Berlinda Tolbert
| Berlinda Tolbert | |
|---|---|
Berlinda Tolbert in 1975
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| Born |
November 4, 1949 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Television, film actress |
| Years active | 1974–2013 |
| Known for | The Jeffersons |
Berlinda Tolbert (born November 4, 1949) is an American actress best known for her role as Jenny Willis Jefferson on The Jeffersons.
Tolbert majored in theater at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Charlotte. She also studied drama in London.
In a 2013 interview, Tolbert stated, "I’ve only had one job in my entire life… professional actress." She got her first film part from Martin Scorcese in the early 1970s, when she was in acting school.
On The Jeffersons, Tolbert played Jenny, the daughter of interracial couple Tom and Helen Willis, friends of George and Louise Jefferson. During the series, Jenny became engaged to Lionel Jefferson, the son of George and Louise; they married and had a daughter. Tolbert played the role of Jenny for the run of the series, from 1975-1985.
Tolbert was born just one day after Mike Evans (1949–2006), the original actor who played her boyfriend/husband Lionel. They were also both born in North Carolina. As of December 2016[update], Tolbert, Marla Gibbs, Jay Hammer and Damon Evans (Lionel #2) are the last surviving members of The Jeffersons main cast.
In 1981, Tolbert competed for the CBS team on Battle of the Network Stars.
In 1983, Tolbert starred in the Maya Angelou play On A Southern Journey.
Following the cancellation of The Jeffersons in 1985, Tolbert appeared in films including Harlem Nights, Goodfellas, and Patriot Games, and television shows including ER, Six Feet Under, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
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