Topic: Marla Gibbs

Marla Gibbs (born June 14, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois) is an African-American television and film actress.

She is best known for her role as Isabel Sanford's and Sherman Hemsley's sarcastic maid, Florence Johnston, on The Jeffersons and its short-lived spinoff, Checking In. She also starred as Mary Jenkins on the television series 227.

Before the start of the acting career, Gibbs had worked as an airline attendant before relocating with her children from Detroit to Los Angeles. Soon afterwards, she joined PASLA (Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles) with her daughter, Angela, and studied at the Mafundi Institute and Watts Writers Workshop (both in Watts, California). Ms. Gibbs soon performed in several well-received productions including Medea, Amen Corner and The Gingerbread Lady at the Zodiac Theatre. After a few bit parts, Ms. Gibbs landed the plum role of Florence on The Jeffersons, where she started to gain international notoriety.