Husband and Wife Parallel With "The Jeffersons" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 12-10-2005, 08:29 PM

Isabel Sanford (born 8/29/1917) & Sherman Hemsley (born 2/1/1938) = Nearly 21-year age gap in real life.

Esther Rolle (born 11/8/1920) & John Amos (born 12/27/1939) = 19-year age gap in real life.

Does anybody else find this bizarre that these actors were matched as couples based on the gaps in their ages??

This pretty much slipped past me back in the seventies because I wasn't even a teenager yet and anyone over 18 was old to me. I just accepted it because it was TV. Truth to tell, I didn't take pick up on this until Isabel Sanford died and I took notice of the age gap between her and Sherman Hemsley. Truthfully, I still don't notice the age gap even today.

Now, they did try to make James look older by graying his hair a bit in his early appearances in the Maude episodes prior to Good Times. Then when GT began, all of a sudden, James had black hair!! Weird!!

To make matters weirder, John Amos is only eight years older than Jimmie Walker in real life! Damn, that James started young!!

Ireneparalegal · 12-10-2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Isabel Sanford (born 8/29/1917) & Sherman Hemsley (born 2/1/1938) = Nearly 21-year age gap in real life.

Esther Rolle (born 11/8/1920) & John Amos (born 12/27/1939) = 19-year age gap in real life.

Does anybody else find this bizarre that these actors were matched as couples based on the gaps in their ages??

This pretty much slipped past me back in the seventies because I wasn't even a teenager yet and anyone over 18 was old to me. I just accepted it because it was TV. Truth to tell, I didn't take pick up on this until Isabel Sanford died and I took notice of the age gap between her and Sherman Hemsley. Truthfully, I still don't notice the age gap even today.

Now, they did try to make James look older by graying his hair a bit in his early appearances in the Maude episodes prior to Good Times. Then when GT began, all of a sudden, James had black hair!! Weird!!

To make matters weirder, John Amos is only eight years older than Jimmie Walker in real life! Damn, that James started young!!

But Damn!!!! he is fiiiiiiiiine. John Amos that is.

Dr. Thong · 12-10-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

But Damn!!!! he is fiiiiiiiiine. John Amos that is.

Well, er, ah, um...I guess you're entitled to your opinion. Guys don't do it for me!!

Just joshing with ya, Irene!

Brian Damage · 12-10-2005, 08:57 PM

Good Pick ups! I, myself really can't tell the age difference between those four actors.

Brieannas21 · 12-11-2005, 02:06 AM

I've know about John and Esthers age diff, I didn't know about Sherman and Isabel. Demi is 16 years older then Ashton LOL. I don't think on camera you could tell that there was a big age difference, But so what if it were, they were great entertainers.

Janice · 12-13-2005, 12:48 AM

James was on Maude too? I didn't know that.

Those age differences are something and not noticeable whatsoever. I've always thought that most black people age better than white people.

pepperkane · 12-13-2005, 01:06 AM

I didn't know about the huge age difference. Clearly they were showing Stella long before Terry Mcmillian wrote the book lol. But you can't really tell and that shows how great these four were as actors. I personally always thought Isabel and Sherman were closer in age. But in all honest at times flo did look older than James. Also intersting how John played the tv dad of someone young enough to be his baby brother.

TVFactFan · 12-13-2005, 04:44 PM

I thought Sherman Hemsley was 55 during season 1 of the Jeffersons. So it was hard to tell. Well Mainly because of Sherman's receding hairline and gary hair. You can't tell me he didn;t look 55

comedyfreak · 12-14-2005, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Good Pick ups! I, myself really can't tell the age difference between those four actors.

Me either, it was good pairing at any rate. This isn't new really new, look at the age difference between Ethyl(Vivian Vance) and Fred(William Frawley).

TVFactFan · 12-14-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Me either, it was good pairing at any rate. This isn't new really new, look at the age difference between Ethyl(Vivian Vance) and Fred(William Frawley).

