Marla Gibbs helped unveil her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Tuesday afternoon during a ceremony that was briefly halted when the actress appeared to faint.
Gibbs, 90, had just started speaking when she became unsteady in the near-90 degree heat. Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell and Gibbs’ son rushed to her side and helped her to her seat.
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The ceremony was paused for about 30 minutes as paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived on the scene and evaluated the actress. A source told Urban Hollywood 411 Gibbs later spoke at the post-ceremony reception at APL Restaurant on Vine Street in Hollywood, and she was fine as she mingled with attendees.
Earlier on Hollywood Boulevard, Gibbs sat in a chair when her star was unveiled once the ceremony resumed.
“I want to give a special thanks to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for awarding me this star and allowing my great-grandchildren to help put it together,” she said in her acceptance speech before being overcome.
As she stood in front of the El Capitan Entertainment Centre, the iconic actress also praised her fans.
“Thank you to all of you who have been fans of The Jeffersons and 227,” she said. “We love you, and this is because you watched us that we were able to excel, and I’m able to be here today.”
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Tisha Campbell introduced the five-time Emmy-nominated actress as The Jeffersons co-creator Norman Lear sat nearby. Gibbs praised Lear, saying without him, “nobody would know my name.”
Regina King, who co-starred as a child on 227, was unable to attend. But several people thanked King during their speeches after she lobbied for Gibbs to receive a star.
Born in Chicago in 1931, Marla Gibbs moved to Southern California and decided to pursue an acting career. She studied at the Watts-based Mafundi Institute and Watts Writers Workshop and appeared in a string of plays.
She was cast as sassy maid Florence Johnston on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from 1975-85. Gibbs starred in, developed and executive produced 227. The Hollywood veteran is also a singer and performed and co-wrote the theme songs to 227 and Checking In.
Among her other television credits were recurring roles on the daytime drama Passions, The Hughleys, Touched by Angel, The Carmichael Show and more recently on the CBS comedy Young Sheldon, according to her IMDb page.
