Marla Gibbs

Marla Gibbs (born Margaret Theresa Bradley; June 14, 1931) is an American actress, singer, comedian, writer, and television producer whose career spans seven decades. She is known for her role as George Jefferson's maid, Florence Johnston, on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons (1975–1985), for which she received five nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Gibbs also starred on the show's spin-off Checking In (1981) and the NBC sitcom 227 (1985–1990); she co-produced the latter series, played the lead role of Mary Jenkins, and sang the theme song. Gibbs has won seven NAACP Image Awards.

Early life and education Marla Gibbs was born Margaret Theresa Bradley on June 14, 1931, After months in Detroit, Gibbs returned to Chicago, re-enrolling at Phillips where she graduated in June 1949.

Career In 1963, Gibbs relocated to Los Angeles to recuperate from an ulcer and began working as a reservations agent for United Airlines. She first acted in local Los Angeles black theater before she got her first acting job in the early 1970s, in the blaxploitation films Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man and Black Belt Jones.

In 1975, she was cast in the CBS comedy series The Jeffersons as Florence Johnston, the family's maid. For the first two years with CBS, Gibbs continued working for United Airlines. She would work at CBS during the day and then leave for her second job, where she worked the night shift. Two decades later, Gibbs teamed with former 227 co-star Jackée Harry, in The First Family, where Gibbs had a recurring role as Grandma Eddy, the mother of Harry's character. She worked with Harry again in the independent film Forbidden Woman.

Gibbs had a number of supporting film roles. She also guest starred on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Touched by an Angel (with Della Reese), Judging Amy, ER, and Southland. From 1998 - 2002 she had a recurring role on The Hughleys. Gibbs appeared in the 2012 Tyler Perry film Madea's Witness Protection, and starred in the 2012 independent film Grantham & Rose.

In 2015, Gibbs made two appearances in the Shonda Rhimes' drama series, Scandal. She later guest starred on Hot in Cleveland, American Horror Story: Hotel and This Is Us. In 2018, she was cast in a recurring role on the ABC drama series Station 19. Gibbs also had starring roles in two television pilots: Old Soul alongside Ellen Burstyn and Rita Moreno for NBC in 2014, and ABC's Jalen Vs. Everybody in 2017. In film, she co-starred in Lemon and Please Stand By.

In 2019, Gibbs reprised her role as Florence on Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, less than a month before her 88th birthday.

In 2021, Gibbs began appearing as Olivia Price in a recurring role on Days of Our Lives. That same year, for her contributions to the television industry, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In early 2025, Gibbs received the American Black Film Festival Legacy Award, alongside Giancarlo Esposito, Aaron Pierre, Keke Palmer and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who was also among the honorees.

Other ventures From 1981 to 1999, Gibbs owned a jazz club in South Central L.A. called Marla's Memory Lane Jazz and Supper Club. She released a number of albums as a singer. In 1990, she moved her Crossroads Arts Academy and Theatre into the former Leimert Theatre in Los Angeles. Plans included the construction of a second stage, but the project ended in debt in June 1997.

Personal life Gibbs was married to her high school sweetheart Jordan Gibbs from 1955 to 1973 and the couple had three children.

On July 31, 2014, Gibbs attended the Leimert Park Village Book Fair in Los Angeles to pay tribute to Maya Angelou, who died on May 28, and Ruby Dee, who died on June 11. On January 11, 2016, Gibbs and former 227 co-star Jackée Harry attended the funeral of Grammy Award-winning singer Natalie Cole at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles. Gibbs co-starred opposite Cole in the television film Lily in Winter.

On November 13, 2024, Gibbs appeared at the Wilmington Library in Wilmington, Delaware, for A 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, especially that of her longtime friendship with Sherman Hemsley, who died in July 2012, who also played her TV boss on The Jeffersons.

Filmography Film +Key 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 ActressNominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureNominated — 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 AnnaShort film 2022 Bromates Grandma Gladys Spirit Halloween: The Movie Grandma G 2023 A Snowy Day in Oakland Mrs. Keys

Television Year Title Role Notes 1975–1985 The Jeffersons Florence Johnston Series regular, 207 episodesNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesNominated — 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 episodesNominated — 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" 2015Scandal 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" 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 LivesOlivia 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" UnprisonedAnnieEpisode: "Nigrescense" 2024Not Dead Yet Nana Sugar Episode: "Not in the Game Yet" 2025Will Trent Ms. Pearl Episode: "I'm a Guest Here" 2026 Chicago Med Ruth Episode: "Frost on Fire"

Awards and nominations

Golden Globe Awards

The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented annually for excellence in both international film and television. Gibbs has earned 1 nomination.

Year Category WorkResult 1985 Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television The Jeffersons

Primetime Emmy Awards

The Primetime Emmy Awards are presented annually in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming. Gibbs has earned 5 nominations.

Year Category WorkResult 1981 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series The Jeffersons 1982 1983 1984 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 1985