Where Is “The Jeffersons” Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Where Is "The Jeffersons" Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty The final episode ofThe Jeffersonsaired on July 2, 1985 The beloved sitcom was a spinoff of the groundbreaking sitcom,All in the Family Following the end ofThe Jeffersons, the cast continued to act in television, appearing in classic series such as227,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,Will & Graceand more Forty years ago today, on July 2, 1985,The Jeffersonswent from "movin' on up," to movin' on, as the beloved sitcom aired its final episode. George and Louise "Weezy" Jefferson, played bySherman HemsleyandIsabel Sanford, respectively, first played their characters on the trailblazing '70s sitcom,All in the Family. In 1975, the fictional married couple and their friends and family became the subject of their own series,The Jeffersons.It ran for 11 seasons, becoming one of the most successful spinoffs in television history. Even after the show concluded its run on CBS, the cast continued to be staples in television and movies, with one ensemble member,Marla Gibbs, still working, and due to release her memoir next year. So where isThe Jeffersonscast now? Here's everything to know about what the actors did after the show ended 40 years ago. CBS via Getty ; Steve Grayson/WireImage Isabel Sanford played Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on all 11 seasons ofThe Jeffersons. The actress not only received laughs as the loving and witty wife of her husband, George, but also made television history. In 1981, she was the first Black actress towin an Emmyfor Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She was also honored withtwo NAACP Image Awardsand a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the years following the end ofThe Jeffersons, Sanford appeared on several other sitcoms, includingLiving SingleandHangin' with Mr. Cooper. She also reprised her role of Louise on two episodes ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Sanford died at the age of 86 on July 9, 2004. "We all respected Isabel," Ernest Harden Jr., who played Marcus Henderson onThe Jeffersons,told PEOPLE in February 2024. "She was the consummate artist. Before every show, they would introduce her and the cast would all bow. She was the queen of the show." CBS via Getty ; Frazer Harrison/Getty Sherman Hemsley starred as the loud and stubborn George Jefferson, earning a nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in A Comedy Series at the 1984 Emmys. Following the end ofThe Jeffersons, he led another successful sitcom,Amen, which ran for five seasons from 1986 to 1991. Afterward, the actor worked on other sitcoms, includingDesigning Women,MartinandSister, Sister. He also voiced B.P. Richfield, the evil Triceratops boss onDinosaurs. Hemsley and his on-screen wife, Sanford, reprised their Jeffersons roles multiple times over the years, starring onThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They also starred in commercials forDenny'sandOld Navy. In addition to acting, Hemsley was a musician: He released a single, "Ain't That a Kick in the Head," in 1989, followed by an album,Dance, in 1992. Hemsley died at 74 on July 24, 2012. CBS via Getty; Ron Galella Collection via Getty Roxie Roker portrayed Helen Willis onThe Jeffersons,making history as one of television's first interracial couples. After the long-running sitcom ended, Roker continued to work in television, appearing on shows such as227,Punky BrewsterandMurder, She Wrote. She died at age 66 from breast cancer on Dec. 2, 1995. Roker was the mother of music icon,Lenny Kravitz, who told PEOPLE in February 2024 that he watchesThe Jeffersonswhen he misses her. "She's still everything to me. I probably feel her more since she's left the planet," he said.  "I'm very fortunate that she was on television because when I need to, I'll turn onThe Jeffersonsand watch her, and it does so much for me." "I am so grateful that God chose her to be my mother," Kravitz added. CBS Photo Archive/Getty ; Ron Galella Collection via Getty Franklin Cover played Helen's husband, Tom Willis, onThe Jeffersons. Cover kept working in television afterThe Jeffersons, appearing on shows like227,Who's the Boss,ERandWill & Grace— to name a few. He also portrayed a supporting role in 1987'sWall Street, directed by Oliver Stone. Cover died at 77 from pneumonia on Feb. 5, 2006, perThe New York Times. Bettmann Archive via Getty; CBS via Getty Zara Cully was the scene-stealing Olivia Jefferson, George's loving but intense mother. By the time she played "Mother" Jefferson, Cully already had a long list of stage and screen credits, but her role onThe Jeffersonsshot her to stardom. Sadly, while filming season 4 of the show,Cully diedat age 86 on Feb. 28, 1978. Her role was not recast. When asked about his on-screen mom during an August 2003Television Academy interview, Hemsley said, "She was so beautiful." "She had been around for so long, vaudeville, she had done all kinds of stuff since she was a little girl," he continued. "It was her first successful, big thing after all those years." "She said, 'I'm so happy. I finally got to do this and work with you people,' " Hemsley added. CBS via Getty; Bobby Bank/Getty Berlinda Tolbert portrayed Jenny, the daughter of Helen and Tom Willis. Tolbert's acting career continued afterThe Jeffersonsended. She guest-starred on various TV shows, including7th Heaven,Home ImprovementandSix Feet Under, among others. The actress also had roles in classic movies likeGoodfellas,Harlem NightsandPatriot Games. Tolbert's last acting credit is from 2013, perher IMDb. CBS via Getty; Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Paul Benedict played Harry Bentley, the Jeffersons' British neighbor. Following the sitcom's end, Benedict acted in movies likeArthur 2: On the Rocks,CocktailandThe Addams Family. He also collaborated with Christopher Guest's comedy troupe, appearing inWaiting for GuffmanandA Mighty Wind. Benedict died at the age of 70 on Dec. 1, 2008. CBS via Getty; Amanda Edwards/Getty Marla Gibbs portrayed the no-nonsense family maid Florence Johnston, receivingfive Emmy nominationsfor her role. Florence was her breakout role, and Gibbs has been consistently working sinceThe Jeffersonsconcluded its run. She was part of the cast of227, which ran from 1985 to 1990. Most recently, Gibbs starred in a January 2025 episode of ABC'sWill Trent. The following month, while accepting the Hollywood Legacy Award at the American Black Film Festival Honors in Los Angeles, Gibbs said she was "ready to work again." "I owe it all to you. I appreciate you so much," she told the audience. "Been an honor to be among you all these years. Yes, and I'm ready to do some more!" In June 2025,Gibbs celebratedher 94th birthday and announced herforthcoming memoirIt's Never Too Late, hitting store shelves in early 2026. Read the original article onPeople

