. “She was Sandra.” The character became iconic, and Harry won an Emmy for her performance—the first for an African-American actress in a supporting role on a sitcom.

Wilmington Library Director Jamar Rahming closed the event by reading a proclamation from Delaware’s governor, honoring Gibbs’ contributions to television and Black representation in media. Audience members lined up for autographs and photos with Gibbs, who, at 93, shows no sign of slowing down.

Gibbs has upcoming projects, including a rumored collaboration with hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, who has previously praised her legacy, noting, “How come we honor Betty White but don’t honor Marla Gibbs?”

Over her career, Marla Gibbs has earned multiple NAACP Image Awards and was nominated five times for a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in The Jeffersons. Her influence and commitment to authentic Black storytelling continue to resonate, inspiring generations of actors and audiences alike.