Marla Gibbs Old memories are being refreshed.
The 93-year-old actress sat down with ET to reflect on her long and successful career, which includes 39 movies and 72 television shows, including her time on the popular sitcom that ran for over a decade. Jefferson. They also spoke openly about working together delayed Norman LearRenowned Emmy-winning writer, producer, and TV producer Jefferson,
Jefferson aired on CBS from 1975-1985. Gibbs, who played bubbly maid Florence Johnston, said she was only supposed to do one episode of the comedy, but was soon called back and offered a contract.
“I was doing a play when I Jefferson So I always thought I would do that. Jefferson It was a one-time deal. I only had to do one show,” she said. “I was happy that I got a one-time opportunity. I got a chance to do this. So I was very happy and then they called me back to do the show for the fifth episode and then they called me back for the eighth episode and then they invited me back for the contract. So I was surprised.”
Gibbs still remembers the day he met Lear. Died at the age of 101 at his home in Los Angeles on December 5 Due to natural causesThe two first met in 1975, when Gibbs auditioned for him and said, “How come we won and no one told me?”
“That was one of Norman's favorite lines, so he always said I was his favorite,” Gibbs said.
Although there was no immediate connection between the two, Gibbs takes a deeper look at Lear,
“Norman is a great guy. I'm telling you. You don't forget Norman,” Gibbs said.
He remembered that one day she had told Lear that she wanted him to come and see her Jefferson,
“meanwhile, JeffersonHe said 'Norman's coming. Norman's coming? Who invited him?' 'Marla.'”
Although people were upset that Gibbs brought the boss into the job, he was needed to fix Willis' performance problem.
“He had a problem and I knew he could solve it because I've seen the way he handles things, and he came in and solved the problem,” Gibbs said.
When Gibbs first read the script Jeffersonwhich is the story of a black family living in a luxury apartment building on New York City's Upper East Side, she “had no idea” what a cultural impact the show and her character would have.
“Well, Jefferson“They represented the whole of society,” he said. “Isabel was people who volunteered. They had the health center. Roxy was in an interracial relationship. George represented people who were successful without the benefit of formal education. Florence represented all the people who worked.”
She added, “I had no idea Florence would be accepted in that way. It was wonderful and people would always remember my full name. They would say 'Marla Gibbs'. That was always surprising to me.”
Gibbs was initially concerned that children would not be able to connect with his character.
“When I first got Florence, I was worried what the other kids would think, not feel a connection to the maid, but they would always come up and say, ‘My aunt was a maid.’ They would always try to find someone in the family who was a maid,” she said. “So that was really nice.”
Even now, Jefferson Gibbs recalled a lovely fan meeting.
“I was doing an autograph show in Tennessee and an old white guy came up to take a picture and he almost started crying,” she said. “Then he came back later without his friends and he said, 'I used to watch the show with my grandma,' and then he started crying … I mean he was really crying and I said, wow, it means so much that they watched it with people in their family that aren't with them anymore. And they still have those feelings.”
He added, “Jefferson It was a show that everybody could watch with their kids, with their grandparents. Everybody could watch it.”
Gibbs reflects on her past, but is also excited for the future. Gibbs is set to release her memoir, “It's Never Too Late,” in the fall. In the memoir, she describes her rise from the South Side of Chicago to long-term success in Hollywood. She also has an online boutique called Marla's BoutiqueHe told that this shop is run by his grandson.
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