Shirley Hemphill

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Shirley Ann Hemphill (July 1, 1947 - December 10, 1999) was born in Asheville, North Carolina. She was an American comedic actress best known for her role on the television sitcom What's Happening!!, playing Shirley Wilson, the waitress at Rob's Place, a fictitious restaurant that was one of the show's primary settings.

Following What's Happening!!, Shirley would go on to star in her own sitcom entitled One in a Million in which she played a cab driver who inherited a huge corporation and fortune from one of her customers. She would also go on to star in the revival of What's Happening!! entitled What's Happening Now!! from 1985 to 1988.

Hemphill died in December 1999 from kidney failure.She died at the age of 52.

[edit] Trivia

Rosie O'Donnell acknowledged her as the first comedienne she met doing stand-up comedy. O'Donnell said that Hemphill got O'Donnell a paying gig at the same place Hemphill was working. O'Donnell paid tribute to Hemphill on her show the Monday after Hemphill passed away.
Shirley Hemphill and Fred Berry (who played "Rerun" on What's Happening) died at the same age.