Occupation Actor Years active 1962–1999 | Name Franklin Cover Role Actor | |
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Full Name Franklin Edward Cover Spouse Mary Bradford Stone (m. 1965–2006) Children Bradford Cover, Susan Cover Parents Britta Schreck, Franklin Held Cover Movies and TV shows Similar People Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, Paul Benedict, Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs Died February 5, 2006 (aged 77) Englewood, New Jersey, USA | ||
Lancers Wine Commercial (Franklin Cover, 1970)
Franklin Edward Cover (November 20, 1928 – February 5, 2006) was an American actor best known for starring in the sitcom The Jeffersons. His character, Tom Willis, was half of one of the first interracial marriages to be seen on prime-time television.
Contents
Biography
Cover was born on November 20, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio to Britta Schreck and Franklin Held Cover. He graduated from Denison University in 1951. His career started on the stage acting in Henry IV, Part 1 and Hamlet. He also appeared in Forty Carats with Julie Harris. He made his television debut on Naked City and later appeared on The Jackie Gleason Show.
In 1965, he married Mary Bradford Stone.
His first starring role was on The Jeffersons as Tom Willis who was married to a black woman, Helen, played by Roxie Roker. The couple lived in the same high-rise apartment building as the sitcom's title characters. Cover would often be the foil to Sherman Hemsley's black businessman, George Jefferson. The sitcom ran from 1975 to 1985. He also appeared in The Stepford Wives in 1975, and played Hubert Humphrey in the 1982 TV movie A Woman Called Golda.
Following the end of The Jeffersons, Cover continued to make guest appearances on television shows as well as appearing in a supporting role in Wall Street (1987). In 1994, he appeared in the second episode of ER. His final television appearance was in an episode of Will & Grace (entitled "Object Of My Rejection") that aired on May 13, 1999.
Cover died at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey, on February 5, 2006. He had been living at the home since December 2005 while recovering from a heart condition, and died of pneumonia.
Legacy
He was survived by his wife; the former Mary Bradford Stone, two adult children; Susan and Bradford, and a grandson, Maxwell. His son, Bradford Cover, an actor who lives in New York City, has appeared on Law and Order, Broadway, and Off Broadway, and is a company member at The Pearl Theatre Company. His daughter Susan is the founder of Susie's Supper Club, a home delivery food service that caters to parents and children in New York.
Filmography
Actor
1999
Will & Grace (TV Series) as
Justice of the Peace
- Object of My Rejection (1999) - Justice of the Peace
1998
Almost Heroes as
Nicholas Burr
1998
Mad About You (TV Series) as
Yankee Infielder
- The 2nd Mrs. Buchman (1998) - Yankee Infielder
1997
Columbo (TV Series) as
Harry Jenkins
- A Trace of Murder (1997) - Harry Jenkins
1996
New York Daze (TV Series) as
Professor Skaggs
- Eric's Book (1996) - Professor Skaggs
1996
Coach (TV Series) as
Gunnar
- Luther Get Your Gun (1996) - Gunnar
1994
Batman: The Animated Series (TV Series) as
General Vreeland
- Harley's Holiday (1994) - General Vreeland (voice, as Frank Cover)
1994
Living Single (TV Series) as
Professor Fletcher
- School Daze (1994) - Professor Fletcher
1994
ER (TV Series) as
Mr. Thurnhurst
- Day One (1994) - Mr. Thurnhurst
1994
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle (TV Movie)
1992
Brain Donors as
Doctor
1992
Davis Rules (TV Series) as
Captain Lou Crandall
- Gunny's Ex (1992) - Captain Lou Crandall
1991
In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) as
Tommy Vincent
- Unfinished Business (1991) - Tommy Vincent
- Just a Country Boy (1991) - Tommy Vincent
1991
Who's the Boss? (TV Series) as
Mr. Campbell / Mr. Kimball
- Let Her Tell You 'Bout the Birds and the Bees (1991) - Mr. Campbell
- Ms. Mom (1991) - Mr. Kimball
1991
They Came from Outer Space (TV Series) as
Mr. Renick
- Cozy Cove (1991) - Mr. Renick
1988
Zits as
FBI Chief
1988
Hothouse (TV Series) as
Sheriff Joe Gates
- The Good Family (1988) - Sheriff Joe Gates
1988
227 (TV Series) as
Albert Blotchbinder
- The Butler Did It (1988) - Albert Blotchbinder
1987
Wall Street as
Dan
1987
All My Children (TV Series) as
Judge Lerner
- Episode #1.4640 (1987) - Judge Lerner
1985
The Love Boat (TV Series) as
Marvin Brown
- Your Money or Your Wife/Joint Custody/The Temptations (1985) - Marvin Brown
1975
The Jeffersons (TV Series) as
Tom Willis
- Red Robins (1985) - Tom Willis
- Off-Off-Off-Off Broadway (1985) - Tom Willis
- The Odd Couple (1985) - Tom Willis
- The Truth Hurts (1985) - Tom Willis
- And Up We Go (1985) - Tom Willis
- State of Mind (1985) - Tom Willis
- That Blasted Cunningham (1985) - Tom Willis
- A Secret in the Back Room (1985) - Tom Willis
- Hail to the Chief (1985) - Tom Willis
- The Gang's All Here (1985) - Tom Willis
- Last Dance (1985) - Tom Willis
- Sayonara: Part 2 (1985) - Tom Willis
