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Franklin Edward CoverAmerican actor
Date of Birth: 20.11.1928
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Franklin Edward Cover
Franklin Edward Cover was an American actor, best known for his role in the comedy series "The Jeffersons". He was born on November 20, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents Britty Cover and Franklin H. Cover. In 1951, Franklin graduated from Denison University in Ohio.
Acting Career
Franklin Cover's acting career began on the theatrical stage, where he performed in Shakespearean tragedies such as "Henry IV", "Macbeth", "Julius Caesar", and "Hamlet". He also appeared in the play "Forty Carats" by Jay Allen, which explored the relationship between an older woman and a younger man.
His television debut came in 1962 in the police series "Naked City", followed by roles in "Mirage", "The Jackie Gleason Show", and "N.Y.P.D.". In 1975, Franklin had a minor role in the horror film "The Stepford Wives". However, his breakthrough role was as Tom Willis in "The Jeffersons", a popular sitcom about an affluent African-American family belonging to the upper-middle class. Tom Willis was married to a black woman named Helen, played by Roxie Roker. The unconventional interracial couple lived in the same building with the main characters in upscale apartments. Standing at 6'4" (193cm), the kind-hearted Tom Willis often served as a contrast to the impulsive and rough businessman George Jefferson, brilliantly portrayed by Sherman Hemsley. The series aired from 1975 to 1985 and remained beloved by audiences. Tom Willis, played by Franklin Cover, also appeared in the spin-off of another popular sitcom, "All in the Family".
After the end of "The Jeffersons", Franklin Cover made guest appearances in various television series, including "ER", "Columbo", "Coach", and "Batman". In 1987, he played a supporting role in the drama film "Wall Street" alongside Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen. His last role was a guest appearance in the sitcom "Will & Grace" in 1999.
Personal Life and Legacy
Franklin Cover passed away on February 5, 2006, at the Actors' Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, due to pneumonia. He had been residing there since December 2005, recovering from a heart illness. He is survived by his wife Mary Bradford Stone, whom he married in 1965, and two adult children, daughter Susan and son Bradford, who also became an actor.
