Marla Gibbs, beloved for her role as Florence Johnson on the classic sitcom The Jeffersons, is opening up about a life-threatening health crisis she survived nearly two decades ago.
In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir It’s Never Too Late, the 94-year-old actress revealed that she suffered a brain aneurysm and stroke in 2006—an experience she says most people do not survive.
“Most people do not survive brain aneurysms, so I knew God still had plans for me,” Gibbs wrote in the memoir excerpt obtained by People.
The medical emergency marked the beginning of a long and difficult recovery that required extensive rehabilitation and forced the actress to relearn basic physical abilities.
Gibbs described the process as physically and emotionally exhausting, explaining that her recovery involved intensive occupational, physical, and speech therapy.
“As my strength and memory gradually returned, I found myself getting into more mischief,” she wrote, reflecting on the determination that helped carry her through the ordeal.
Even during rehabilitation, Gibbs admitted she struggled with accepting the limits placed on her during recovery.
At one point, she insisted on walking to the bathroom on her own instead of using assistance devices recommended by the medical staff.
“The bathroom was right beside my bed, and I couldn’t understand why I needed help,” she wrote. “Whenever the staff left the room, I’d try to get out of bed—and end up on the floor.”
Her determination was so strong that her family eventually asked hospital staff to restrain her to the bed to prevent further falls.
Still, Gibbs remained determined to regain her independence.
“I watched how the nurses tied me up so I could free myself once they left,” she wrote. “And of course, I’d end up on the floor again.”
Despite her resilience, Gibbs admitted that the emotional toll of the illness became overwhelming at times.
When she returned home after her hospital stay, she said seeing her reflection was a painful moment that made her question whether her career was over.
“I saw the aged woman staring back at me in the mirror and thought maybe my acting career had come to an end,” she wrote.
Before the stroke, Gibbs had maintained a busy career, appearing in films including The Visit and Madea’s Witness Protection and making guest appearances on television shows such as ER, Cold Case, Passions, Arli$$, and The Hughleys.
She had also ventured into music, releasing a jazz CD titled It’s Never Too Late in May 2006.
The emotional aftermath of the health crisis proved just as difficult as the physical recovery, Gibbs admitted.
“I plunged into a profound depression,” she wrote. “I thought maybe my time had come.”
During that period, her family arranged for a caregiver to help her with daily activities as she struggled to regain strength and mobility.
Eventually, Gibbs began outpatient rehabilitation where she worked through a rigorous program of therapy.
As she improved, she attempted to jog during a walk with a friend—only to fall and hit her head again, a moment she described as both embarrassing and discouraging.
“That’s when I finally accepted the reality of my recovery process,” she wrote.
Accepting her limitations became a turning point in her healing journey.
“Accepting my current state in recovery was crucial to my healing process,” she said. “Acceptance is fundamental to healing in all aspects of life.”
Over time, Gibbs made a remarkable recovery and returned to acting, continuing to work well into her later years.
