Financial Struggles and Bankruptcy
Hemsley faced major financial difficulties during his life. In 1999, he filed for bankruptcy after struggling to pay off a $1 million loan and a tax bill of approximately $15,500 owed to the IRS. A significant part of his financial issues stemmed from his personal investment in the 1987 film Ghost Fever, which turned out to be a box office failure.
To manage his debts, he ended up selling the rights to his residuals to two individuals. However, Hemsley was eventually able to raise enough money to withdraw the bankruptcy filing and resolve his financial troubles. At the time of his death, he lived in a modest $150,000 home in El Paso, Texas.
Early Life and Education
Born on February 1, 1938, in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sherman Hemsley was raised by a single mother who worked in a lamp factory. He didn’t meet his father until he was 14. He attended Central High School and Bok Technical High School but left school after the tenth grade to join the United States Air Force, where he served for four years.
Rise to Television Fame
Hemsley rose to fame with his role as George Jefferson on All in the Family and later on its spinoff The Jeffersons, which ran for 11 seasons. He later starred in the NBC sitcom Amen as Deacon Ernest Frye, a role he played for five seasons from 1986 to 1991.
He also lent his voice to the character Bradley P. Richfield in the ABC sitcom Dinosaurs. Throughout the 1990s, Hemsley appeared in several popular shows, including:
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Designing Women
- Sister, Sister
- The Hughleys
Film Appearances
Though best known for television, Hemsley had roles in several films. His film debut came in 1979 with Love at First Bite. He later appeared in Stewardess School, Mr. Nanny, and Club Fed, among others. One of his final screen roles was in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love in 2009.
Private Life and Death
Unlike the outgoing characters he portrayed, Hemsley was known for being private and introverted. He never married and had no children. On July 24, 2012, he passed away at the age of 74 from cancer at his home in El Paso, Texas. His longtime friend and business partner, Flora Enchinton, was named the sole beneficiary of his estate.
Conclusion
Sherman Hemsley’s life reflected both the highs of television success and the challenges of financial hardship. Despite a modest net worth at the end of his life, his contribution to American television continues to be remembered fondly by fans across generations.
