Author
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Topic: George Jeffersons neighbor "Willis" dead at 77
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tangled up in BLUE Prowler Junkie Posts: 11086 From: New Castle, Ind Registered: DEC 2000
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posted 02-11-2006 09:55 AM
Actor Who Played 'Jeffersons' Neighbor Dies LOS ANGELES -- Franklin Cover, who became a familiar face as George and Louise Jefferson's white neighbor in the long-running TV sitcom "The Jeffersons," has died, his publicist said Thursday. He was 77. Cover died of pneumonia Sunday at the Lillian Booth Actor's Fund of America home in Englewood, N.J., said publicist Dale Olson. He had been living at the home since December 2005 while recuperating from a heart condition. In his nearly six decades in show business, Cover made numerous appearances on television shows, including "The Jackie Gleason Show," "All in the Family," "Who's the Boss?" "Will & Grace," "Living Single," "Mad About You" and "ER." He began his career on the stage, appearing in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and "Henry IV," and later in numerous Broadway productions, including "Any Wednesday," "Wild Honey and "Born Yesterday." But Cover was best known for his role as Tom Willis, who was in an interracial marriage with a black woman, in "The Jeffersons." He and his wife lived in the same "deluxe apartment building" that Sherman Hemsley moved his family to after making money in the dry-cleaning business. There, Cover often played a comic foil to Hemsley's blustering, opinionated black businessman. The show ran from 1975 to 1985. Cover also appeared in several films, including "The Great Gatsby," "The Stepford Wives" and "Wall Street." He is survived by his widow, Mary, a son and a daughter.
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Tom Santella Prowler Junkie Posts: 1484 From: Sandy Hook Ct. USA Registered: DEC 2002
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posted 02-11-2006 10:07 AM
George J. really heaped the abuse on Tom Willis, and his black wife, who I believe was the late mother of rocker Lenny Kravitz. ------------------ BackinBlack
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ALLEY CAT Prowler Junkie Posts: 36093 From: Mesa, Az Registered: JUL 2000
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posted 02-11-2006 10:38 AM
one of my favorite shows,,,,,,,,,,,,he was good.That situation wasn't all that common or accepted back in the old days,,,,,,,,,, now, quite normal.
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ed monahan Prowler Junkie Posts: 33595 From: Cincinnati, OH Registered: JUL 2000
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posted 02-11-2006 03:55 PM
Is that where the line "Whatchu talking about, Willis?" came from?
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Howard Prowler Junkie Posts: 1749 From: Valencia, CA, USA Registered: JAN 2005
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posted 02-11-2006 04:43 PM
That was a funny show. They are still playing reruns of the show every day. No Ed.
That phrase came from a Bruce Willis movie. This message has been edited by Howard on 02-11-2006 at 04:43 PM
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Bcoffman Gray Ghost Prowler Junkie Posts: 2418 From: Marshall,Mo.65340 Registered: DEC 2002
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posted 02-11-2006 05:29 PM
quote: Originally posted by Howard: That was a funny show. They are still playing reruns of the show every day. No Ed.
That phrase came from a Bruce Willis movie.
I thought that is was from that old movie: "Free Willis".
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Fat Pat Prowler Junkie Posts: 1242 From: Blue Springs, Missouri, USA Registered: DEC 2004
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posted 02-11-2006 07:18 PM
Gary Coleman is the one that is responsible for "whatchu talk'n 'bout Willis"
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Howard Prowler Junkie Posts: 1749 From: Valencia, CA, USA Registered: JAN 2005
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posted 02-11-2006 07:25 PM
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ed monahan Prowler Junkie Posts: 33595 From: Cincinnati, OH Registered: JUL 2000
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posted 02-11-2006 11:13 PM
Howard, I am just notifying you that I will start abusing you like I abuse A/C in the very near future. lol Thanks for the straight scoop Fat Pat.
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