Marla Gibbs

Marla Gibbs
Born	Margaret Theresa Bradley June 14, 1931 (1931-06-14) (age 80) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, comedienne, singer
Years active	1973–present
Religion	Christian
Spouse	Jordan Gibbs (1956-1973; divorced); 3 children

Marla Gibbs (born June 14, 1931) is an American television and film actress and singer. She is best remembered for playing Isabel Sanford's and Sherman Hemsley's sarcastic maid, Florence Johnston, on The Jeffersons and spinoff Checking In. She also starred as Mary Jenkins on the television series 227.^[1]

Career

Before the start of her acting career, Gibbs had worked as a reservations agent for United Airlines before relocating with her children from Detroit to Los Angeles. Soon afterwards, she joined PASLA (Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles) with her daughter, Angela, and studied at the Mafundi Institute and Watts Writers Workshop (both in Watts, California). Gibbs soon performed in several well-received productions including Medea, Amen Corner and The Gingerbread Lady at the Zodiac Theatre. After a few bit parts, Ms. Gibbs landed the plum role of Florence on The Jeffersons, where she started to gain international fame.

Gibbs has also appeared as guest star in several African American sitcoms, including, The Hughleys, Martin, Chappelle's Show, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She also has done voice-over work for the animated TV series, 101 Dalmatians. Gibbs also starred and sang in the movie Stanley's Gig. She performed the theme song "In the Memory of You", by writer/producer Frank Fitzpatrick, which will be released on the upcoming CD entitled, Scenes In Jazz. In 2004, she had a recurring role on the NBC daytime drama, Passions, as the foul-mouthed, and somewhat hateful "Aunt Irma Johnson".^{[citation needed]}

Gibbs owned a jazz club in South Central L.A. called "Marla's Memory Lane Jazz and Supper Club" from 1981 to 1999. She released a music CD, "It's Never Too Late", in May 2006. She co-wrote the theme song for 227 with songwriter Ray Colcord.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Gibbs was reportedly born Margaret Theresa Bradley in Chicago, Illinois at Cook County Hospital. She attended Wendell Phillips Academy High School on Chicago's South Side. She is divorced and has three adult children. Her older sister was the late Susie Garrett.

Selected filmography

• 2011: The Heart Specialist .... Ms. Overwood
• 2009: Devil's Land .... Judge Martha M. Levine
• 2009: The What Goes Around Short Film 2009 .... Ms. Lacey
• 2008: Lincoln Heights .... Hazel Roberson (1 episode, 2008)
• 2006: Ways of the Flesh .... Ms. Overwood
• 2006: The Ties That Bind .... Delores
• 2005: Love on Layaway (V) .... Narrator
• 2005: Cold Case .... Georgie - 2005 (1 episode, 2005)
• 2005: ER .... Cherise Barnes (1 episode, 2005)
• 2004: Listen Up! .... Jackie Widmer (1 episode, 2004)
• 2004: Passions .... Aunt Irma (recurring, 2004)
• 2002: Arli$$ (1 episode, 2002)
• 2002: The Rerun Show .... Dr. Beamish (1 episode, 2002)
• 2002: The Hughleys .... Hattie Mae Hughley (16 episodes, 1998–2002)
• 2002: The King of Queens .... Nana Louise (1 episode, 2002)
• 2001: Judging Amy .... Zella Van Exel (1 episode, 2001)
• 2001: The Brothers .... Mary West
• 2000: Touched by an Angel .... Millie (1 episode, 2000)
• 2000: Stanley's Gig .... Eleanor Whitney
• 2000: The Visit .... Lois Waters
• 1999: Dawson's Creek .... Mrs. Fran Boyd (1 episode, 1999)
• 1999: Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1 episode, 1999)
• 1999: Lost & Found .... Enid
• 1999: Foolish .... Odetta
• 1999: Martial Law .... Delores Samuels (2 episodes, 1999)
• 1998: Border to Border .... Dela
• 1998: 101 Dalmatians: The Series .... Duchess (8 episodes, 1997–1998)
• 1996: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air .... Florence Johnston (1 episode, 1996)
• 1995: Martin .... Miss Minnie (1 episode, 1995)
• 1995: Burke's Law (1 episode, 1995)
• 1994: Lily in Winter (TV) .... Maize Covington
• 1993: Empty Nest .... Josephine Douglas (1 episode, 1993)
• 1993: In the Heat of the Night .... Lilly Baker (1 episode, 1993)
• 1993: The Meteor Man .... Mrs. Reed, Jeff's Mother
• 1993: A Different World .... Principal Shaw (1 episode, 1993)
• 1991: Up Against the Wall .... Louise Bradley
• 1990: Menu for Murder .... Marty Hallard
• 1985: 227 .... Mary Jenkins (115 episodes, 1985–1990)
• 1985: The Jeffersons .... Florence Johnston (207 episodes, 1975–1985)
• 1984: Pryor's Place .... Miss Stern (3 episodes, 1984)
• 1981: The Love Boat .... Janet Dalton (1 episode, 1981)
• 1981: Checking In .... Florence Johnston (4 episodes, 1981)
• 1976: Arthur Hailey's the Moneychangers TV mini-series .... Mrs. Euphrates
• 1975: Barney Miller .... Mrs. McBee (1 episode, 1975)

References

1. ^ Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television

External links

• Marla Gibbs at the Internet Movie Database
• Marla Gibbs interview from Archive of American Television (July 27, 2006)

Persondata
Name	Gibbs, Marla
Alternative names	Bradley, Margaret Theresa
Short description	Actress, singer
Date of birth	June 14, 1931
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death