Name
Shirley Hemphill
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1947-07-01
Deathday
1999-12-10 (52 years old)
Place of Birth
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
Biography
Shirley Ann Hemphill (July 1, 1947 – December 10, 1999) was an American stand-up comedian and actress best known for brassy waitress Shirley Wilson on the sitcom What's Happening!! (1976–79), a role she reprised in the sequel series What's Happening Now!! (1985–88).
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Hemphill moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. After working the Los Angeles comedy club circuit, her routine eventually attracted attention leading to her being cast in guest starring roles on television.
What's Happening!! was a modest hit for ABC, but production and cast problems caused the network to cancel the series in 1979. The following year, Hemphill was cast in her own sitcom, One in a Million. The series failed to attract an audience and was canceled in June 1980.
Following the cancellation of What's Happening Now!!, Hemphill returned to stand-up comedy and also made occasional appearances in films and television until her death in December 1999.
Known For
- 1977 The Richard Pryor Special? as Pushy Fan from Tour Group
- 1993 CB4 as 976-Sexy
- 1985 Dancing in the Wings as Shirley
- 1974 Good Times ( 1 episode )
- 1992 Martin ( 1 episode ) as Sister Claus
- 1976 What's Happening!! ( 60 episodes ) as Shirley Wilson
- 1995 The Wayans Bros. ( 1 episode ) as Coco
- 1977 The Richard Pryor Show ( 5 episodes )
- 1976 All's Fair ( 1 episode )
- 1980 One in a Million ( 13 episodes ) as Shirley Simmons
- 1961 The Mike Douglas Show ( 2 episodes ) as Self
- 1977 The Love Boat ( 1 episode ) as Charlene Grover
- 2012 Oddity Archive ( 1 episode ) as Shirley Wilson (archive footage)
- 1985 What's Happening Now!! ( 66 episodes ) as Shirley Wilson