The pairing of John Evans and Esther Rolle was not a good one. It was always clear she was old enough to be his mother

Janice · 12-14-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

The pairing of John Evans and Esther Rolle was not a good one. It was always clear she was old enough to be his mother

Not to me. I was surprised to find out that she was older than him.

TVFactFan · 12-14-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Not to me. I was surprised to find out that she was older than him.

Come on Janice, lol You mean to tell mean u couldn;t tell Esther Rolle was 20 years older than John Amos? In certain eps it's so obvious. But that wasn;t the case on the Jeffersons since George had less hair, and more gray hair

Janice · 12-14-2005, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

Come on Janice, lol You mean to tell mean u couldn;t tell Esther Rolle was 20 years older than John Amos? In certain eps it's so obvious. But that wasn;t the case on the Jeffersons since George had less hair, and more gray hair

I'm being honest with you Solomon. Keep in mind that I've only seen a handful of episodes with John Amos. I never thought about it one way or the other. I didn't watch the episodes and think, "Wow, she's so much older than him".

Brieannas21 · 12-14-2005, 04:33 PM

John and Esther were a great pairing, they had great chemistry together. There's no rule that says you have to marry someone who's the same age as you.

TVFactFan · 12-14-2005, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

John and Esther were a great pairing, they had great chemistry together. There's no rule that says you have to marry someone who's the same age as you.

Well they should have done a better job of making John Amos look older

12-10-2005, 08:29 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,547	Husband and Wife Parallel With "The Jeffersons" Isabel Sanford (born 8/29/1917) & Sherman Hemsley (born 2/1/1938) = Nearly 21-year age gap in real life. Esther Rolle (born 11/8/1920) & John Amos (born 12/27/1939) = 19-year age gap in real life. Does anybody else find this bizarre that these actors were matched as couples based on the gaps in their ages?? This pretty much slipped past me back in the seventies because I wasn't even a teenager yet and anyone over 18 was old to me. I just accepted it because it was TV. Truth to tell, I didn't take pick up on this until Isabel Sanford died and I took notice of the age gap between her and Sherman Hemsley. Truthfully, I still don't notice the age gap even today. Now, they did try to make James look older by graying his hair a bit in his early appearances in the Maude episodes prior to Good Times. Then when GT began, all of a sudden, James had black hair!! Weird!! To make matters weirder, John Amos is only eight years older than Jimmie Walker in real life! Damn, that James started young!!
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12-10-2005, 08:57 PM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Good Pick ups! I, myself really can't tell the age difference between those four actors.
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12-13-2005, 01:06 AM	#7
pepperkane Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 17, 2003 Location: detroit,michigan Posts: 32	I didn't know about the huge age difference. Clearly they were showing Stella long before Terry Mcmillian wrote the book lol. But you can't really tell and that shows how great these four were as actors. I personally always thought Isabel and Sherman were closer in age. But in all honest at times flo did look older than James. Also intersting how John played the tv dad of someone young enough to be his baby brother.
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12-11-2005, 02:06 AM	#5
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I've know about John and Esthers age diff, I didn't know about Sherman and Isabel. Demi is 16 years older then Ashton LOL. I don't think on camera you could tell that there was a big age difference, But so what if it were, they were great entertainers.

12-13-2005, 12:48 AM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	James was on Maude too? I didn't know that. Those age differences are something and not noticeable whatsoever. I've always thought that most black people age better than white people.

12-13-2005, 04:44 PM	#8
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,154	I thought Sherman Hemsley was 55 during season 1 of the Jeffersons. So it was hard to tell. Well Mainly because of Sherman's receding hairline and gary hair. You can't tell me he didn;t look 55

12-14-2005, 04:33 PM	#14
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	John and Esther were a great pairing, they had great chemistry together. There's no rule that says you have to marry someone who's the same age as you.