The Jeffersons star Marla Gibbs has revealed she survived two near-fatal heath challenges.
Gibbs, 94, says in her new memoir, It’s Never Too Late, she battled back from a brain aneurysm and a stroke.
The book will be released on Feb. 24. In an excerpt published earlier today by People magazine, the actress reveals she suffered a brain aneurysm in 2006, followed by a stroke.
“Most people do not survive brain aneurysms, so I knew God still had plans for me. The more my strength and memory came back, the more trouble I got into. As I said before, I’m Gemini and my mind is always curious and always working … not always for the better,” she shares in the book.
Gibbs says when her health deteriorated, she asked God why her.
“I started questioning why it happened, especially when I still had so many plans for my life. I was getting ready to tour with my new jazz CD, but as they say, man makes plans and God laughs,” she shares. “This wasn’t funny though. I sank into a deep depression. I felt like maybe it was time for me to go. I didn’t want to get up. I didn’t want to do anything.”
She underwent physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and says the recovery process “took every ounce of physical, mental and spiritual strength” that she had.
“As I progressed, they had me do a light jog across the room,” she recalls. “My friend, Chrystal Carmichael from Detroit, came to help. The first day she got here, we went walking, and then I wanted to show her I could jog, and I fell and hit my head.”
She adds, “I complained to the rehab center, and the nurse said, ‘We didn’t tell you to jog at home!’”
Born in Chicago in 1931, Gibbs moved to Southern California and decided to pursue an acting career.
She landed a role as sassy maid Florence Johnston on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS for 11 seasons from 1975 to 1985.
Gibbs later starred in, developed and executive produced family sitcom 227. The Hollywood veteran is also a singer and performed and co-wrote the theme song for 227.
Among her other acting credits were roles on the daytime drama Passions, as well as The Hughleys, Touched by Angel, The Carmichael Show, Grey’s Anatomy, and Young Sheldon, according to her IMDb page.
She currently stars in the 2025 film Love the Skin You’re In, alongside Obba Babatundé, Sauda Johnson-McNeal, and
Wendy Raquel Robinson.
Her 227 co-star, Regina King, wrote the forward for Gibbs’ memoir. It’s Never Too Late will be released on February 24.
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