Marla Gibbs | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gibbs at theNAACP convention in 2000 | |
| Born | Margaret Theresa Bradley (1931-06-14)June 14, 1931 (age 94) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Known for | Florence Johnston –The Jeffersons Mary Jenkins –227 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Susie Garrett (sister) |
Marla Gibbs (bornMargaret Theresa Bradley; June 14, 1931)[1] is an American actress, singer, comedian, writer, and television producer whose career spans seven decades. She is known for her role asGeorge Jefferson's maid,Florence Johnston, on theCBS sitcomThe Jeffersons (1975–1985), for which she received five nominations for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Gibbs also starred on the show's spin-offChecking In (1981) and theNBC sitcom227 (1985–1990); she co-produced the latter series, played the lead role of Mary Jenkins, and sang the theme song.[2] Gibbs has won sevenNAACP Image Awards.[3] In later years, Gibbs played supporting roles in filmsThe Meteor Man (1993),Lost & Found (1999),The Visit (2000),The Brothers (2001),Madea's Witness Protection (2012),Grantham & Rose (2015), andLemon (2017) and on theShondaland-produced TV showsStation 19 (2018) andGrey's Anatomy (2022). In August 2021, Gibbs began playingOlivia Price on the NBC daytime dramaDays of Our Lives. She also played Sweet Gam Gam onThe Thundermans.
Marla Gibbs was born Margaret Theresa Bradley on June 14, 1931,[1] inChicago, Illinois, to Douglas Bradley, a self-taught mechanic, who also owned an ice company, and Ophelia (née Kemp) Birdie, a business woman who also owned a theater, a hotel, and a boarding home haberdashery. She attended Corpus Christi Elementary School.[4] After graduating from Corpus Christi in 1945, Gibbs attended St. Elizabeth High School, where she completed her freshman year and the first semester of her sophomore year. During the middle of her sophomore year, Gibbs transferred toWendell Phillips Academy High School. When she was 16, her father died and Gibbs was sent to live with her mother and stepfather in Detroit where she attendedNorthern High School for a semester during her junior year.[4] After months in Detroit, Gibbs returned to Chicago, re-enrolling at Phillips where she graduated in June 1949.[5][6]
In 1963, Gibbs relocated to Los Angeles to recuperate from an ulcer and began working as a reservations agent forUnited Airlines.[7] She first acted in local Los Angeles black theater before she got her first acting job in the early 1970s, in theblaxploitation filmsSweet Jesus,Preacher Man andBlack Belt Jones.
In 1975, she was cast in the CBS comedy seriesThe Jeffersons asFlorence Johnston, the family's maid. For the first two years with CBS, Gibbs continued working for United Airlines.[7][8] She would work at CBS during the day and then leave for her second job, where she worked the night shift.[7] When the series became an established success, CBS requested that she take a leave of absence from her United job.[8] Gibbs's performance on the series garnered her five nominations for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and one nomination for aGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
In 1981, she starred in a short-lived spin-off ofThe Jeffersons titledChecking In.[3] Gibbs responded in a 2015 interview on Broadway Showbiz, when asked if she'd based any of her characters on real-life people: "Yes, Florence was like my aunt and grandmother so I lived it. She came easy to me so I'm like Florence in giving smart answers, but I was also shy so I wouldn't have dared to say some of the things Florence said. I prefer to do whatever I can do at the moment. Whoever's hiring me at the moment...that's what I'm supposed to do. My favorite is drama. I'm doing that now (onScandal), but also still doing comedy onHot in Cleveland."[8]
In 1985, whenThe Jeffersons was cancelled after 11 seasons, Gibbs was the lead actress in the NBC sitcom227.227 was adapted from a play directed by Cambridge Players' then-president Ed Cambridge and was presented to NBC by Cambridge at Gibbs's Crossroads Theater in L.A. Cambridge served as artistic director. The series aired until 1990, producing 116 episodes. Much like her character, in the show, Gibbs also bestowed tough love to her co-star,Regina King, in real-life, who was also one of the two young, unfamiliar actresses at the time, the other beingJackée Harry. Gibbs said in a 2023 interview, about casting King as her daughter, "I fought for Regina [to be cast]. She had light brown hair and light eyes and she really looked like Hal." Marla said: "Regina went to regular school while she was on the show, and her friends would tell her the clothes her character wore made her look like a doofus. I had to tell her, ‘Now, look, do you want to be on TV? Or do you want to be with your friends, watching TV?’ You’re not dressing the way you want to dress; you’re dressing the way I make you dress. We can have an argument about it if you want to.’ She never forgot that," she also added: "Sometimes she’d come ask me if the clothes made her look too [young]. And I’d say, ‘I’ll tell you one thing: If you get too old, [the producers] are going to send your behind to college, and you won’t be on the show anymore! So be young as long as you can!"[9] Two decades later, Gibbs teamed with former227 co-star, Jackée Harry, inThe First Family, where Gibbs had a recurring role as Harry's mother Grandma Eddy. She worked with Harry again in the independent filmForbidden Woman.
