The post Martin Lawrence Emotionally Shared How Shirley Hemphill Helped Him When He Was Flat Broke appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

When “What’s Happening” legend, Shirley Hemphill, passed away from kidney failure in 1999, not only did she leave a major impact on her millions of fans, she also left a major impact on the many celebrities she generously helped. One of those celebs is comedian/actress, Rosie O’Donnell. Rosie explained the beautiful things Shirley did for her when she was broke– or like the old schoolers used to say, ‘when she didn’t have a pot to pee in, nor a window to through it out of.’

Why Rosie O’Donnell Will Be Forever Grateful To Shirley

Rosie met Shirley after she became a household name on the ’70s sitcom, “What’s Happening.” Rosie said that Shirley Hemphill was the first celebrity she’d ever met. At that time, Rosie was a broke and struggling teen comedian, hoping she’d one day be able to reach the level of success Shirley had. Then Shirley did this:

Via Playbill: Her [Rosie O’Donnell’s] first big break came when she was a teenager. She would do stand-up in comedy clubs and get in using her neighbor’s fake ID. She actually was introduced as her neighbor for her first three times since that was the only ID she had! One night Shirley Hemphill saw Rosie do her set and told the shocked owner she wanted Rosie to be her opening act. Rosie was still incredibly green but Shirley wanted to support a new comic, especially a female, and told the owner not only would he have to use Rosie as her opener [each week], he would have to pay her! Rosie wound up making $25 for each gig which, for her, was an incredible amount of money.

Wait ‘Til You See What Happened Next Though…

That weekly $25 comedy gig, being the opening act for Shirley’s (who drew large crowds at the comedy club) stand-up shows, increased Rosie’s popularity and led to her being scouted by the national TV show, Talent Search, which which won for seven weeks straight. Rosie was eliminated in the semi-finals, but had garnered enough hype around her name to land her first TV gig on the ’80s sitcom, Gimme A Break, starring Nell Carter. After her appearance on Gimme A Break, Star Search called her back to the show. So that’s why Rosie is forever grateful to Shirley Hemphill, because she was first celebrity to take a chance on her out of the kindness of her heart. And Shirley’s kindness led to a domino effect of success for Rosie O’Donnell.

Rosie O’Donnell’s Touching Tribute After Shirley’s Passing

After Shirley passed away, Rosie gave an emotional tribute to her on her talk show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” a few days later. As photos and a video clip of Shirley played behind her in a now deleted clip of her show, Rosie told her audience and millions of TV viewers this:

Via NYPost- “You know, when I started my career, the first famous person I met was Shirley Hemphill,” Rosie said on her show, just before showing Shirley in a clip from “What’s Happening!” Rosie told the story of how Shirley persuaded the owner of a comedy club to give Rosie, then 16, a shot at performing on an open-mike night. “It was my first paid gig,” Rosie said, “and it was because of her. … I loved her very much and she was a great lady.”

Many comedians have come forward throughout the years, with their own recollections of Shirley’s generosity toward them, including Martin Lawrence. Rest on Shirley, beautiful job done.

The post Rosie O’Donnell’s Grateful For What Shirley Did For Her When She Was Broke, Unknown appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

That brings us to what Martin Lawrence revealed once, and it may bring a tear to your eye…well, it almost did for Martin as he spoke about it. In an interview with The Washington Post, Martin talked about his days as a young broke comedian/actor.

In 1987, he landed his first acting role ever on What’s Happening Now, alongside Shirley and the rest of the cast. But he was hit with a MAJOR bombshell when soon after his joining of the show, it had gotten canceled. Martin was then depressed about the state of his career, or shall we say, the nonexistence of it at that time…and he was dead broke.

Check out what Martin revealed about Shirley:

Via Washington Post: Lawrence spent a season on [What’s Happening Now], then it was off the air. “I didn’t get any jobs in acting until ‘Do the Right Thing’ came along,” he says. “But that was a little while. So I went, like, broke.

“I remember, I was down to maybe a couple hundred dollars in the bank. And Shirley Hemphill called me and asked me how I was doing.” Hemphill had been a star of “What’s Happening Now!!” “She’s very smart, she invested her money, and Shirley’s just a real good woman,” Lawrence says. “She asked me how was I doing. And I said, ‘Not too good. I didn’t know shows get canceled.’ “

What almost brought Martin to tears:

Via WP: He talked of moving in with someone to cut down on living expenses, but Hemphill tried to talk him out of it. “She was like a big sister: ‘I don’t want you moving in with nobody. You need your privacy.’ And the next day I opened my mailbox and she’d sent me $500.” Lawrence pauses. “Just wanted to cry, man. I never forgot it. Never will. Never will.”

