Iconic, 5-Time Emmy Nominated Actress Marla Gibbs To Receive Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) - Five-time Emmy nominated actress Marla Gibbs, probably best known for her role as the sassy maid Florence Johnston on "The Jeffersons," will have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame unveiled Tuesday morning.

Norman Lear, the legendary television producer who developed "The Jeffersons," along with actress Tisha Campbell will join Gibbs in speaking at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony outside the El Capitan Entertainment Center on Hollywood Boulevard.

Gibbs and Campbell worked together in an episode a 1995 episode of the Fox comedy "Martin."

Born Margaret Theresa Bradley in Chicago on June 14, 1931, Gibbs was a divorced mother of three children who was working as a reservations clerk for United Airlines in Detroit when she was transferred to Southern California in the early 1970s and decided to pursue an acting career.

Gibbs initially studied at the Watts-based Mafundi Institute and Watts Writers Workshop and appeared in several plays in the Los Angeles area, including "Medea," "The Amen Corner" and "The Gingerbread Lady."

After minor roles in the films "Sweet Jesus, Preacherman" and "Black Belt Jones," she was cast for "The Jeffersons," which ran on CBS from 1975-85 and brought her five consecutive best supporting actress in a comedy series Emmy nominations from 1981-85.

Following the cancellation of "The Jeffersons," Gibbs starred in the 1985-90 NBC comedy "227" portraying a sharp-tongued housewife living in an apartment building in northeast Washington, D.C.

Gibbs' other television credits include recurring roles on the NBC daytime drama "Passions" and the 1998 ABC/UPN comedy "The Hughleys" and guest-starring roles on "NCIS," "The King of Queens" and "Touched by Angel."

In 2021, Gibbs has appeared on the CBS comedy "Young Sheldon" and the Disney+ girls' high school basketball series "Big Shot."

Other film credits include "The Visit," "El Camino" and "Stanley's Gig."

Gibbs sang and co-wrote the theme songs for "227" and "Checking In," "The Jeffersons" spinoff that ran for four episodes in 1981 where Johnston was the executive housekeeper at a New York City hotel. Gibbs released the CD "It's Never Too Late" in 2006.

Gibbs also operated a jazz supper club in South Los Angeles, Marla's Memory Lane, in the 1980s and 1990s and co-founded the Crossroads Theater and Acting school with her daughter Angela.

The actresses grandchildren and great-grandchildren witnessed the star being made and assisted on it, Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez told City News Service.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)