362:, disparaging and antagonistic mother-in-law to Louise, while appearing to be a sweet old lady to everyone else. Mother Jefferson is a stereotypical mother-in-law who thinks her daughter-in-law isn't good enough for George. She would frequently torment Louise by criticizing her cooking, her age or her overall character, but Louise frequently came back at her with a witty albeit sarcastic response. (On a couple of rare occasions, however, Mother Jefferson sides with Louise, when she takes offense at George's boorish or sexist behavior .) In the January 1976 episode "Mother Jefferson's Birthday", it is revealed that Olivia Jefferson was born in February 1901 and that she has a younger sister, Emma, who was born in 1906. On February 9, 1951, both sisters were in a church bingo game in which the prize was an electric blanket, but they quarreled over which card won the prize and didn't speak to each other for 25 years. After her husband was killed in an accident, Olivia supported her two sons by working as a domestic. A long-running gag had Mother Jefferson blissfully ignorant of how much alcohol she actually consumes, usually in the form of a
422:) is the Jeffersons' wisecracking maid. Her first appearance is in the pilot episode, when she was interviewed and hired as the Jeffersons' housekeeper. She is lazy and not especially good at her job, and she regularly bickers with George, who repeatedly complains about Florence's laziness and cooking, paying her very little (in one episode, he says her cooking tastes like dog food; she replies it should because she's "cooking for a chihuahua"). Several times he was on the verge of firing her, but Louise, who thinks of Florence as one of the family, forces him not to. Originally a
399:. At first, George often disapproved of Jenny loving Lionel merely because she is biracial, or as George called her, a "zebra". However, after George discovered Jenny was pregnant with his grandchild, he changed his ways and became much more accepting of her. In 1976, Jenny married Lionel, though they divorced in 1985 after nine years of marriage. She and Lionel have a daughter named Jessica, played by Erin Hollin and Leslie Hollin (seasons 6–8) and later by Ebonie Smith (seasons 10–11).
35:
243:
appearance on the parent show, Tom states that they had met "his" kind—black and white—and they always handled it. His daughter, Jenny Willis (who more resembles her mother in skin color), marries George's son, Lionel, in 1976. He develops a strong relationship with Jenny, but was never close to his "white" son, Allan Willis (
483:. He is known as a kind, gentle fellow, but George mostly finds him to be weird and annoying, frequently slamming the door in his face. A running gag involved George helping Bentley with his back spasms by walking on Bentley's back. Bentley often tells stories about his childhood in England and his bizarre family.
369:
Cully had been absent from the first 17 episodes of the third season because of a serious case of pneumonia caused by a collapsed lung. Upon recovering, she returned for a few episodes, noticeably thinner and more frail. She died early in the fourth season, and the writers decided to eliminate Mother
437:
In an early third-season episode, Florence becomes the
Jeffersons' full-time maid, taking Lionel's room after he marries Jenny and finds a place of his own. At first, George refused to allow Florence to move in, but she helped him escape a sham financial deal with a couple of con artists, and George
242:
and president of his publishing company, Pelham
Publishers. He lives a content life with his wife Helen. Tom is white and Helen is black, which often makes them the butt of George's insults and jokes. Tom and Helen, however, have both learned to ignore the bigotry of their neighbor. In their initial
315:
after Tom's father dies. Allan is left the
Fortune Warehouse in the will and the relationship between Tom and Allan becomes very cold because of his "happy-go-lucky" attitude. Allan is well known for his sharp rebuttals to George's insults and his well-rounded personality. After the 1978–79 season,
182:, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and vanilla". Helen often strikes back by calling George "shorty". In the fourth season, Helen works with Louise as volunteers at the Help Center, a social services facility, which opened in 1977. Helen and Tom have two children: Jennifer "Jenny" Willis (
258:
As the series went on (particularly after Lionel and Jenny married), George and Tom eventually became good friends, though George continued to make jokes about Tom's weight. Sherman
Hemsley felt that it would be insulting to continue the racially themed insults after the characters became friends.