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July 02, 2025

Where Is “The Jeffersons” Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago

Where Is "The Jeffersons" Cast Now? Here's What the Actors Did After the Sitcom Ended 40 Years Ago Michael Ochs Archives/Getty...

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'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

"Jurassic Park" is all about bringing the past back to life, so for one of the most pulse-pounding sequences in the new entry, the franchise returns to where it all began. In a standout scene from"Jurassic World Rebirth" (in theaters July 2), Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and his family, who find themselves on an island filled with dinosaurs, board a raft and are pursued on a river by aTyrannosaurus rex. When director Gareth Edwards read the script by "Jurassic Park" screenwriter David Koepp, he was so impressed, he thought, "This film's worth directing just for this scene alone." It was only after he finished shooting that Edwards stumbled upon a book about the making of "Jurassic Park" and discovered a nearly identical scene was intended to be in the originalSteven Spielbergfilm more than three decades ago. "I had no idea," he says. Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox The scene is straight out ofMichael Crichton's1990 "Jurassic Park" novel, only instead of the Delgados, Alan Grant (played bySam Neillin the movie), Tim Murphy and Lex Murphy board a raft and are pursued by a T. rex. There were even storyboards made during the production of the Spielberg classic, but the scene was dropped because of technical limitations. "This was 1992, and making a T. rex, period, was going to be this enormous challenge," Koepp recalls. "In the early '90s, water was still a big challenge for CG, and so the idea of making a T. rex and then having it swim was a bridge too far." Coming off a trilogy of films starringChris PrattandBryce Dallas Howard, "Rebirth" introduces a whole new cast of characters to the "Jurassic" world.Scarlett Johansson,Mahershala AliandJonathan Baileyare adventurers on a mission to obtain dinosaur DNA for a breakthrough drug that could cure heart disease. The trio cross paths with the Delgados after a dinosaur has destroyed the family's sailboat and they're making their way across the island to find rescue. Koepp, who hasn't written a "Jurassic" movie since 1997's "The Lost World," was recruited for "Rebirth" by Spielberg, an executive producer on the film. When brainstorming, one of the first things they talked about was finally revisiting the raft scene. "That was like being able to scratch something that has itched for 32 years," Koepp says, and adds it was "worth the wait" for computer-generated imagery to get good enough to do the sequence justice. This wasn't the only instance of scrapped "Jurassic" material being revived in "Rebirth." In one scene, paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) delivers a monologue about humanity's capacity to destroy itself, remarking that "when the Earth gets tired of us, it will shake us off like a summer cold." Koepp, drawing on Crichton's novel, had Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) utter that line in an early draft of "Jurassic Park" and has wanted to find a place for it ever since. "I remember asking Steven ... did that line ever show up?" Koepp says. "And he said, 'Nope, that's definitely not in ("Jurassic Park").' So it was like, great. It's going in here." The raft scene may not have fit in, had "Rebirth" not gone back to "Jurassic" basics by returning to the island setting. While 2022's "Jurassic World Dominion" ended with dinosaurs and humans coexisting around the world, "Rebirth" effectively resets to the status quo of the first "Jurassic" trilogy by revealing the Earth's climate has made it impossible for dinosaurs to survive outside of a few tropical islands. Koepp wanted to make dinosaurs "special again and harder to find" and bring back the "ocean and jungle adventure aspect" of the series. The idea of dinosaurs interacting with humans on the mainland had been explored thoroughly enough in previous films, he felt − including his own "The Lost World," which ended with a T. rex loose in San Diego. The plot point was also once again inspired by the original novel, in which Ian points out how different the environment is today compared to 65 million years ago during his famous "life finds a way" speech. That's not the only reason it's a tough time to be a dinosaur in "Rebirth," which establishes the public has largely lost interest in the creatures. Edwards and Koepp both saw this as a meta reflection of the issue facing "Jurassic" itself, six sequels in. "My biggest problem is, there's been a lot of 'Jurassic' films," Edwards says. "What can you do that people haven't seen before? The script acknowledged that problem on page 1. I thought it was very honest and a really good way to reset and start a new chapter." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Jurassic World Rebirth' includes iconic scene cut by Spielberg