- Sayonara: Part 1 (1985) - Tom Willis
- Chairman of the Bored (1985) - Tom Willis
- The Unnatural (1985) - Tom Willis
- You'll Never Get Rich (1985) - Tom Willis
- Try a Little Tenderness (1984) - Tom Willis
- They Don't Make Preachers Like Him Anymore (1984) - Tom Willis
- The Gift (1984) - Tom Willis
- Some Enchanted Evening (1984) - Tom Willis
- A House Divided (1984) - Tom Willis
- Bobbles, Bangles and Booboos (1984) - Tom Willis
- Ebony and Ivory (1984) - Tom Willis
- Blood and Money (1984) - Tom Willis
- In the Chips (1984) - Tom Willis
- Honeymoon Hotel (1984) - Tom Willis
- George's Old Girlfriend (1984) - Tom Willis
- Hart to Heart??? (1984) - Tom Willis
- Otis (1984) - Tom Willis
- A New Girl in Town (1984) - Tom Willis
- My Guy, George (1984) - Tom Willis
- Trading Places (1984) - Tom Willis
- Real Men Don't Dry Clean (1984) - Tom Willis
- The Command Post (1984) - Tom Willis
- Getting Back to Basiks (1984) - Tom Willis
- What Makes Sammy Run? (1984) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Father Christmas (1983) - Tom Willis
- Who's the Fairest? (1983) - Tom Willis
- The List (1983) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Return of Bentley (1983) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- And the Winner Is- (1983) - Tom Willis
- How Not to Marry a Millionaire (1983) - Tom Willis
- I Do, I Don't (1983) - Tom Willis
- Mission: Incredible: Part 3 (1983) - Tom Willis
- Mission: Incredible: Part 2 (1983) - Tom Willis
- Mission: Incredible: Part 1 (1983) - Tom Willis
- Personal Business (1983) - Tom Willis
- The Wheel of Forever (1983) - Tom Willis
- Silver Lining (1983) - Tom Willis
- Double Trouble (1983) - Tom Willis
- Designing Woman (1983) - Tom Willis
- Change of a Dollar (1983) - Tom Willis
- Father's Day (1983) - Tom Willis
- The Good Life (1983) - Tom Willis
- Mr. Clean (1983) - Tom Willis
- True Confessions (1983) - Tom Willis
- Bodyguards Are People Too (1983) - Tom Willis
- My Girl, Louise (1983) - Tom Willis
- Mr. Wonderful (1983) - Tom Willis
- My Maid- My Wife (1983) - Tom Willis
- The Defiant Ones (1983) - Tom Willis
- How Now Dow Jones (1982) - Tom Willis
- Poetic Justice (1982) - Tom Willis
- Appointment in 8-B (1982) - Tom Willis
- Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner: Part 2 (1982) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner: Part 1 (1982) - Tom Willis
- A Date with Danger (1982) - Tom Willis
- Heeeere's Johnny (1982) - Tom Willis
- Charlie's Angels (1982) - Tom Willis
- Social Insecurity (1982) - Tom Willis
- Anatomy of a Stain (1982) - Tom Willis
- Laundry Is a Tough Town: Part 2 (1982) - Tom Willis
- Laundry Is a Tough Town: Part 1 (1982) - Tom Willis
- Do Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Helen (1982) - Tom Willis
- Lesson in Love (1982) - Tom Willis
- A Small Victory (1982) - Tom Willis
- Jeffersons Greatest Hits (1982) - Tom Willis
- The Strays: Part 2 (1982) - Tom Willis
- The Strays: Part 1 (1982) - Tom Willis
- Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner? (1982) - Tom Willis
- My Wife, I Think I'll Keep Her (1982) - Tom Willis
- A Case of Self-Defense (1982) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Men of the Cloth (1982) - Tom Willis
- Blazing Jeffersons (1982) - Tom Willis
- Dog Gone (1982) - Tom Willis
- I Spy (1982) - Tom Willis
- Thammy the Thongwriter (1982) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- A Charmed Life (1981) - Tom Willis
- I've Got a Secret (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- A Whole Lot of Trouble (1981) - Tom Willis
- The House That George Built (1981) - Tom Willis
- Florence Did it Different: Part 2 (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Florence Did it Different: Part 1 (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- I've Still Got It (1981) - Tom Willis
- My Maid, Your Maid (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Louise's Father (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Separation: Part 2 (1981) - Tom Willis
- The Separation: Part 1 (1981) - Tom Willis
- Florence's New Job: Part 2 (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Florence's New Job: Part 1 (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Not So Dearly Beloved (1981) - Tom Willis
- I Buy the Songs (1981) - Tom Willis
- My Hero (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Sorry, Wrong Meeting (1981) - Tom Willis
- And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Alley Oops (1981) - Tom Willis
- God Bless Americans (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- As Florence Turns (1981) - Tom Willis
- Calendar Girl (1981) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- All I Want for Christmas (1980) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Florence's Cousin (1980) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Put It On (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 4 (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 3 (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 2 (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Jeffersons Go to Hawaii: Part 1 (1980) - Tom Willis
