Shirley Hemphill

Imagine someone who could tell jokes so good they ended up on TV! That was Shirley Hemphill. She was born a long, long time ago in a place called Asheville, North Carolina. Shirley loved making people giggle, and she decided to move to a big city called Los Angeles to become a comedian. She told jokes in clubs, and soon, people noticed how funny she was!

Shirley became famous for playing a character named Shirley Wilson on a TV show called 'What's Happening!!'. She played a waitress who was super sassy and funny. The show was so popular that Shirley got her own show later, called 'One in a Million'! Even though that show didn't last long, Shirley kept making people laugh for years.

Did you know Shirley Hemphill was one of the first Black actresses to have a main role on a TV show? That's a HUGE deal! She was like a superhero paving the way for other funny people. Her character on 'What's Happening!!' was so real and relatable, and she showed everyone that funny women could be stars!

Even after her TV shows ended, Shirley didn't stop making people laugh. She went back to doing stand-up comedy, which is telling jokes live on stage. She also appeared in movies and other TV shows. Shirley Hemphill was a true entertainer who brought joy to so many people with her amazing talent.