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July 02, 2025

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut

'Jurassic World Rebirth' brings back iconic scene that Spielberg cut "Jurassic Park" is all about bringing the past back t...

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Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

After a life in the spotlight, Richard Simmons spent the last decade of his life at his home, rarely speaking with friends or venturing out Those who knew the fitness icon say that news of an unauthorized biopic starring Pauly Shore forced the fitness icon to finally emerge from his self-imposed exile "It lit a fire," says his longtime publicist of Simmons's plans for a splashy comeback—and a Broadway musical of his life story In the early-morning hours of July 8, 2024, Patrick Leonard received an email fromRichard Simmons. For the previous month the famed songwriter had been busy putting music to the biographical lyrics that Simmons—who'd spent the past 10 years living in seclusion from his flamboyant public persona—would send him, hoping they would one day become a hit Broadway musical, marking his grand return to show business. "It was a poem about dealing with loss," recalls Leonard, trying not to choke up while reading Simmons's prophetic words. "He wrote: 'It takes a toll on your heart. Some shed many tears, others stare at the sky. It's so hard to say goodbye. Here's what I know: When it's time for us to go, beautiful angels will greet us with a smile and hello.'" Harry Langdon/Getty, Anna Mjöll Leonard, who's worked with everyone from Madonna and Rod Stewart to Leonard Cohen, never got a chance to sit down at his piano and compose a melody to accompany Simmons's last installment of lyrics. Simmons's unexpected death from heart disease and complications from a fall marked a sudden, unsettling end to an iconic career that spawned bestselling books, infomercials and workout videos that sold more than 22 million copies. Reports later emerged that he had taken a tumble before he died but waved off entreaties from his live-in house manager to get medical attention. "It's been a very long year," says Simmons's brother Lenny. "But people are still taking about him—and that's given us a lot of peace." Simmons's death, however, dashed any hopes that the frizzy-haired tornado of energy and empathy would reemerge from self-imposed exile. It was in 2014 that he first retreated from view behind the walls of his home—with his doll collection, artwork and roses—in the hills above the Sunset Strip. Richard Simmons/X The move spawned wild speculation, including a popular podcast, about why he really disappeared. Just two days before his death, Simmons finally laid to rest those rumors in anupbeat interview with People—his first in more than a decade—assuring the public that he was "feeling great." As for why he turned off his spotlight, Simmons—for whom 40 years of high-kicking workouts had taken their toll on his knees—insisted the reason was fairly prosaic: "My body told me it was time." Now, a year after his passing, some of those who knew Simmons best are painting a picture of his final months, what renewed his interest in the public eye and his tragically unfulfilled plans for the future. "He was ready to come back," says Tom Estey, his publicist of nearly 30 years, "but he was going to do it on his terms." Even to those close to him, Simmons's withdrawal from public life in February 2014—the same month Hattie, the last of his six beloved dalmatians, died—was confusing. "It was the abruptness and the complete shutdown that really got people concerned," says Michael Catalano, who had been Simmons's manager since his break-a-sweat heyday. Few of his friends and business associates heard from him for nearly a decade. Courtesy of Teresa Reveles Then in January 2024 things suddenly changed after Simmons learned that actor and comedianPauly Shore was planningon starring in a feature film based on his life. "That lit a fire," says Estey, explaining that Simmons was incensed that someone besides him was trying to tell his story. Lenny describes the incident as "the straw that broke the camel's back." It forced a "recharged" Simmons—who, up until then, rarely saw anyone but Teresa Reveles, his house manager of nearly 36 years—to consider restarting his career. Within days of learning about the unauthorized biopic, hereturned to social mediawith a message denying any involvement with the film and informing his fans that he had been trying "to live a quiet life and be peaceful." Estey began receiving up to five phone calls a day from him. In the months that followed, Simmons began reestablishing contact with scores of people he hadn't been in regular touch with. Before long he was also talking with ABC'sDiane Sawyerabout sitting for a TV special on the next chapter of his life. "It was wonderful," recalls Sawyer of their conversations, "to hear him so excited, to hear that in his voice again." Death cut short Simmons's plans for the future, but his collaborators would love to see his planned musical, now his final project, realized even without him. Says Leonard: "I hope they can find a way to get this done. I think it would do what Richard spent his whole life doing—lift people up." Read the original article onPeople

