Marla Gibbs

She used to work for United Airlines, and she continued working there even after she landed a part on "The Jeffersons" . She did not quit until the show became a hit.

Since leaving TV in 1990, Marla has been operating the Vision Theater Complex (which closed in 1997) and Marlas Memory Lane jazz supper club, both in Los Angeles.

Younger sister of Susie Garrett.

Graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1949.

High school classmate of Sam Cooke.

Married at age 13, she had three children by the time she was 20.

Honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Mother of Angela, Dorian and Joseph.

Her father, Douglas Bradley, passed away in 1947.

The second of three children.

As a young girl in the 1940s, she would frequently watch movies. Among her idols were : Bette Davis , Joan Crawford , Joan Fontaine , Clark Gable , Tyrone Power and Vivien Leigh.

Friends with: Shirley Jones , Bea Arthur , Florence Henderson , Betty White , Charlotte Rae , Esther Rolle , Gavin MacLeod , Ted Lange , Della Reese , Nichelle Nichols , Whitman Mayo , Norman Lear , Alaina Reed-Hall , Anna Maria Horsford , Ned Wertimer , Sheryl Lee Ralph , Roger E. Mosley , Billy Dee Williams , Lynn Hamilton , Lee Weaver , Isabel Sanford , Sherman Hemsley , Roxie Roker , Franklin Cover , Gary Coleman , Mickey Rooney , Lee Weaver , Beverly Garland , Robert Guillaume , Phylicia Rashad , Pat Sajak , Richard Dawson , Dick Clark , Casey Kasem , Ed McMahon , Joan Rivers , Ruby Dee , Maya Angelou , Robert Wagner Hal Williams , and Nancy Wilson.

Had a crush on William Marshall.

Best known by the public for her role as Florence Johnston on "The Jeffersons" and for her starring role as Mary Jenkins on "227" .

Remained good friends with Regina King and Jacke Harry , during and after "227" .

All of her children were born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.

A movie and musical buff.

Didnt start acting until she was 41.

After Norman Lear found out "The Jeffersons" was abruptly cancelled, Gibbs was finally free to star in her own series, "227" .

Her parents, Douglas Bradley was a mechanic and Ophelia Kemp worked at a grocery store, before working in a restaurant and later on, a minister.

Her older sister, Susie Garrett , died in 2002. Her great niece Cherie Johnson co-starred with Garrett in the popular 1980s sitcom, "Punky Brewster" .

Of German descent by her grandfather.

Has every episode of "Pryors Place" , on videotape. She made a guest-appearance on the show.

Suffered a small aneurysm, right at the same time, she had a stroke in 2006.

With the death of Sherman Hemsley , on July 24, 2012, she and Berlinda Tolbert are the two surviving original cast members of "The Jeffersons" .

Her parents got divorced when she was only 4.

Before "227" co-star, Regina King , played Gibbss TV daughter in both the play and the series, she was a childhood television heroine of Gibbs.

Was raised near the same city as: Hugh OBrian , Rock Hudson and Charlton Heston.

Was a best friend of the late Alaina Reed-Hall , who co-starred on "227" with her.

Before she was a successful actress and comedienne, she did everything from working at a bookbinding company to a mail clerk in the mailroom.

Starred in a Broadway play of "227" , produced by Christine Houston, which led to her starring, producing and writing in the series.

Changed her name from Margaret Bradley to Marla Gibbs, this was because her name was too long. She wanted to go with the ebb and flow of her newly, rechristened name.

Before she was a successful actress and comedienne, she used to work at a garment company.

Had briefly left her role on "The Jeffersons" , during the seventh season to star in the spin-off series that flopped. She returned to "The Jeffersons" after her own series got canceled.

Her favorite scenes on "The Jeffersons" were the Aunt Jemima episode where her characters boss asked her to play the proper maid, and the one where Billy Dee Williams s character finds her character and comes back.

Because of her busy work schedule, she had never seen a single episode of "All in the Family" , before being casted on "The Jeffersons" , which that show spun-off.

Composed the "227" theme song, "Theres No Place Like Home".

Her mother, Ophelia Kemp, died in 1967.

