Marla Gibbs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marla Gibbs
Gibbs at the NAACP convention in 2000
Born	Margaret Theresa Bradley (1931-06-14) June 14, 1931 (age 94) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer comedian writer television producer
Years active	1973–present
Known for	Florence Johnston – The Jeffersons Mary Jenkins – 227
Spouse(s)	Jordan Gibbs ​ ​ (m. 1955; div. 1973)​
Children	3
Relatives	Susie Garrett (sister)

Marla Gibbs (born Margaret Bradley on June 14, 1931) is an American actress, singer, comedian, writer, and TV producer. Her amazing career has lasted for over 70 years!

She is best known for playing Florence Johnston, the sassy maid on the TV show The Jeffersons (1975–1985). For this role, she was nominated five times for a top acting award, the Primetime Emmy Award. Marla Gibbs also starred in and helped produce another popular TV show, 227 (1985–1990), where she played the main character, Mary Jenkins. She even sang the theme song for 227! She has won seven NAACP Image Awards for her work. In recent years, you might have seen her in shows like Station 19 (2018) and Grey's Anatomy (2022). In 2021, she received a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

About Marla Gibbs

Her Early Life and School Days

Marla Gibbs was born Margaret Theresa Bradley in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in the Bronzeville neighborhood with her two sisters. Her father, Douglas Bradley, owned an ice company. Her mother, Ophelia Birdie, was a businesswoman.

When Marla was five, her parents divorced. She stayed in Chicago with her father and grandmother. She went to Corpus Christi Elementary School and then St. Elizabeth High School. When she was 16, her father passed away. Marla then moved to Detroit, Michigan, to live with her mother. After a few months, she returned to Chicago and finished high school in 1949. Later, she went to Peters Business School in Detroit.

Her Acting Career Begins

In 1963, Marla Gibbs moved to Los Angeles. She started working as a reservations agent for United Airlines. She also began acting in local Black theaters. Her first movie roles were in the early 1970s in films like Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man and Black Belt Jones.

In 1975, Marla got a big break! She was cast as Florence Johnston, the maid, on the CBS comedy show The Jeffersons. For the first two years, she actually worked both jobs: acting during the day and working at United Airlines at night. When The Jeffersons became a huge hit, CBS asked her to focus only on acting. Her performance as Florence was so good that she was nominated five times for an Emmy Award.

In 1981, Marla starred in a short spin-off show from The Jeffersons called Checking In. She once said that her character Florence was inspired by her own aunt and grandmother.

Starring in 227 and More Roles

When The Jeffersons ended in 1985, Marla Gibbs became the lead actress in the NBC sitcom 227. She played Mary Jenkins and also helped produce the show. 227 ran for five years, with 116 episodes. Years later, Marla worked again with her 227 co-star Jackée Harry in the show The First Family.

Marla Gibbs has also appeared in many movies. She has guest-starred on popular TV shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, ER, and This Is Us. From 1998 to 2002, she had a regular role on The Hughleys.

Gibbs in 2012

In 2015, Marla appeared in the drama series Scandal. She also had roles in films like Lemon and Please Stand By. In 2019, she played Florence again in a special live TV show called Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons.

Dawnn Lewis and Marla Gibbs receiving honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Next Dimension University on August 17, 2019.

In 2021, Marla Gibbs joined the cast of the daytime drama Days of Our Lives as Olivia Price. That same year, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to honor her amazing career in television.

Other Projects

From 1981 to 1999, Marla Gibbs owned her own jazz club in Los Angeles called Marla's Memory Lane Jazz and Supper Club. She also released several music albums as a singer. In 1990, she opened her Crossroads Arts Academy and Theatre to help new artists.

Her Family Life

Marla Gibbs was married to her high school sweetheart, Jordan Gibbs, from 1955 to 1973. They have three children: Angela, Dorian, and Joseph. Her older sister, Susie Garrett, was also an actress, known for playing Betty Johnson on Punky Brewster. Marla's daughter, Angela E. Gibbs, is also an actress and has appeared in movies like Drumline.

Marla Gibbs often attends events to honor other famous people. In 2014, she paid tribute to writers Maya Angelou and Ruby Dee. In 2016, she attended the funeral of singer Natalie Cole.

Film and Television Roles

Marla Gibbs has had many roles in both movies and TV shows. Here are some of them:

Movies

Television Shows

Images for kids

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  Gibbs at the NAACP convention in 2000

See also

In Spanish: Marla Gibbs para niños