( CNN ) -- Sherman Hemsley , who played the brash George Jefferson on `` All in the Family '' and `` The Jeffersons , '' died Tuesday at 74 , his booking agent said . Hemsley played Jefferson , a wisecracking owner of a dry cleaning business , on `` All In the Family '' from 1973 until 1975 , when the spinoff `` The Jeffersons '' began an 11-season run on CBS . Police in El Paso , Texas , where Hemsley lived , said there was no evidence of foul play . The cause of death will be determined through an autopsy , according to a news release . For the first few years on `` All in the Family , '' George Jefferson was not seen , only referred to by his wife , Louise , played by the late Isabel Sanford . Sherman Hemsley : A tribute to the great George Jefferson , and more . He told Archive of American Television in 2003 that he was told by the show 's producers that Jefferson should be `` pompous and feisty . '' Jefferson was every bit as big a bigot as his neighbor , Archie Bunker , played by Carroll O'Connor . Jefferson often referred to white people as `` honkies . '' He was also mean and condescending to his neighbors , his son Lionel and , when he moved to a ritzy apartment on Manhattan 's East Side , to his maid . But his character was still wildly popular with TV audiences . Overheard : So long , Sherman ; thanks for the laughs . `` By me loving Louise and Archie loving ( his wife ) Edith , you got away with being goofy and stupid , '' he said in 2003 . `` Because people said at least he loved something . '' It made Jefferson human , he said . One of his former co-stars said she was shocked to hear he had died . `` I thought Sherman was doing very well , '' said Marla Gibbs , who played feisty maid Florence Johnston on the `` The Jeffersons . '' `` I am saddened to hear that Sherman has made his transition . We were trying to come up with a new show that we could participate in , but of course , that can not happen now . `` Sherman was one of the most generous co-stars I have ever worked with . He happily set me up so that I could slam him , and I did the same for him . I shall miss him deeply . '' Hemsley said he drew on his experiences as a young man to develop Jefferson 's celebrated strut , which he did during filming as a joke . `` The way we walked in South Philly , you think you bad , '' he said . `` You got ta be important . `` We had done about seven or eight takes ( on the 'Jeffersons ' set ) ... and then we started clowning around , '' he said of the walk . `` That 's the one they kept . '' Hemsley also played Deacon Ernest Frye in the sitcom `` Amen . '' `` With the passing of Sherman Hemsley , the world loses one of its most unique comedic talents , and a lovely man , '' Norman Lear , the creator of `` All in the Family , '' said in a statement . In 2001 , Lear told Larry King that he discovered Hemsley doing the Broadway play `` Purlie . '' EW : A tribute to George Jefferson . He remembered him `` singing and dancing , and ( Hemsley ) was one of the most unique actors on the stage . '' In 1990 , he released an album , `` Ai n't That a Kick in the Head , '' and two years later another , entitled `` Dance . '' `` I had the pleasure of working with him on 'House of Payne , ' `` said producer and director Tyler Perry . `` He brought laughter and joy to millions . My childhood would have been a lot sadder without him . Thanks for the joy , thanks for your talent and thanks for your life . I celebrate it in all of its beauty . God bless you , Mr . Hemsley . '' Hemsley was nominated for an Emmy in 1985 but lost to Bill Cosby . People we 've lost in 2012 : The live they lived . CNN Entertainment contributed to this report .
NEW : Police say no evidence of foul play , waiting on autopsy for cause of death . Hemsley explained in 2003 that producers told him to be pompous , feisty . He was a big man with an ego the size of Texas and he wanted everyone to know it. Hemsley , who also starred on `` Amen , '' was 74 .