Marla Gibbs, the iconic actress known for her groundbreaking roles in television, has once again made waves in Hollywood, proving that age is merely a number. At 93, Gibbs accepted the prestigious Hollywood Legacy Award at the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors in Los Angeles, a testament to her significant contributions to the entertainment industry over her remarkable seven-decade career.
Gibbs, best remembered for her portrayal of Florence Johnston on the classic sitcom “The Jeffersons,” has become a trailblazer for many women in Hollywood. During the award ceremony, Academy Award-winning actress Regina King, a former co-star from “227,” presented Gibbs with the honor. King celebrated Gibbs’s resilience in a landscape where few women of color were visible, stating, “She paved the way for so many of us.”
Accepting the award with her signature charm, Gibbs humorously declared her readiness to take on new projects, eliciting laughter and applause from the audience. Her desire to continue acting resonated deeply with fans, who quickly took to social media to voice their support and urge Hollywood to cast her in upcoming roles.
Gibbs’s impressive career began with “The Jeffersons,” a sitcom that broke new ground by focusing on an affluent Black family. Her role earned her five Primetime Emmy nominations, and she later starred in “227,” where she showcased her talents as both an actress and executive producer. In recent years, she has remained active, appearing in popular shows such as “This Is Us,” “Blackish,” and “NCIS,” and recently guest-starring in the ABC crime drama “Will Trent.”
As Gibbs continues to inspire generations of audiences and aspiring actors alike, her recognition at the ABFF Honors is just one of many accolades she has received. With her unwavering passion for acting, Marla Gibbs is far from finished, and Hollywood should be ready for her next unforgettable performance.