LOS ANGELES(AP) 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.

This is just terrible. I always enjoyed him and his character of Tom Willis was so enjoyable. R.I.P. Tom. :(

That's horrible! He was one of my favorite characters on The Jeffersons!

R.I.P.

:( R.I.P. Franklin.

R.I.P Franklin. Not much of the cast left now, this is sad.

May He Rest In Peace
Another Good One Gone
But Will Never Be Forgotten :rip:

Oh how sad!!!!!!! What a nice man he was. He will be missed. God Bless his family and may he rest in peace.:(

We have a piece on this on our news blog for today: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog

R.I.P Franklin Cover.

R.I.P Franklin. Not much of the cast left now, this is sad.


I think it's only Sherman and the Kids-Lionel, Jenny, and Jessica. Actually I'm not sure about Ralph The Doorman, and Charlie the Bartender

that's to bad, RIP :(

I think Paul Benedict, who played Harry Bentley, is still alive.

RIP Mr. Cover.

R.I.P.


Whenever I think of Franklin Cover, I always think of that episode when Helen was singing "Ol' Tom Willis, he don't like cotton" because he got frustrated 'cause he couldn't get the cotton out the top of the aspirin bottle lol And of course, the episode where George taught him to act black lol

I think it's only Sherman and the Kids-Lionel, Jenny, and Jessica. Actually I'm not sure about Ralph The Doorman, and Charlie the Bartender

Marla Gibbs is still around. She's on "Passions" from time to time.

RIP

I think the only one on the show who could tolerate George was his mother. His main targets were Tom Willis and Florence. Unlike Willis, Florence always put him in his place. Willis was an easy target because he was the only white person who was a regular and his character came across as "not too bright". :lol:

R.I.P Franklin Cover :(

Rest inb Peace Frank

RIP Franklin.
:(

Tom Willis was one of my favorite 70s sitcom characters.
The Jeffersons wouldn't have been the same without Franklin Cover playing him.

I think the only one on the show who could tolerate George was his mother. His main targets were Tom Willis and Florence. Unlike Willis, Florence always put him in his place. Willis was an easy target because he was the only white person who was a regular and his character came across as "not too bright". :lol:
but by the time the show left the air, Tom and George were friends. They made a great team.

R.I.P Franklin Cover the show wouldn't have been as good and definitly wouldn't have lasted as long as it did if it weren't for him

the wilis are now back together in the final delux apartment in the sky i agree Franklin cover was 1 great actor he made the show what it is today instant classic u wil be greatly sadly missed.

Well since hearing this sad news, I will watch the Jeffersons episodes in my collection this weekend that included the Willises on the Storyline as my own tribute to Franklin Cover

Damn, I am sorry to hear that.

rip franklin your were a big part of all our childhoods and you sure made us laugh we will miss you

So sorry to hear about him. He was a real hoot as Willis. Rip...

God bless you, Mr Franklin Cover.
You have given me TONS of laughs through the years.

I hope that TV Land does a Tribute to Franklin Cover

:rip:

Rest In Peace Mr. Cover. You were a talented man.

Let's not look at it as a sad thing....He has made his transition to everlasting life....He, Helen, Mother Jefferson, and Weezy are having their own reunion at this time....