Marla Gibbs

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, five-time Emmy-nominated actress Marla Gibbs (born June 14, 1931) wears many hats: mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, actor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and icon. She starred as the witty, wisecracking maid Florence for eleven seasons on the CBS hit comedy, The Jeffersons, and as the loving matriarch Mary on the NBC hit series, 227, where she made history as the executive producer. At 93 years young, she remains active, doing cameos in television and film projects, including This Is Us, NCIS, Days of Our Lives, UnPrisoned, and Will Trent. An eight-time NAACP Image Award winner, Marla continues to receive numerous prestigious honors, including Essence Magazine’s Woman of the Year, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Black Filmmaker’s Foundation Award, and many more.

Throughout her life, she has poured her resources into the community in numerous ways: opening a jazz supper club, co-founding a performing arts school and theatre with her daughter, and supporting countless community organizations. Beyond acting, Marla’s first love is music. She co-wrote and sang the 227 theme song, and in recent years, released her own original jazz album, It’s Never Too Late—which is a motto she lives by.