298:
episode entitled "Jenny's Low" (aired on April 12, 1975), in which Allan returns from Europe, and is treated coldly by his sister. Jenny harbors jealousy of Allan as he turned out to be "white". They eventually reconcile. Beginning with the
560:(Ernest Harden Jr.) is George's young employee at Jefferson Cleaners. Marcus grew up in a rough neighborhood and steals a jacket from the store on his first day, blaming it on his station in life. However, he becomes a trusted worker.
262:
Tom is a caring person, but often dominated by his wife. He is known to be a horrible dancer, as indicated in a few episodes. He also reluctantly goes along with George's constant schemes, but generally prefers to be left out of them.
433:
woman (as Gibbs is in real life), Florence never kept a long relationship with men. In a second-season episode, Florence contemplates suicide but is talked out of it by George, who shows his humanity despite his gruff exterior.
370:
Jefferson's character rather than to replace her with a different actress. No special episode was created centering on her death, but it was briefly referenced in the second episode of the fifth season, "Homecoming (Part 1)".
520:) is the money-crazed doorman of the high-rise Colby East apartment complex. Although he appears to be a hard-working fellow with a decent attitude, he is obsessed with receiving tips.
532:) was supposedly a child that George and Louise has sponsored and sent money to for years. However, in their first visit with Jimmy, they realize he is an adult and a con man.
402:
At first, Jenny disliked her brother Allan when he came home after two years in Paris, mainly because she turned out "black" and he turned out "white", though they reconcile.
52:
590:) is George's occasional bodyguard, who was originally hired by George to protect him from a serial mugger and career criminal nicknamed "Larry The Loon" in Season 7.
792:
544:) owns a bar in the first-floor lobby of the Colby East apartment complex. He is usually talkative with his customers, especially the Jeffersons and the Willises.
840:
489:
Benedict left the series in late 1981 at the start of the eighth season of the sitcom. The character of
Bentley was written out, saying he went to live in the
575:) is George's store manager/employee at Jefferson Cleaners. He was born around 1938 and, though talented at managing the store, is occasionally dimwitted.
99:
395:) is the only daughter of Helen and Tom Willis, the younger of their two children. Jenny is an intelligent person, finishing college with her boyfriend,
71:
78:
320:. Allan was also chosen to be the godfather of Jenny's daughter Jessica, but when he became snowed in, Harry Bentley was chosen as the proxy.
85:
300:
631:
67:
193:
The character's marriage status also paralleled Roxie Roker's real life interracial marriage between 1962 and 1985 to white Sy
Kravitz.
486:
Bentley lives alone, but several times brings home a lady friend. Two of
Bentley's most-talked-about ladies are Daphne and Patricia.
716:
178:) is Louise's best friend and George's nemesis. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. George, opposed to
667:
447:, in which the character became the head of housekeeping for a large hotel. She reprised her role as Florence in 2019 for
92:
835:
812:
501:
449:
271:
201:
118:
493:
for two years. Benedict returned to the show in its final two seasons, when George becomes much friendlier to him.
766:
426:, Gibbs later became part of the core of the series as a regular character appearing in 207 of the 253 episodes.
295:
608:
56:
709:
17:
677:
294:) is the Willises' only son and older brother of Jenny. Andrew Rubin appears as this character in
702:
668:"The Jeffersons' Marla Gibbs Reprises Role of Florence in Surprise Live Appearance — Watch Video"
45:
363:
645:
636:
632:"Original Jeffersons cast member made surprise cameo on Live in Front of a Studio Audience"
609:"'The Jeffersons' Roxie Roker's Real-Life Interracial Marriage Was Nothing like Her TV One"
138:
8:
423:
287:
496:
312:
813:
Live in Front of a Studio
Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons
798:
572:
387:
359:
346:
307:, who joined the cast in a two-part episode of the season opener. Allan returns from
230:
170:
751:
746:
741:
473:
396:
382:
341:
196:
183:
775:
351:
726:
529:
480:
469:
350:
episode "Lionel's
Engagement," when she takes offense at being referred to as "
235:
225:
133:
316:
Hammer was fired from the show cast, and it was explained that Allan moved to
829:
641:
465:
355:
248:
179:
517:
490:
266:
175:
805:
587:
541:
476:
443:
419:
392:
165:
430:
358:, who thinks the term is a variation of "mommy." Mother Jefferson is a
337:
308:
304:
291:
244:
187:
317:
34:
694:
672:
239:
158:
252:
141:. An incomplete list of these characters appears below.