Gibbs had a number of supporting film roles. She also guest starred onThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,Martin,Touched by an Angel (withDella Reese),Judging Amy,ER, andSouthland.[10] From 1998 - 2002 she had a recurring role onThe Hughleys. Gibbs appeared in the 2012Tyler Perry filmMadea's Witness Protection,[11] and starred in the 2012 independent filmGrantham & Rose.[12][13]
In 2015, Gibbs made two appearances in theShonda Rhimes' drama series,Scandal.[14] She later guest starred onHot in Cleveland,American Horror Story: Hotel andThis Is Us. In 2018, she was cast in a recurring role on the ABC drama seriesStation 19.[15] Gibbs also had starring roles in two television pilots:Old Soul alongsideEllen Burstyn andRita Moreno for NBC in 2014, and ABC'sJalen Vs. Everybody in 2017.[16] In film, she co-starred inLemon andPlease Stand By.
In 2019, Gibbs reprised her role as Florence onLive in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, less than a month before her 88th birthday.[17]
In 2021, Gibbs began appearing asOlivia Price in a recurring role onDays of Our Lives. That same year, for her contributions to the television industry, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[18]
In early 2025, Gibbs received the American Black Film Festival Legacy Award, alongsideGiancarlo Esposito, Aaron Pierre,Keke Palmer andAunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who was also among the honorees.[19]
From 1981 to 1999, Gibbs owned a jazz club inSouth Central L.A. called Marla's Memory Lane Jazz and Supper Club. She released a number of albums as a singer.[20][citation needed] In 1990, she moved her Crossroads Arts Academy and Theatre into the formerLeimert Theatre in Los Angeles.[21] Plans included the construction of a second stage, but the project ended in debt in June 1997.[21][22]
Gibbs was married to her high school sweetheart Jordan Gibbs from 1955 to 1973 and the couple had three children.[3]
On July 31, 2014, Gibbs attended theLeimert Park Village Book Fair in Los Angeles to pay tribute toMaya Angelou, who died on May 28, andRuby Dee, who died on June 11.[23] On January 11, 2016, Gibbs and former227 co-starJackée Harry attended the funeral ofGrammy Award-winning singerNatalie Cole at theWest Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles.[24] Gibbs co-starred opposite Cole in the television filmLily in Winter.[25]
On November 13, 2024, Gibbs appeared at the Wilmington Library in Wilmington, Delaware, forA Conversation With Marla Gibbs, where she reminisced an almost 50 year career in television, delivering stories about her private life, both on-screen and off, esp. that of her longtime friendship withSherman Hemsley, who died in July 2012, who also played her TV boss onThe Jeffersons.[26]
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Yours, Mine and Ours | Movie Patron | Uncredited |
| 1973 | Sweet Jesus, Preacherman | Beverly Solomon | |
| 1974 | Black Belt Jones | Betty | Uncredited |
| 1977 | Passing Through | Secretary | |
| 1991 | Up Against the Wall | Louise Bradley | |
| Last Breeze of Summer | Mary | Short film | |
| 1993 | The Meteor Man | Maxine Reed | |
| 1998 | Border to Border | Dela | |
| 1999 | Foolish | Odetta | |
| Lost & Found | Enid | ||
| 2000 | The Visit | Lois Waters | Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated —NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated —Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| Stanley's Gig | Eleanor Whitney | ||
| 2001 | The Brothers | Mary West | |
| 2005 | Love on Layaway | Narrator | |
| 2006 | The Ties That Bind | Delores | Short film |
| The Heart Specialist | Mrs. Underwood | ||
| 2009 | The What Goes Around | Ms. Lacey | Short film |
| Afro Ninja | Aunt Mary | ||
| Just Like Family | Mabel Jenkins | ||