Jane Wyman was also said to be another one of her idols.

Her daughter, Angela Elayne Gibbs , was going to work with John Forsythe.

Made a guest appearance on "Wheel of Fortune" , where a contestant solved a puzzle on her.

Her "227" co-star, Jacke Harry , was one of the actresses to visit Alaina Reed-Hall in the hospital, just before her death. Reed played Gibbss best friend on "227" .

Mary Jenkins, her character from "227" , was based on her Florence Johnston character from "The Jeffersons" .

Had surgery for her broken foot in 2010.

Was evicted from her grandmothers house, when she was only 18. Her grandmother wouldnt allow her to keep the dog in the house.

Was inducted into The LaFemme Film Festival as Honorary Board Member in Los Angeles, California. [17 October 2010].

Is a Democrat.

Her jazz club closed in 1997.

From an early age, shes been a dog lover.

She got the role of Florence Johnston on "The Jeffersons" , because her agent wrote a letter to the Hollywood Reporter.

Played the same character, Florence Johnston, on two different series: "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "House of Payne" .

Enjoys cooking, praying, sewing, reading the Bible, movies, playing tennis, traveling, singing, listening to jazz music, spending time with her family and acting.

Used to be a spokesperson for Accent brand seasoning and Sears Department Stores in the 1980s.

Was a tomboy in high school.

Was reunited with her ex- "227" co-star, Regina King , on an episode of "Southland" . Gibbs played an unassuming grandmother who had been used by her granddaughters typical compassionate charm.

Attended the defunct Cortez W. Peters Business School in Chicago, Illinois.

Before she was a successful actress, she worked as a reservations agent on the telephone for United Airlines, from 1963 to 1975.

After her divorce, she moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1973, to become an actress.

Attended the Mafundi Institute in Los Angeles, California, where Roger E. Mosley was her acting coach.

Florence Johnston, her character from "The Jeffersons" , reminded her of both her grandmother and aunt, and the people who were around her.

Is an avid game show watcher.

Grandmother of Amil.

Had always adored Betty White s work.

Prior to her parents divorce, her mother moved to Detroit, Michigan, while young Marla stayed with her father and two sisters in Chicago, Illinois.

Her "227" character was born on June 14, as was Gibbs in real-life.

Her favorite episode of "227" was the one where Hal Williams s character was sick and was ringing the bell, and her character was tired of hearing it.

Like her best friend Charlotte Rae , Gibbs also wanted to be a serious actress, but she eventually wound up being a comedienne.

Is a health food enthusiast.

Childhood friends of Della Reese and Nichelle Nichols.

Was featured on Larry Manetti s talk show on the day of her 80th birthday in 2011, where Manetti told a story all about having lunch with her and Roger E. Mosley.

Attended the 80th birthday party of her childhood friend Della Reese on 19 August 2011.

Despite being a fan of dance, she cannot participate as a finalist on "Dancing with the Stars" , due to her broken foot.

Was named after her aunt Margaret.

After the death of her father, she lived with her grandfather.

She said in an interview, both she along with her ex- "227" co-star, Jacke Harry , did not feud during production, when it was all about people who wanted to create controversy between the two ladies, hence, Gibbs wasnt a fan of that.

Was reunited with ex- "227" co-star, Jacke Harry , to have a recurring role in the sitcom "The First Family" .

Is friends with the late Whitman Mayo , who had a recurring role on "227" .

Acting mentor and friend of Jacke Harry.

Her daughter, Angela Elayne Gibbs , along with Marla herself, both worked with Carroll OConnor on a separate episode of "In the Heat of the Night" . At that time, her daughter was married to Charles Mills , the series cinematographer.

Appeared on the front cover of Jet Magazine five times.

Became best friends with Sherman Hemsley from 1975 until his death in 2012.

Was honored at the Gospel Goes To Hollywood Awards. [22 February 2013].

Attended the 40th Anniversary Reunion of "The Waltons" .

Was one to sign the Hollywood Squares/March of Dimes Celebrity Scrapbook, a collection of more than 100 autographs from top celebrities that was auctioned on eBay to benefit the March of Dimes.

