Sherman Hemsley originated the role of Gitlow in the 1970 musical Purlie and toured with the show for a year. In the summer of 1972 he joined the ensemble of the successful Vinnette Carroll musical Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope.
His most recent theatrical credit was the Fats Waller revue Ain’t Misbehavin', which played the Josephine Theatre in San Antonio earlier this year.
Mr. Hemsley was best known for his role as George Jefferson on the popular comedy series "The Jeffersons."

Source: Playbill.com