Berlinda Tolbert

Berlinda Tolbert, born November 4, 1949, is an American actress whose work spans theater, film, and television. She trained in theater at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and pursued additional drama studies in London.

Tolbert's professional acting career began in film when director Martin Scorsese cast her in Mean Streets in 1973 while she was still in acting school. The following year, she made her Broadway appearance in What the Wine-Sellers Buy in 1974.

Her most prominent role came when she was cast as Jenny Willis Jefferson on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons, which ran from 1975 to 1985. Jenny was the daughter of Tom and Helen Willis, an interracial couple who were neighbors of the Jefferson family. The character had previously appeared on Norman Lear's All in the Family, played by a different actress, where Jenny became engaged to Lionel Jefferson, son of George and Louise Jefferson. Tolbert took over the role for the entirety of The Jeffersons' run, during which Jenny and Lionel married and had a daughter together.

In 1981, Tolbert competed on Battle of the Network Stars representing the CBS team. Two years later, she starred in the Maya Angelou play On a Southern Journey. After The Jeffersons concluded in 1985, Tolbert appeared in the films Harlem Nights, Goodfellas, and Patriot Games, as well as television series including ER, Six Feet Under, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She also appeared in the 2011 independent film Last Ride on the Midwest Pacific.

Tolbert married journalist Bob Reid in 1979.