441:
Gibbs starred as
Florence in the failed spinoff series
59:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
366:, which she stated she drank "for the vitamins".
827:
841:Lists of American sitcom television characters
68:"List of The Jeffersons supporting characters"
710:
247:) because he never finished school and left
344:'s mother. Her first appearance was in the
717:
703:
552:
328:
119:Learn how and when to remove this message
472:next-door neighbor. Bentley works as a
14:
828:
629:
698:
665:
606:
547:
385:, except for her first appearance in
228:, except for his first appearance in
168:, except for her first appearance in
630:Lenker, Maureen Lee (May 22, 2019).
410:
57:adding citations to reliable sources
28:
323:
24:
724:
502:Live in Front of a Studio Audience
450:Live in Front of a Studio Audience
373:
272:Live in Front of a Studio Audience
202:Live in Front of a Studio Audience
25:
852:
666:Roots, Kimberly (May 22, 2019).
563:
456:
311:, while his parents return from
144:
33:
468:) is the Jeffersons’ eccentric
278:
149:
44:needs additional citations for
659:
623:
600:
499:portrayed Bentley in 2019 for
13:
1:
757:List of supporting characters
593:
508:
208:
391:, when she was portrayed by
199:portrayed Helen in 2019 for
174:, when she was portrayed by
7:
607:Rivas, Aby (May 31, 2019).
234:, when he was portrayed by
10:
857:
535:
269:portrayed Tom in 2019 for
836:The Jeffersons characters
785:
765:
734:
405:
303:, Allan was portrayed by
678:Penske Media Corporation
523:
578:
558:Marcus Garvey Henderson
553:Marcus Garvey Henderson
429:Despite being a decent
329:Mother Olivia Jefferson
296:the first season finale
238:as Louis Willis) is an
379:Jenny Willis-Jefferson
131:The television series
139:supporting characters
646:Meredith Corporation
637:Entertainment Weekly
186:) and Allan Willis (
53:improve this article
424:recurring character
288:Andrew Harold Rubin
190:and Andrew Rubin).
548:George's employees
497:Stephen Tobolowsky
823:
822:
799:All in the Family
676:. United States:
573:Vernon Washington
416:Florence Johnston
411:Florence Johnston
388:All in the Family
347:All in the Family
231:All in the Family
171:All in the Family
137:featured several
129:
128:
121:
103:
16:(Redirected from
848:
752:Lionel Jefferson
747:Louise Jefferson
742:George Jefferson
719:
712:
705:
696:
695:
689:
688:
686:
684:
663:
657:
656:
654:
652:
627:
621:
620:
618:
616:
604:
584:Hugo Mojoloweski
474:Russian-language
397:Lionel Jefferson
383:Berlinda Tolbert
334:Mother Jefferson
324:Jefferson family
197:Kerry Washington
184:Berlinda Tolbert
164:) (portrayed by
124:
117:
113:
110:
104:
102:
61:
37:
29:
21:
856:
855:
851:
850:
849:
847:
846:
845:
826:
825:
824:
819:
781:
776:The First Store
761:
730:
723:
693:
692:
682:
680:
664:
660:
650:
648:
628:
624:
614:
612:
605:
601:
596:
581:
566:
555:
550:
538:
526:
511:
459:
413:
408:
376:
374:Jenny Jefferson
340:) is Henry and
331:
326:
281:
255:for two years.
211:
152:
147:
125:
114:
108:
105:
62:
60:
50:
38:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
854:
844:
843:
838:
821:
820:
818:
817:
809:
802:
795:
789:
787:
783:
782:
780:
779:
771:
769:
763:
762:
760:
759:
754:
749:
744:
738:
736:
732:
731:
727:The Jeffersons
722:
721:
714:
707:
699:
691:
690:
658:
622:
598:
597:
595:
592:
580:
577:
565:
562:
554:
551:
549:
546:
537:
534:
530:Garrett Morris
525:
522:
510:
507:
481:United Nations
458:
455:
438:was grateful.