Before she became a successful actress, she worked as a receptionist in a hotel in Detroit.

Attended Northern High School in Detroit, Michigan.

Met Hal Williams on both episodes of "The Jeffersons" . Some eight years later, he would co-star with her on "227" , as her husband.

Was reunited with both ex- "227" co-stars, Hal Williams and Jacke Harry , on an episode of "The First Family" .

Spent most of her childhood between Chicago and Detroit.

Worked with longtime friend, Della Reese , on episodes of both series: "227" and "Touched by an Angel" .

Has presented Phylicia Rashad , a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, California. [17 February 2011].

Her "The Jeffersons" character was originally only supposed to be in 13 episodes, but she proved so popular that she stayed on as a regular.

Began her show "227" at age 54.

In her younger years, her parents ran a theater in a church.

She was last seen on Italian TV Show "Meteore"

(December 2003) Accepted "Funniest Woman of the Year" at The Commies on Comedy Central.

(August 2004) Recently seen as Eve Russells old Aunt Irma on "Passions" .

Between "The Jeffersons" , "Checking In" , and "227" , she had roles on television for 16 consecutive seasons.

Longtime friend of the late Ruby Dee. She got to meet Marla at her nightclub, before Marla would watch her at the play.

Longtime friend of the late Rosa Parks , who attended her funeral on 2 November 2005. A decade before her death, she attended the ceremony of Honoring Martin Luther King Jr., along with Gibbs, in 1995.

Alongside Norman Lloyd , William Daniels , Christopher Lee , Dick Van Dyke , Ernest Borgnine , Mickey Rooney , Betty White , Angela Lansbury , Adam West , Edward Asner , William Shatner , Larry Hagman , Florence Henderson , Shirley Jones and Alan Alda , Gibbs is one of the few actors in Hollywood who lived into their 80s and/or 90s without ever either retiring from acting or having stopped getting work.

Her favorite roles were those of Florence Johnston on "The Jeffersons" and Mary Jenkins on "227" .

Is a fan of the following shows: "Everybody Loves Raymond" , "Frasier" , "The Golden Girls" (which starred good friends Bea Arthur and Betty White ), "Scandal" , "Hot in Cleveland" and "Law & Order" .

Lives in Inglewood, California.

She along with her former "227" co-star, Jacke Harry , attended the funeral of Natalie Cole on January 11, 2016, when the singer passed away at the end of 2015.

Surrogate grandmother of Ian Alexander, Jr., Regina King s daughter.

She is most widely known to be a social butterfly.

[As to how hard it was for black actresses to find meaningful roles in,Hollywood, who honestly revealed the kind of roles that she like to,play]: The kind of roles I would be playing now would be such as,Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment (1983) . Challenging,reaches and stretches where you come out of one character into another.

[on becoming a producer in her own right, prior to becoming an actress]:,My role is being part of the decisions made. They feel that I have the,focus and that I know what project is. I am part of all the note,sessions. But we all have input - not just me.

First, you have to put the idea and the thought of what you want in the,universe, then you have to act on it and you have to act on it in,faith.

They stopped issuing unlimited passes to the employees. Now you have to,go space available and you get bumped, honey. When I get on a plane,these days, I go first class.

[Of her 2006 stroke and aneurysm]: I had a small aneurysm and a stroke,as a result of the surgery. Fortunately I can walk and talk and do all,those things. God has been really good to me.

[on the cancelation of "227" (1985) ]: 227 ended, we did five,seasons, of course, you have enough for the reruns and for syndication.

[If she needed to go back to "The Jeffersons" (1975) , just in,case if "Checking In" (1981) was not a ratings winner,fortunately, she did]: I have in my contract that if anything goes,wrong, I will be back. I made sure of that.

The more serious I am, the funnier the situation is. If you really deal,with truth, you get humor.

[In 1986]: I fell in love with my children as they got older. As they,got older, I related to them more and they related to me.

If you hold your hand closed nothing can get out, but nothing can get,in.

Science of mind teaches you how to realize how much control you have over your own life. It teaches you that we have the ability to change our lives at any point we choose.