Sherman Hemsley is Dead

Sherman Hemsley, the actor who played George Jefferson on "The Jeffersons," a 1970s sitcom that was one of the first to focus on a black family's move up the social ladder, was found dead at his home in El Paso, Texas on Tuesday. He's believed to have died of natural causes, however, an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. He was 74. He was also gay.



UPDATE, Aug 8: The El Paso Medical Examiner's Office has determined that Sherman suffered from "super vena cava syndrome." The syndrome was a result of lung cancer. The ME found a "mass" on the actor's lung. According to the National Cancer Institute, superior vena cava syndrome occurs when the superior vena cava -- one of the body's major veins -- is obstructed, most commonly because of a cancer or tumor. The superior vena cava is responsible for returning blood to the heart that comes from the upper part of the body.




source: Reuters