412:
409:
407:
404:
381:(portrayed by
375:
372:
336:(portrayed by
330:
327:
325:
322:
301:1978–79 season
280:
277:
251:and stayed in
236:Charles Aidman
226:Franklin Cover
224:(portrayed by
210:
207:
151:
148:
146:
143:
134:The Jeffersons
127:
126:
41:
39:
32:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
853:
842:
839:
837:
834:
833:
831:
815:
814:
810:
808:
807:
803:
801:
800:
796:
794:
791:
790:
788:
784:
777:
773:
772:
770:
768:
764:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
743:
740:
739:
737:
733:
729:
728:
720:
715:
713:
708:
706:
701:
700:
697:
679:
675:
674:
669:
662:
647:
643:
642:New York City
639:
638:
633:
626:
610:
603:
599:
591:
589:
585:
576:
574:
570:
569:Leroy Daniels
564:Leroy Daniels
561:
559:
545:
543:
533:
531:
521:
519:
515:
506:
504:
503:
498:
494:
492:
487:
484:
482:
478:
475:
471:
467:
466:Paul Benedict
463:
462:Harry Bentley
457:Harry Bentley
454:
452:
451:
446:
445:
439:
435:
432:
427:
425:
421:
417:
403:
400:
398:
394:
390:
389:
384:
380:
371:
367:
365:
361:
357:
356:Archie Bunker
353:
349:
348:
343:
339:
335:
321:
319:
314:
310:
306:
302:
297:
293:
289:
285:
276:
274:
273:
268:
264:
260:
256:
254:
250:
249:New York City
246:
241:
237:
233:
232:
227:
223:
219:
215:
206:
204:
203:
198:
194:
191:
189:
185:
181:
180:miscegenation
177:
173:
172:
167:
163:
160:
156:
145:Willis family
142:
140:
136:
135:
123:
120:
112:
101:
98:
94:
91:
87:
84:
80:
77:
73:
70: –
69:
65:
64:Find sources:
58:
54:
48:
47:
42:This article
40:
36:
31:
30:
27:
19:
811:
804:
797:
756:
725:
681:. Retrieved
671:
661:
649:. Retrieved
635:
625:
615:December 16,
613:. Retrieved
602:
583:
582:
568:
567:
557:
556:
539:
527:
518:Ned Wertimer
513:
512:
500:
495:
491:Soviet Union
488:
485:
461:
460:
448:
442:
440:
436:
428:
415:
414:
401:
386:
378:
377:
368:
345:
333:
332:
284:Allan Willis
283:
282:
279:Allan Willis
270:
267:Will Ferrell
265:
261:
257:
229:
221:
217:
213:
212:
200:
195:
192:
176:Kim Hamilton
169:
161:
155:Helen Willis
154:
153:
150:Helen Willis
132:
130:
115:
106:
96:
89:
82:
75:
63:
51:Please help
46:verification
43:
26:
18:Allan Willis
806:Checking In
588:Irwin Keyes
542:Danny Wells
477:interpreter
444:Checking In
420:Marla Gibbs
393:Lynne Moody
364:Bloody Mary
166:Roxie Roker
830:Categories
735:Characters
594:References
514:Ralph Hart
509:Ralph Hart
338:Zara Cully
309:New Mexico
305:Jay Hammer
292:Jay Hammer
245:Jay Hammer
209:Tom Willis
188:Jay Hammer
79:newspapers
611:. AmoMama
540:Charlie (
431:Christian
318:Minnesota
767:Episodes
313:Syracuse
109:May 2019
683:May 31,
651:May 31,
536:Charlie
528:Jimmy (
479:at the
470:English
162:Douglas
93:scholar
816:(2019)
793:Awards
673:TVLine
406:Others
342:George
240:author
222:Willis
214:Thomas
95:
88:
81:
74:
66:
786:Other
524:Jimmy
360:catty
354:" by
352:mammy
253:Paris
100:JSTOR
86:books
685:2019
653:2019
617:2020
579:Hugo
72:news
218:Tom
159:née
55:by
832::
670:.
644::
640:.
634:.
505:.
453:.
275:.
220:"
205:.
778:"
774:"
718:e
711:t
704:v
687:.
655:.
619:.
586:(
571:(
516:(
464:(
418:(
290:/
286:(
216:"
157:(
122:)
116:(
111:)
107:(
97:·
90:·
83:·
76:·
49:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