When he asked Hemphill how he could pay her back, “she goes, ‘Look, I just want you to help some other young comic out.’ Richard Pryor helped her out. You know what I’m saying? It’s a chain.”

Years Later Martin Returned The Favor

By the mid-’90s Martin was now a household name with his sitcom – just like Shirley was when she helped him out back in the day. Martin proved that Shirley’s extreme act of kindness and the lesson she taught him did not go unnoticed. He made sure Shirley made a guest appearance on his then highly rated show. She appeared in an hilarious Martin episode, portraying the wife of actor, Hawthorne James’ (“Big Red” from The Five Heartbeats) character.

Martin Lawrence said it best, Shirley Hemphill was just a good woman. May she forever rest in peace after the beautiful job she’s done.

The post Martin Lawrence Emotionally Shared How Shirley Hemphill Helped Him When He Was Broke appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

When the legendary “What’s Happening” star, Shirley Hemphill, passed away from kidney failure in 1999, not only did she leave a major impact on her millions of fans, she also left a major impact on the many celebrities she generously helped. One of those celebs is comedic actress, Rosie O’Donnell. Rosie explained the beautiful things Shirley did for her when she was broke -or like the old schoolers used to say- ‘when she didn’t have a pot to pee in, nor a window to through it out of.’

Why Rosie O’Donnell Will Be Forever Grateful To Shirley

Rosie met Shirley after she became a household name on the ’70s sitcom, “What’s Happening.” Rosie said that Shirley Hemphill was the first celebrity she’d ever met. At that time, Rosie was a broke and struggling teen comedian, hoping she’d one day be able to reach the level of success Shirley had. Then Shirley did this:

Via Playbill: Her [Rosie O’Donnell’s] first big break came when she was a teenager. She would do stand-up in comedy clubs and get in using her neighbor’s fake ID. She actually was introduced as her neighbor for her first three times since that was the only ID she had! One night Shirley Hemphill saw Rosie do her set and told the shocked owner she wanted Rosie to be her opening act. Rosie was still incredibly green but Shirley wanted to support a new comic, especially a female, and told the owner not only would he have to use Rosie as her opener [each week], he would have to pay her! Rosie wound up making $25 for each gig which, for her, was an incredible amount of money.

Wait ‘Til You See What Happened Next Though…

That weekly $25 comedy gig, being the opening act for Shirley’s (who drew large crowds at the comedy club) stand-up shows, increased Rosie’s popularity and led to her being scouted by the national TV show, Talent Search, which which won for seven weeks straight. Rosie was eliminated in the semi-finals, but had garnered enough hype around her name to land her first TV gig on the ’80s sitcom, Gimme A Break, starring Nell Carter. After her appearance on Gimme A Break, Star Search called her back to the show. So that’s why Rosie is forever grateful to Shirley Hemphill, because she was first celebrity to take a chance on her out of the kindness of her heart. And Shirley’s kindness led to a domino effect of success for Rosie O’Donnell.

Rosie O’Donnell’s Touching Tribute After Shirley’s Passing

After Shirley passed away, Rosie gave an emotional tribute to her on her talk show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” a few days later. As photos and a video clip of Shirley played behind her in a now deleted clip of her show, Rosie told her audience and millions of TV viewers this:

Via NYPost- “You know, when I started my career, the first famous person I met was Shirley Hemphill,” Rosie said on her show, just before showing Shirley in a clip from “What’s Happening!” Rosie told the story of how Shirley persuaded the owner of a comedy club to give Rosie, then 16, a shot at performing on an open-mike night. “It was my first paid gig,” Rosie said, “and it was because of her. … I loved her very much and she was a great lady.”

Many comedians have come forward throughout the years, with their own recollections of Shirley’s generosity toward them, including Martin Lawrence. Rest on Shirley, beautiful job done.

The post Rosie O’Donnell’s Very Grateful For Shirley Hemphill Helping Her When She Was Broke, Unknown appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

That brings us to what Martin Lawrence revealed once, and it may bring a tear to your eye…well, it almost did for Martin as he spoke about it. In an interview with The Washington Post, Martin talked about his days as a young broke comedian/actor.

In 1987, he landed his first acting role ever on What’s Happening Now, alongside Shirley and the rest of the cast. But he was hit with a MAJOR bombshell when soon after his joining of the show, it had gotten canceled. Martin was then depressed about the state of his career, or shall we say, the nonexistence of it at that time…and he was dead broke.

