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TV star Sherman Hemsley says that he was rescued from the grip of a suicidal depression- by the ghost of pal Sammy Davis Jr !
And now he makes a yearly vigil to the grave of the legendary entertainer.
“I had been a fan of Sammy Davis Jr for years and I finally met him in 1983 when he made a guest appearance on ‘The Jeffersons’,” revealed the feisty pint sized actor in an exclusive Enquirer interview.
“The day of our first rehearsal, he walked over and said,
“Hey, bro’ how’s it going? “ The two hit it off imediately, said Hemsley.
“Sammy and I became soul brothers. He told me, “sherm, let’s try to keep this communication open - now and forever”.
In 1990 Sammy died of cancer, while Hemsley was starring in his second series, “Amen”.
The next year Hemsley was mired in tax problems when he got the bad news that the show had been cancelled.
“I was deeply in debt -investments I had counted on had fallen through and bills were coming at me from all directions”, he revealed.
“I was feeling very depressed. I lost my appetite and withdrew from those around me”.
“I kept thinking, ‘What’s the use’-maybe I’m better off dead” Then the miracle with Sammy happened, and it saved my life”. “I’d been having trouble sleeping, and about three o’clock in the morning, I got out of bed and decided to take my dog for a walk.”
“It was a cold foggy night and I was walking her up a winding dirt path, when suddenly she froze and and stared - as if there was someone or something ahead of us. But I couldn’t see a thing. Then I heard someone call my name. And I saw a translucent, shadowy figure of a man in the midst.
“My heart was pounding - I didn’t know whether to scream or run for my life.”
“Then he spoke: ‘Hey bro’, how’s it going?’”
I recognised the voice, there was no way to mistake it. It was Sammy. He said ‘Life’s too short, bro’. Quit wasting time feeling sorry for yourself and start living each day like a new opportunity’.
“ I l looked away for a moment to gather my senses. When I turned back, he was gone.
“But I swore to live by Sammy’s words”.
That Christmas, Hemsley says he was visited by the ghost a final time. “ He assured me there is a heaven and that it’s glorious.
“Every year since that day I’ve visited Sammy’s grave to leave a wreath and say a prayer:.
STAN OLIVER |
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