Sherman Hemsley, whose cantankerous George Jefferson cracked up millions of faithful TV viewers each week, first going toe-to-toe with Archie Bunker on All in the Family and then sparring with his beloved Weezie on The Jeffersons, has died.

The sad news was confirmed by police in El Paso, Texas, where Hemsley lived while not working in Los Angeles. No immediate word on cause of death pending results of an autopsy, but authorities say they do not suspect foul play.

The Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actor was 74.