Check out what Martin revealed about Shirley:

Via Washington Post: Lawrence spent a season on [What’s Happening Now], then it was off the air. “I didn’t get any jobs in acting until ‘Do the Right Thing’ came along,” he says. “But that was a little while. So I went, like, broke.

“I remember, I was down to maybe a couple hundred dollars in the bank. And Shirley Hemphill called me and asked me how I was doing.” Hemphill had been a star of “What’s Happening Now!!” “She’s very smart, she invested her money, and Shirley’s just a real good woman,” Lawrence says. “She asked me how was I doing. And I said, ‘Not too good. I didn’t know shows get canceled.’ “

What almost brought Martin to tears:

Via WP: He talked of moving in with someone to cut down on living expenses, but Hemphill tried to talk him out of it. “She was like a big sister: ‘I don’t want you moving in with nobody. You need your privacy.’ And the next day I opened my mailbox and she’d sent me $500.” Lawrence pauses. “Just wanted to cry, man. I never forgot it. Never will. Never will.”

When he asked Hemphill how he could pay her back, “she goes, ‘Look, I just want you to help some other young comic out.’ Richard Pryor helped her out. You know what I’m saying? It’s a chain.”

Years Later Martin Returned The Favor

By the mid-’90s Martin was now a household name with his sitcom – just like Shirley was when she helped him out back in the day. Martin proved that Shirley’s extreme act of kindness and the lesson she taught him did not go unnoticed. He made sure Shirley made a guest appearance on his then highly rated show. She appeared in an hilarious Martin episode, portraying the wife of actor, Hawthorne James’ (“Big Red” from The Five Heartbeats) character.

Martin Lawrence said it best, Shirley Hemphill was just a good woman. May she forever rest in peace after the beautiful job she’s done.

The post Martin Lawrence Emotionally Shared How Shirley Hemphill Helped Him When He Was Dead-Broke appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The late, great comedic actress, Shirley Hemphill, may have been tough as nails on TV, but she had the heart of gold in real life. Since her passing in 1999 from kidney failure, we’ve heard stories of how Shirley helped many well known entertainers when they were just struggling comics trying to find success, and she was a big time television superstar/comedian. The most beautiful part of it all is that she did it without needing any fanfare about it, nor wanting anything in return.

That brings us to what Martin Lawrence revealed once, and it may bring a tear to your eye…well, it almost did for Martin as he spoke about it. In an interview with The Washington Post, Martin talked about his days as a young broke comedian/actor.

In 1987, he landed his first acting role ever on What’s Happening Now, alongside Shirley and the rest of the cast. But he was hit with a MAJOR bombshell when soon after his joining of the show, it had gotten canceled. Martin was then depressed about the state of his career, or shall we say, the nonexistence of it at that time…and he was dead broke.

Check out what Martin revealed about Shirley:

Via Washington Post: Lawrence spent a season on [What’s Happening Now], then it was off the air. “I didn’t get any jobs in acting until ‘Do the Right Thing’ came along,” he says. “But that was a little while. So I went, like, broke.

“I remember, I was down to maybe a couple hundred dollars in the bank. And Shirley Hemphill called me and asked me how I was doing.” Hemphill had been a star of “What’s Happening Now!!” “She’s very smart, she invested her money, and Shirley’s just a real good woman,” Lawrence says. “She asked me how was I doing. And I said, ‘Not too good. I didn’t know shows get canceled.’ “

What almost brought Martin to tears:

Via WP: He talked of moving in with someone to cut down on living expenses, but Hemphill tried to talk him out of it. “She was like a big sister: ‘I don’t want you moving in with nobody. You need your privacy.’ And the next day I opened my mailbox and she’d sent me $500.” Lawrence pauses. “Just wanted to cry, man. I never forgot it. Never will. Never will.”

When he asked Hemphill how he could pay her back, “she goes, ‘Look, I just want you to help some other young comic out.’ Richard Pryor helped her out. You know what I’m saying? It’s a chain.”

Years Later Martin Returns The Favor

By the mid-90’s Martin was now a household name with his sitcom – just like Shirley was when she helped him out back in the day. Martin proved that Shirley’s extreme act of kindness and the lesson she taught him did not go unnoticed. He made sure Shirley made a guest appearance on his then highly rated show. She appeared in an hilarious Martin episode, portraying the wife of actor, Hawthorne James’ (“Big Red” from The Five Heartbeats) character.

Martin Lawrence said it best, Shirley Hemphill was just a good woman. May she forever rest in peace after the beautiful job she’s done.