- Marathon Men (1980) - Tom Willis
- Once Upon a Time (1980) - Tom Willis
- The First Store (1980) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Louise Takes a Stand (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Loan (1980) - Tom Willis
- A Night to Remember (1980) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George's Birthday (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Longest Day (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Shower (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Arrival: Part 2 (1980) - Tom Willis
- The Arrival: Part 1 (1980) - Tom Willis
- Brother Tom (1980) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Setback (1980) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- One Flew Into the Cuckoo's Nest (1980) - Tom Willis
- Me and Mr. G (1979) - Tom Willis
- Louise vs. Florence (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Baby Love (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Joltin' George (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Expectant Father (1979) - Tom Willis
- Where's Papa? (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Now You See It, Now You Don't: Part 2 (1979) - Tom Willis
- Now You See It, Now You Don't: Part 1 (1979) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Old Boyfriend (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- A Short Story (1979) - Tom Willis
- The Announcement (1979) - Tom Willis
- The Freeze In (1979) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Convention (1979) - Tom Willis
- Three Faces of Florence (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Every Night Fever (1979) - Tom Willis
- The Ones You Love (1979) - Tom Willis
- The Hold Out (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Other Woman (1979) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Award (1979) - Tom Willis
- Florence Meets Mr. Right (1979) - Tom Willis
- A Bedtime Story (1979) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Reunion (1979) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Louise's Sister (1979) - Tom Willis
- George Finds a Father (1978) - Tom Willis
- Harry's House Guest (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George, Who? (1978) - Tom Willis
- What Are Friends For? (1978) - Tom Willis
- Half a Brother (1978) - Tom Willis
- Me and Billy Dee (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George's New Stockbroker (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George's Dream (1978) - Tom Willis
- How Slowly They Forget (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Homecoming: Part 2 (1978) - Tom Willis
- Homecoming: Part 1 (1978) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Painting (1978) - Tom Willis
- Jenny's Thesis (1978) - Tom Willis
- George and Louise in a Bind: Part 2 (1978) - Tom Willis
- George and Louise in a Bind: Part 1 (1978) - Tom Willis
- Uncle George and Aunt Louise (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Thomas H. Willis & Co. (1978) - Tom Willis
- George and Jimmy (1978) - Tom Willis
- Florence's Union (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Blackout (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Lionel Gets the Business (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George and Whitty (1978) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- 984 W. 124th Street, Apt. 5C (1977) - Tom Willis
- The Jefferson Curve (1977) - Tom Willis
- George Needs Help (1977) - Tom Willis
- Florence Gets Lucky (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Costume Party (1977) - Tom Willis
- Louise's New Interest (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Last Leaf (1977) - Tom Willis
- The Camp Out (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Visitors (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Good News, Bad News (1977) - Tom Willis
- George's Legacy (1977) - Tom Willis
- George's Help (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Once a Friend (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Grand Opening: Part 2 (1977) - Tom Willis
- The Grand Opening: Part 1 (1977) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Physical (1977) - Tom Willis
- George the Philanthropist (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Jenny's Opportunity (1977) - Tom Willis
- The Old Flame (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Louise's Friend (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Marriage Counselors (1977) - Tom Willis
- Louise vs. Jenny (1977) - Tom Willis
- A Case of Black and White (1977) - Tom Willis
- George's Guilt (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Jefferson Airplane (1977) - Tom Willis
- Bentley's Problem (1977) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Louise Forgets (1977) - Tom Willis
- The Christmas Wedding (1976) - Tom Willis
- Florence in Love (1976) - Tom Willis
- The Agreement (1976) - Tom Willis
- Jenny's Discovery (1976) - Tom Willis
- Tom the Hero (1976) - Tom Willis
- Lionel's Pad (1976) - Tom Willis