| Devil's Land | Judge Martha M. Levine | ||
| 2010 | Sunnyview | Mrs. Harris | Short film |
| 2012 | Who Killed Soul Glow? | Nadine | |
| C'mon Man | Mrs. Crabtree | ||
| Madea's Witness Protection | Hattie | ||
| 2013 | Forbidden Woman | Mrs. Simmons | |
| 2014 | Grantham & Rose | Rose Price | |
| 2015 | The Man in 3B | Ms. Mamie | |
| 2016 | Second Sight | Nana | |
| 2017 | Lemon | Lilly | |
| The Last Revolutionary | Millie | ||
| You Can't Fight Christmas | Beverly Lawrence | ||
| 2018 | Please Stand By | Rose | |
| Love Jacked | |||
| 2019 | El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | Jean | |
| 2020 | She Ball | Mrs. Watts | |
| 2021 | Alone Together | Anna | Short film |
| 2022 | Bromates | Grandma Gladys | |
| Spirit Halloween: The Movie | Grandma G | ||
| 2023 | A Snowy Day in Oakland | Mrs. Keys |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1985 | The Jeffersons | Florence Johnston | Series regular, 207 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated —Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1981-1985) Nominated —Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1985) Nominated —TV Land Award for Favorite Made-for-TV Maid |
| 1975 | Barney Miller | Mrs. McBee | Episode: "Vigilante" |
| The Missing Are Deadly | Nurse | Television film | |
| 1976 | Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers | Beth Euphrates | Miniseries |
| 1979 | You Can't Take It with You | Rheba | Television film |
| 1981 | Checking In | Florence Johnston | Series regular, 4 episodes |
| The Love Boat | Janet Dalton | Episode: "The Incredible Hunk/Isaac, the Marriage Counselor/Jewels & Jim" | |
| 1983 | The Young Landlords | Tina Robinson | Television film |
| 1984 | Pryor's Place | Miss Stern | Episodes: "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb", "Sax Education" and "The Showoff" |
| 1985–1990 | 227 | Mary Jenkins | Series regular, 115 episodes |
| 1990 | Menu for Murder | Marty Hallard | Television film |
| 1993 | A Different World | Principal Shaw | Episode: "To Whit, with Love" |
| In the Heat of the Night | Lilly Baker | Episode: "A Baby Called Rocket" | |
| Empty Nest | Josephine Douglas | Episode: "Mother Dearest" | |
| 1994 | Lily in Winter | Maize Covington | Television film |
| 1995 | Dream On | Mrs. Perry | Episode: "Little Orphan Eddie" |
| Burke's Law | Jessica Wallace | Episode: "Who Killed the Hollywood Headshrinker?" | |
| Martin | Miss Minnie | Episode: "Housekeeper from Hell" Nominated —NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | |
| 1996 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Florence Johnston | Episode: "I, Done: Part 2" |
| 1997 | Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special | Old Mother Hubbard (voice) | Television film |
| 1997–1998 | 101 Dalmatians: The Series | Duchess (voice) | Supporting role, 9 episodes |
| 1997; 1999 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Old Mother Hubbard / Grandmother (voice) | Episodes: "Mother Goose" and "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" |
| 1998–2002 | The Hughleys | Hattie Mae Hughley | Recurring role, 16 episodes |
| 1999 | Martial Law | Dolores Parker / Dolores Samuels | Episodes: "Wild Life" and "Big Trouble" |
| Dawson's Creek | Mrs. Fran Boyd | Episode: "First Encounters of the Close Kind" | |
| 2000 | Touched by an Angel | Millie | Episode: "The Invitation" Nominated —NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series |
| 2001 | Judging Amy | Zella Van Exel | Episode: "Between the Wanting and the Getting" |
| 2002 | The King of Queens | Nana Louise | Episode: "Patrons Ain't" |
| The Rerun Show | Dr. Beamish | Episode: "The Facts of Life: Shoplifting/The Jeffersons: A Bedtime Story" | |
| Arli$$ | Mrs. Jones | Episode: "Profiles in Agenting" | |
| 2004 | Listen Up | Jackie Widmer | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