The post Martin Lawrence Emotionally Recalled Shirley Hemphill Financially Helping Him When He Was Broke appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Why Rosie Will Be Forever Grateful To Shirley

Rosie met Shirley after she became a household name on the 70’s sitcom, “What’s Happening.” Rosie said that Shirley Hemphill was the first celebrity she’d ever met. At that time, Rosie was a broke and struggling teen comedian, hoping she’d one day be able to reach the level of success Shirley had. Then Shirley did this:

Via Playbill: Her [Rosie O’Donnell’s] first big break came when she was a teenager. She would do stand-up in comedy clubs and get in using her neighbor’s fake ID. She actually was introduced as her neighbor for her first three times since that was the only ID she had! One night Shirley Hemphill saw Rosie do her set and told the shocked owner she wanted Rosie to be her opening act. Rosie was still incredibly green but Shirley wanted to support a new comic, especially a female, and told the owner not only would he have to use Rosie as her opener [each week], he would have to pay her! Rosie wound up making $25 for each gig which, for her, was an incredible amount of money.

Wait ‘Til You See What Happened Next Though>>>

The post Rosie O’Donnell’s Forever Grateful For What Shirley Did For Her When She Was Broke & Unknown appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The late, great comedic actress, Shirley Hemphill, may have been tough as nails on TV, but she had the heart of gold in real life. Since her passing in 1999 from kidney failure, we’ve heard stories of how Shirley helped many well known entertainers when they were just struggling comics trying to find success, and she was a big time television superstar/comedian. The most beautiful part of it all, is that she did it without needing any fanfare about it, nor wanting anything in return.

That brings us to what Martin Lawrence revealed once, and it may bring a tear to your eye…well, it almost did for Martin as he spoke about it. In an interview with The Washington Post, Martin talked about his days as a young broke comedian/actor.

The One Thing Martin Is Forever Grateful To Shirley For

In 1987, he landed his first acting role ever on “What’s Happening Now,” alongside Shirley and the rest of the cast. But he was hit with a MAJOR bombshell when soon after his joining of the show, it had was canceled. Martin was then depressed about the state of his career, or shall we say, the nonexistence of it at that time…and he was dead broke.Check out what Martin revealed about what Shirley did for him next:

Via Washington Post: Lawrence spent a season on [What’s Happening Now], then it was off the air. “I didn’t get any jobs in acting until ‘Do the Right Thing’ came along,” he says. “But that was a little while. So I went, like, broke.

“I remember, I was down to maybe a couple hundred dollars in the bank. And Shirley Hemphill called me and asked me how I was doing.” Hemphill had been a star of “What’s Happening Now!!” “She’s very smart, she invested her money, and Shirley’s just a real good woman,” Lawrence says. “She asked me how was I doing. And I said, ‘Not too good. I didn’t know shows get canceled.’ “

What almost brought Martin to tears:

Via WP: He talked of moving in with someone to cut down on living expenses, but Hemphill tried to talk him out of it. “She was like a big sister: ‘I don’t want you moving in with nobody. You need your privacy.’ And the next day I opened my mailbox and she’d sent me $500.” Lawrence pauses. “Just wanted to cry, man. I never forgot it. Never will. Never will.”

When he asked Hemphill how he could pay her back, “she goes, ‘Look, I just want you to help some other young comic out.’ Richard Pryor helped her out. You know what I’m saying? It’s a chain.”

Years Later, Martin Returns The Favor

By the mid-90’s, Martin was now a household name with his sitcom, “Martin” – just like Shirley was when she helped him out back in the day. Martin proved that Shirley’s extreme act of kindness and the lesson she taught him did not go unnoticed. He made sure Shirley made a guest appearance on his then highly rated show. She appeared in an hilarious “Martin” episode, portraying the wife of actor, Hawthorne James’ (a.k.a. “Big Red” from The Five Heartbeats) character.

It’s a beautiful thing that Martin Lawrence gave Shirley Hemphill her ‘flowers,’ while she was still here and able to appreciate the love he reciprocated back to her. Martin also said it best, Shirley Hemphill was just a good woman. May she forever rest in peace after the beautiful job she’s done.

The post Martin Lawrence Emotionally Revealed What Shirley Did For Him When He Was Broke appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The late, great comedic actress, Shirley Hemphill, may have been tough as nails on TV, but she had the heart of gold in real life. Since her passing in 1999 from kidney failure, we’ve heard stories of how Shirley helped many well known entertainers when they were just struggling comics trying to find success, and she was a big time television superstar/comedian. The most beautiful part of it all is that she did it without needing any fanfare about it, nor wanting anything in return.

The post Martin Lawrence Emotionally Revealed What Shirley Did For Him When He Was Broke appeared first on I Love Old School Music.