Actor Sherman Hemsley, made famous for his character George Jefferson in "The Jeffersons," has died.
Hemsley, 74, passed away at his home in El Paso, Texas, officials tell TMZ. It appears his death was due to natural causes.
Born in Philadelphia, Hemsley got his break in showbusiness in the early 1970s, making his Broadway debut in a production of the play "Purlie."
It was during his stage stint that he caught the eye of American TV writer and producer Norman Lear, who reached out to Hemsley and asked him to star as George Jefferson in new sitcom "All in the Family."
Hemsley was reluctant to quit the theatre and held off on the role for two years before taking Lear up on the standing offer.
Although Jefferson was just a secondary character on the show, Hemsley's comedic timing convinced Lear to develop a spin-off series titled "The Jeffersons" in 1975, allowing the actor to really shine on camera.
The program became one of Lear's most successful projects and remains the longest-running sitcom with a predominantly black cast in U.S. TV history, airing from 1975 to 1985.
Hemsley's other TV credits include 1980s show "Amen" and puppet series "Dinosaurs," while he also made guest appearances on Will Smith's TV hit "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
He also enjoyed a stint as a professional singer and released a single in 1989, titled "Ain't that A Kick in the Head."
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