Berlinda Tolbert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Berlinda Tolbert
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Tolbert in 1975
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| Born | November 4, 1949 |
| Education | University of North Carolina School of the Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1973–2013 |
| Known for | Jenny Willis Jefferson – The Jeffersons |
| Spouse(s) |
Bob Reid
(m. 1979) |
Berlinda Tolbert (born November 4, 1949) is an American actress. She is famous for playing Jenny Willis Jefferson on the TV show The Jeffersons. This popular show was on CBS from 1975 to 1985.
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Early Life and Education
Berlinda Tolbert studied theater at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. This school is in Winston-Salem. She also went to drama school in London, England.
Acting Career
Berlinda Tolbert has always been an actress. She once said that being an actress was her only job ever. Her first movie role was in Mean Streets in 1973. She got this part from director Martin Scorsese while she was still in acting school.
Starring in The Jeffersons
On The Jeffersons, Berlinda Tolbert played Jenny Willis. Jenny was the daughter of Tom and Helen Willis. They were a couple from different backgrounds. Jenny got engaged to Lionel Jefferson, the son of George and Louise. Lionel's parents were also main characters on the show.
Jenny and Lionel first appeared on another show called "All In The Family". They later got married and had a daughter on The Jeffersons. Berlinda Tolbert played Jenny for the entire time the show was on, from 1975 to 1985.
It's interesting that Berlinda Tolbert was born just one day after Mike Evans. Mike Evans was the first actor to play Lionel, her boyfriend and husband on the show. Both actors were also born in North Carolina. As of 2023, Berlinda Tolbert is one of the last main actors from The Jeffersons who is still alive. Other surviving cast members include Marla Gibbs, Jay Hammer, and Damon Evans (who played Lionel after Mike Evans).
After The Jeffersons
After The Jeffersons ended in 1985, Berlinda Tolbert continued acting. She appeared in several movies. These included Harlem Nights, Goodfellas, and Patriot Games. She also acted in many TV shows. Some of these were ER, Six Feet Under, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 2011, she was in an independent movie called Last Ride on the Midwest Pacific.
Personal Life
Berlinda Tolbert married a journalist named Bob Reid in 1979.