| 2004–2005 | Passions | Aunt Irma | Recurring role, 14 episodes Nominated —NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series |
| 2005 | ER | Cherise Barnes | Episode: "Only Connect" |
| Cold Case | Georgie | Episode: "Best Friends" | |
| 2008 | Lincoln Heights | Hazel Roberson | Episode: "The Day Before Tomorrow" |
| 2011 | House of Payne | Florence Johnston | Episode: "Curtis Jefferson" |
| 2012 | Southland | Ms. Miller | Episode: "Underwater" |
| 2012–2013 | The First Family | Grandma Eddy | Recurring role, 11 episodes |
| 2013 | Mr. Box Office | Florence Johnston | Episode: "The Golden Apple" |
| 2014 | Old Soul | Agnes | Television film |
| Charlie Murphy’s Law | Vera Jenkins | Episode: "Reunions" | |
| 2015 | Scandal | Rose | Episodes: "Where's the Black Lady?" and "The Testimony of Diego Muñoz" |
| Hot in Cleveland | Marcia | Episode: "Cleveland Calendar Girls" | |
| American Horror Story: Hotel | Cassie Royale | Episode: "She Wants Revenge" | |
| 2016 | Childrens Hospital | Flossie | Episode: "Doctor Beth" |
| Second Sight | Nana | Television film | |
| 2016–2017 | The Carmichael Show | Francis | Episodes: "The Funeral" and "Grandma Francis" |
| 2017 | Jalen Vs. Everybody | Grammie | Television film |
| This Is Us | Theresa | Episode: "I Call Marriage" | |
| Teachers | Mrs. Potts | Episode: "Snap Judgement" | |
| Trial & Error | Mrs. Kratt | Episodes: "A Wrench in the Case" and "A Hostile Jury" | |
| 2017–2018 | Black-ish | Mabel | Episodes: "I’m a Survivor" and "North Star" |
| 2018 | Beyond | Edna | Episode: "Six Feet Deep" |
| The Thundermans | Sweet Gam Gam | Episode: "Cookie Mistake" | |
| Station 19 | Edith | Episodes: "Invisible to Me", "Reignited" and "Let It Burn" | |
| Rel | Miss Jenkins | Episode: "Laundry Room" | |
| NCIS | Rosie Brown | Episode: "Beneath the Surface" | |
| 2019 | The Neighborhood | Miss Simpson | Episode: "Welcome to the Yard Sale" |
| Live in Front of a Studio Audience | Florence Johnston | Episode: “Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons” | |
| A Black Lady Sketch Show | Mary Jenkins | Episode: "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade" | |
| One Fine Christmas | Alice | Television film | |
| Bless This Mess | Belle | Episode: "Goose Glazing Time" | |
| 2020 | One Day at a Time | Mrs. Jones | Episode: "One Halloween at a Time"[27] |
| The Last O.G. | Mama Jarvis | Episode: "Ballin" | |
| 2021 | Young Sheldon | Doris | Episode: "The Geezer Bus and a New Model for Education" |
| Big Shot | Destiny’s Grandmother | Episode: "Kalm Korn" | |
| Partners in Rhyme | Anita | Episode: "Happy Holidays" | |
| 2021–2022 | Days of Our Lives | Olivia Price | Recurring role, 11 episodes |
| 2022–2024 | Grey's Anatomy | Joyce Ward | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Generation Gap | Herself | Episode: "Starring Garla Fibs" |
| 2023 | The Ms. Pat Show | Miss Pearl | Episode: "Twenty Seven Side Pieces" |
| History of the World, Part II | Ruby Seale | Episodes: "II", "V", "VIII" | |
| Unprisoned | Annie | Episode: "Nigrescense" | |
| 2024 | Not Dead Yet | Nana Sugar | Episode: "Not in the Game Yet" |
| 2025 | Will Trent | Ms. Pearl | Episode: "I'm a Guest Here" |
TheGolden Globe Awards are awards presented annually for excellence in both international film and television. Gibbs has earned 1 nomination.[28]
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
ThePrimetime Emmy Awards are presented annually in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming. Gibbs has earned 5 nominations.[29]
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series | The Jeffersons | Nominated |
| 1982 | Nominated | ||
| 1983 | Nominated | ||
| 1984 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 1985 | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
