Upfront/What I know now
Marla Gibbs
Known for her role as the sarcastic maid Florence on the beloved sitcom The Jeffersons, the actor, 94, talks about her troubled childhood, working for United Airlines—and the joy of forgiving
Gibbs with her cat, George
Early spunk
My older sister was my grandmother’s favorite, and she gave her candy. But if I asked for something, she’d say there wasn’t any more. I knew there was more, so I’d say, “Yes, there is.” Then I’d get my butt whipped.
Humor as defense
I was knock-kneed and pigeon-toed, and the other kids would make fun of me, but I’d just laugh with them. So I wasn’t fun to make fun of. That ended it.
The Jeffersons
From Margaret to Marla
When I got the job on The Jeffersons, I thought about stars’ names like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. My given name, Margaret, seemed like too many syllables to me. Marla—I just like that name.
Keeping her day job after snagging The Jeffersons gig
It felt good, but you never know what’s going to happen with a TV show. I had been a reservation agent at United Airlines for more than 10 years at that point. I got unlimited passes, and I thought, I’m not giving them up. So I stayed at United a couple more years.
Lights, camera, action
Sherman Hemsley [who played George] was so quiet when I first did a reading with him, I thought, Boy, is that all that he’s going to give me? [Laughs] But when those cameras came on, a whole other man showed up.
Gibbs with daughter Angela
Wisdom from a mother of three
To be a parent, you remember what you didn’t have as a child, and you remember what you wanted. And then you try to give that to your children.
How to let go
God says forgive. When you do, it erases it. You’re free of it. When I left my abusive husband, I fixed the house up for his girlfriend, and I left everything I thought she would need. So I wasn’t doing anything to anybody. I was just taking myself out of there.
Work is life
As long as I’m working, I’m feeling like 30, so I hope I never stop. If I do, it’ll be time for me to make the transition. —As told to Paul Schrodt
Actor and author Marla Gibbs recently guest-starred with her daughter, Angela, in the NBC drama Chicago Med. Her memoir, It’s Never Too Late, will be available in bookstores and online on February 24.