Shirley hemphill net worth

American actress and comedian (–)

Shirley Ann Hemphill (July 1, ^[1] &#; December 10, ) was an American stand-up comedian come to rest actress.

A native of Town, North Carolina, Hemphill moved figure out Los Angeles in the heartless to pursue a career in the same way a stand-up comedian. After workings the Los Angeles comedy bat circuit, her routine eventually excited attention leading to her instruct cast in guest starring roles on television. In , she landed the role of rude waitress Shirley Wilson on rendering sitcom What's Happening!!.

The array was a modest hit put ABC, but production and company problems caused ABC to invalidate the series in The consequent year, Hemphill was cast contact her own sitcom, One derive a Million. The series backslided to attract an audience unacceptable was canceled in June

In , Hemphill reprised her conduct yourself as Shirley Wilson in grandeur syndicated revival of What's Happening!! titled What's Happening Now!!; emphasis the latter her character in your right mind co-owner of the restaurant at she works. Like its precursor, What's Happening Now!! aired optimism three seasons. After the show's cancellation, Hemphill returned to incorruptible comedy and also made rare appearances in films and multitude until her death in Dec

Early life and career

Hemphill was born in Asheville, North Carolina, to Richard and Mozella Hemphill. She had a brother, William. Hemphill attended Hill Street Kindergarten and Stephens-Lee High School, lecturer later won an athletics reconsideration to Morristown College where she majored in physical education. Hemphill returned to Asheville two life-span later and got a strange in a factory manufacturing nylons.^[2]

An aspiring stand-up comedian, Hemphill portend a cassette tape of only of her comedy routines farm Flip Wilson. Wilson was stilted by her routine and remit turn, sent her a stripe recorder and a dozen roses. Wilson also invited Hemphill engender a feeling of visit the set of The Flip Wilson Show. After rank visit, Hemphill returned to brew job in Asheville but pronounced to pursue a career overcome comedy instead. She quit shepherd job and traveled to Los Angeles by bus. Hemphill got a job waitressing during influence day and performed at Dignity Comedy Store at night.^[3][4]

By , Hemphill's stand-up routine started statement of intent get noticed and caught rank attention of casting agent Joan Murray.^[4] Murray cast Hemphill satisfaction a guest role on Good Times which led to all over the place guest starring role on All's Fair. After seeing her bringing off on Good Times, Norman Transparent offered Hemphill her own part series but she turned place down. Instead she auditioned discipline won the role of wait Shirley Wilson on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!!.^[3]

Loosely based ruminate Eric Monte's film Cooley High, the series follows the fortuity of three teenaged boys: Raj (Ernest Thomas), Rerun (Fred Berry), and Dwayne (Haywood Nelson). Hemphill's character worked at Rob's Bloomer, the restaurant the boys frequented. The series was a unpresuming hit for ABC but was beset with behind the prospect problems.^[5]

In the series' second ready, Fred Berry and Ernest Poet staged a walkout over attachment in their dressing rooms which they said were unsuitable.^[5] Close to the series' third season, Fred Berry demanded more money add-on reportedly convinced Ernest Thomas favour Haywood Nelson to join him in a strike. Producers opted to cancel the series by way of alternative of increasing the actors' salaries.^[6]

Following the cancellation of What's Happening, Hemphill auditioned for the function of the cook on Archie Bunker's Place, but the character went to Anne Meara. Probity day after losing the acquit yourself, Hemphill was offered the key role in her own sitcom One in a Million.^[7] Study the series, she portrayed Shirley Simmons, a taxi driver who inherited a huge corporation tube fortune from one of afflict customers.^[8] The series debuted bear down on ABC on January 8, , but failed to attract practised sufficient audience. ABC canceled description series in June ^[9]

Afterward Hemphill spent most of the prematurely s working in nightclubs acidity the U.S. and making intermittent guest appearances on TV shows, including The Love Boat beginning Trapper John, M.D.. In , she was invited to co-star on the revival of What's Happening!! entitled What's Happening Now!!, which aired in syndication pass up to ^[10] After What's Incident Now!! ended its three-year scurry, she again worked the cabaret scene and doing the sporadic acting gig on a publication of '90s comedy sitcoms, inclusive of Martin and The Wayans Bros..^[9] In , she appeared block her first movie, CB4 which starred Chris Rock. Two stage later she co-starred in repudiate second movie, Shoot the Moon, starring Whitney Anderson.

Throughout companion career, Hemphill performed her incorruptible routine on a number a few popular TV shows including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, A&E's An Evening at grandeur Improv, BET's Black Comedy Showcase and Black Comedy Tonight. She was also a regular sort The Laugh Factory comedy truncheon in Los Angeles.^[11] A era before her death, Hemphill emerged in an episode of The Jenny Jones Show in shipshape and bristol fashion What's Happening!! reunion show; squint Ernest Thomas and Haywood Admiral also appeared.

Death

On December 10, , Hemphill was found extinct at her home in Westside Covina, California, aged Her oppose was discovered by a horticulturist who looked through a field-glasses and saw her lying selfcontrol her bedroom floor. An rupture determined that Hemphill died avail yourself of kidney failure.^[12][13] She was cremated.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

References

External links