Franklin Cover (Tom Willis) passes away - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Madness · 02-10-2006, 02:18 AM

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.

Mr. Television · 02-10-2006, 02:27 AM

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

PrettyinPink55 · 02-10-2006, 02:52 AM

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

R.I.P.

Skywalker · 02-10-2006, 02:59 AM

R.I.P. Franklin.

comedyfreak · 02-10-2006, 06:15 AM

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

80s_Fan · 02-10-2006, 12:49 PM

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

Ireneparalegal · 02-10-2006, 12:55 PM

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

Pavan · 02-10-2006, 01:01 PM

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

TVFactFan · 02-10-2006, 01:24 PM

R.I.P Franklin Cover.

TVFactFan · 02-10-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

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

gilligan fanatic · 02-10-2006, 01:32 PM

that's to bad, RIP

ethelmaepotter · 02-10-2006, 01:32 PM

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

RIP Mr. Cover.

Dr. Jazz · 02-10-2006, 01:37 PM

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

Dr. Jazz · 02-10-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

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.

Ronn Harmon · 02-10-2006, 02:32 PM

RIP

02-10-2006, 02:18 AM	#1
Madness I call it the rocket Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Posts: 2,047	Franklin Cover (Tom Willis) passes away 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.

02-10-2006, 02:27 AM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	This is just terrible. I always enjoyed him and his character of Tom Willis was so enjoyable. R.I.P. Tom.
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02-10-2006, 02:52 AM	#3
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	That's horrible! He was one of my favorite characters on The Jeffersons! R.I.P.
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02-10-2006, 06:15 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	R.I.P Franklin. Not much of the cast left now, this is sad.
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02-10-2006, 12:49 PM	#6
80s_Fan Healthcare_Clerk Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 1,697	Rest In Peace May He Rest In Peace Another Good One Gone But Will Never Be Forgotten

02-10-2006, 02:59 AM	#4
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	R.I.P. Franklin.

02-10-2006, 12:55 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Oh how sad!!!!!!! What a nice man he was. He will be missed. God Bless his family and may he rest in peace.
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02-10-2006, 01:01 PM	#8
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	We have a piece on this on our news blog for today: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog
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02-10-2006, 01:24 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	R.I.P Franklin Cover.

02-10-2006, 01:32 PM	#11
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	that's to bad, RIP
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02-10-2006, 01:32 PM	#12
ethelmaepotter Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2005 Posts: 243	I think Paul Benedict, who played Harry Bentley, is still alive. RIP Mr. Cover.

02-10-2006, 01:37 PM	#13
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,093	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

02-10-2006, 02:32 PM	#15
Ronn Harmon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 05, 2005 Posts: 181	RIP