- The Retirement Party (1976) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George's Diploma (1976) - Tom Willis
- The Lie Detector (1976) - Tom Willis
- Louise Suspects (1976) - Tom Willis
- Louise Gets Her Way (1976) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George and the President (1976) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Wedding (1976) - Tom Willis
- Tennis Anyone? (1976) - Tom Willis
- Lionel's Problem (1976) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George Meets Whittendale (1976) - Tom Willis
- Louise's Cookbook (1976) - Tom Willis
- Mother Jefferson's Birthday (1976) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Florence's Problem (1976) - Tom Willis
- The Breakup: Part 2 (1976) - Tom Willis
- The Breakup: Part 1 (1976) - Tom Willis
- George vs. Wall Street (1975) - Tom Willis
- Lunch with Mama (1975) - Tom Willis
- George's Alibi (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George and the Manager (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George's Best Friend (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Jenny's Grandparents (1975) - Tom Willis
- George Won't Talk (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Movin' on Down (1975) - Tom Willis
- Uncle Bertram (1975) - Tom Willis
- Jefferson vs. Jefferson (1975) - Tom Willis
- Mother Jefferson's Fall (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Harry and Daphne (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Louise's Daughter (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George's First Vacation (1975) - Tom Willis
- A Dinner for Harry (1975) - Tom Willis
- Jenny's Low (1975) - Tom Willis
- Like Father, Like Son? (1975) - Tom Willis
- Former Neighbors (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Rich Man's Disease (1975) - Tom Willis
- Meet the Press (1975) - Tom Willis
- Mother Jefferson's Boyfriend (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- Lionel Cries Uncle (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- George's Skeleton (1975) - Tom Willis
- Mr. Piano Man (1975) - Tom Willis
- Lionel the Playboy (1975) - Tom Willis (credit only)
- The Good Life Is Bad for Louise (1975) - Tom Willis
- George's Family Tree (1975) - Tom Willis
- A Friend in Need (1975) - Tom Willis
1982
A Woman Called Golda (TV Movie) as
Hubert Humphrey
1982
The Day the Bubble Burst (TV Movie) as
Herbert Hoover
1975
The Stepford Wives as
Ed Wimpiris
1975
All in the Family (TV Series) as
Tom Willis
- The Jeffersons Move on Up (1975) - Tom Willis
1974
Change at 125th Street (TV Movie) as
Mr. Murray (as Frank Cover)
1974
The Great Gatsby as
Senator Evans (uncredited)
1973
The Connection (TV Movie) as
Lee Harris
1972
Short Walk to Daylight (TV Movie) as
Conductor
1972
Between Time and Timbuktu (TV Movie) as
Col. Donald 'Tex' Pirandello
1971
The Secret Storm (TV Series) as
Doctor
- Episode #1.4439 (1971) - Doctor
1968
What's So Bad About Feeling Good? as
Medical Expert (uncredited)
1967
N.Y.P.D. (TV Series) as
Pepper / The Captain
- The Patriots (1968) - Pepper
- Fast Gun (1967) - The Captain
1967
The Jackie Gleason Show (TV Series) as
Police Officer / Police Officer Callahan
- The Honeymooners: Be It Ever So Humble (1967) - Police Officer
- The Honeymooners: Flushing Ho! (1967) - Police Officer Callahan
1965
Mirage as
Group Leader (as Franklin E. Cover)
1963
The Defenders (TV Series) as
Dr. Arnold Beres
- Loophole (1963) - Dr. Arnold Beres
1962
Naked City (TV Series) as
Steelworker
- Kill Me While I'm Young So I Can Die Happy! (1962) - Steelworker
1960
Play of the Week (TV Series)
- Henry IV (1960)
Self
2000
Donny & Marie (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 19 May 2000 (2000) - Self
2000
Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals 4 (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
1995
1995 MTV Movie Awards (TV Special) as
Self
1993
Vicki! (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 28 September 1993 (1993) - Self
1987
The Late Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 2 June 1987 (1987) - Self
1982
Tattletales (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 3 December 1982 (1982) - Self
- Episode dated 2 December 1982 (1982) - Self
- Episode dated 1 December 1982 (1982) - Self
- Episode dated 30 November 1982 (1982) - Self
- Episode dated 29 November 1982 (1982) - Self
1981
The John Davidson Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 11 November 1981 (1981) - Self
1980
All-Star Family Feud Special (TV Series) as
Self - Celebrity Contestant
- City vs. Country Special: Dallas Vs, It's a Living, Jeffersons vs. Dukes of Hazzard (1980) - Self - Celebrity Contestant
Archive Footage
2014
Pioneers of Television (TV Series documentary) as
Tom Willis - the Jeffersons
- Breaking Barriers (2014) - Tom Willis - the Jeffersons
2007
13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV Special) as
Self - In Memoriam
1978
The Jeffersons (TV Series) as
Tom Willis
- George and Louise in a Bind: Part 3 (1978) - Tom Willis
References
Franklin Cover Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA