# "Jeffersons" credits **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270 "2008-02-12T10:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/1 "2008-02-12T10:34:23Z")
Isabel Sanford gets top billing over Sherman Hemsley, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but anyone know why? Was she famous before the show? The first I saw either of them, that I can remember, was on “All in the Family”. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/2 "2008-02-12T13:22:10Z")
WAG, Isabel Sanford originated the role of Louise Jefferson. Sherman Hemsley didn’t originate the role of George. She therefore played her character longer than he played his. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/3 "2008-02-12T13:47:51Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] WAG, Isabel Sanford originated the role of Louise Jefferson. Sherman Hemsley didn’t originate the role of George. She therefore played her character longer than he played his. [/QUOTE] **Otto** , you nailed it in one. Along the same lines, Esther Rolle was spun off of Maude and was the top billing in “[Good Times](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070991/)”. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/4 "2008-02-12T14:02:48Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] WAG, Isabel Sanford originated the role of Louise Jefferson. Sherman Hemsley didn’t originate the role of George. She therefore played her character longer than he played his. [/QUOTE] Makes sense. Hemsley sure stole the show though. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/5 "2008-02-12T17:58:55Z")
Did Mike Evans (the original Lionel Jefferson) top Sherman in billing as well? He was the best known of the Jeffersons on “All in the Family”. BTW, Sherman Helmsley did appear (at least once) on “All in the Family”, I think right before the spin off. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/6 "2008-02-12T18:18:37Z")
[QUOTE=Si Amigo] Did Mike Evans (the original Lionel Jefferson) top Sherman in billing as well? He was the best known of the Jeffersons on “All in the Family”. [/QUOTE] Not having seen an episode of The Jeffersons for a while and assuming that IMDB’s episode count is correct, Mike Evans appeared in fewer than 40 episodes of the series. He would likely have been billed as a guest star rather than a series regular. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/7 "2008-02-12T19:06:41Z")
[QUOTE=Si Amigo] Did Mike Evans (the original Lionel Jefferson) top Sherman in billing as well? He was the best known of the Jeffersons on “All in the Family”. BTW, Sherman Helmsley did appear (at least once) on “All in the Family”, I think right before the spin off. [/QUOTE] The show was about the parents. George & Louise. Lionel just went over as part of the package and was even replaced at one point if I remember correctly. Jim ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/8 "2008-02-12T19:27:32Z")
[QUOTE=Si Amigo] Did Mike Evans (the original Lionel Jefferson) top Sherman in billing as well? He was the best known of the Jeffersons on “All in the Family”. BTW, Sherman Helmsley did appear (at least once) on “All in the Family”, I think right before the spin off. [/QUOTE] That is correct. Probably more than one. But he wasn’t the original George Jefferson. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/9 "2008-02-12T19:34:16Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] WAG, Isabel Sanford originated the role of Louise Jefferson. Sherman Hemsley didn’t originate the role of George. She therefore played her character longer than he played his. [/QUOTE] As I recall, Sherman Hemsley did indeed originate the character of George Jefferson. The actor who preceded him on “All in the family” was Mel Stewart, who played George’s brother, Henry. Hemsley was Norman Lear’s original choice for George, but was appearing in the Broadway play _Purlie_, and was unable to commit to AITF until 1973. Lear held the role open for him and wrote in the role of Henry Jefferson for Stewart until Hemsley was able to appear on the show. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/10 "2008-02-12T19:40:00Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] As I recall, Sherman Hemsley did indeed originate the character of George Jefferson. The actor who preceded him on “All in the family” was Mel Stewart, who played George’s brother, Henry. Hemsley was Norman Lear’s original choice for George, but was appearing in the Broadway play _Purlie_, and was unable to commit to AITF until 1973. Lear held the role open for him and wrote in the role of Henry Jefferson for Stewart until Hemsley was able to appear on the show. [/QUOTE] According to IMDb, this is correct. Every instance of “George Jefferson” on _AitF_ features Sherman Hemsley. The earlier statement about Isabel Sanford having the longer-established character is also correct: Louise first appeared in season 1, George in season 4. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/11 "2008-02-12T19:43:17Z")
I sit corrected. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/12 "2008-02-12T19:45:40Z")
Isabell Sanford was almost twenty years older than Sherman Hemsley and had a more established acting career. She’d had a lot of roles in TV and movies, whereas George Jefferson was Hemsley’s “big break.” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/13 "2008-02-12T19:48:38Z")
She could kick his ass. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/14 "2008-02-12T19:50:36Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] I sit corrected. [/QUOTE] 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/15 "2008-02-12T20:10:57Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] As I recall, Sherman Hemsley did indeed originate the character of George Jefferson. The actor who preceded him on “All in the family” was Mel Stewart, who played George’s brother, Henry. [/QUOTE] Although, in his first appearance, Henry did claim to be George - as George didn’t want to step in Archie’s house - the deception was revealed by the end of the episode. After which Henry coming over in George’s stead whenever there was a conflict between the Bunkers and Jeffersons (well, between Archie and George - Archie rarely caught on to Lionel’s baiting him, and Weezy and Edith both tried to keep peace) became a rather odd little gag until Hemsley’s Broadway gig ended and he was free to appear on the show. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/16 "2008-02-12T20:37:48Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] Isabell Sanford was almost twenty years older than Sherman Hemsley and had a more established acting career. She’d had a lot of roles in TV and movies, whereas George Jefferson was Hemsley’s “big break.” [/QUOTE] This, indeed, is part of how they decide billing. One of Sanford’s roles was, Tillie, the maid in _Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner_. Michael Evans left and come back to _The Jeffersons_ because of the success of _Good Times_ which he co-created; he was replaced by actor named – Michael Evans, during his hiatus. He died at age 57 of heart failure. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/17 "2008-02-12T20:41:56Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Not having seen an episode of The Jeffersons for a while and assuming that IMDB’s episode count is correct, Mike Evans appeared in fewer than 40 episodes of the series. He would likely have been billed as a guest star rather than a series regular. [/QUOTE] IIRC he was listed with the regular credits- his episode count is lower than it shoud be as another actor took over the role mid series for a while for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/18 "2008-02-12T21:00:33Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] Michael Evans left and come back to _The Jeffersons_ because of the success of _Good Times_ which he co-created; he was replaced by actor named – Michael Evans, during his hiatus. He died at age 57 of heart failure. [/QUOTE] Mike Evans was replaced by another Evans, but his first name was Damon. Same last name, different first. No relation. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/19 "2008-02-12T21:07:51Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] Mike Evans was replaced by another Evans, but his first name was Damon. Same last name, different first. No relation. [/QUOTE] Yes, you’re right. As soon as I walked away, I realized my error. Damon was actually an opera singer also. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeffersons-credits/437270/20 "2008-02-12T22:38:36Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] Yes, you’re right. As soon as I walked away, I realized my error. Damon was actually an opera singer also. [/QUOTE] He also played a young Alex Haley in the mini series _Roots: The Next Generations_.