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July 02, 2025

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusive)

Richard Simmons' Friends Reveal 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' and Finally Drove Him Out of 10-Year Seclusion (Exclusiv...

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Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal

Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpsaid Tuesday that Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and warned Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. Donald Trumpannounced the development as he prepares to host Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahufor talks at the White House on Monday. The U.S. leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end tothe war in Gaza. "My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War," Trump wrote, saying the Qataris and Egyptians would deliver the final proposal. "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Trump's promise that it was his best and final offer may find a skeptical audience with Hamas. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would see the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has leftmore than 56,000 deadin the Palestinian territory. The Gaza Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its death count. Hamas is stillcapable of landing fatal blowsto Israeli forces. But U.S. officials believe that the group's been significantly diminished as its centralized command and control capabilities have deteriorated over the course of the nearly 21-month conflict. Meanwhile, Hamas' chief backer Iran was badlybattered last month by 12 days of strikesby Israel and the United States on Tehran's key nuclear facilities.. Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer was in Washington on Tuesday for talks with senior administration officials to discuss a potential Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. Dermer was expected to meet with Vice PresidentJD Vance,Secretary of StateMarco Rubioand special envoy Steve Witkoff. Earlier Tuesday, Trump repeated his hope for forging an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal next week. Asked if it's time to put pressure on Netanyahu to get a ceasefire deal done, Trump said the Israeli prime minister was ready to come to an agreement. "He wants to," Trump said of Netanyahu in an exchange with reporters while visiting a newimmigrationdetention facility in Florida. "I think we'll have a deal next week." Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point — whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, withless than half believed to be alive. Hamas says it iswilling to free all the hostagesin exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war in Gaza. Israel rejects that offer, saying it will agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something that the group refuses. The announcement by Trump came as over 150 international charities and humanitarian groups called Tuesday for disbanding a controversialIsraeli- and U.S.-backedsystem to distribute aid in Gaza because of chaos and deadly violence against Palestinians seeking food at its sites. The joint statement by groups including Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty International followed the killings of at least 10 Palestinians who were seekingdesperately needed food, witnesses and health officials said. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital. "Tents, tents they are hitting with two missiles?" asked Um Seif Abu Leda, whose son was killed in the strikes. Mourners threw flowers on the body bags. Before Trump's announcement, Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, had warned that his country would respond forcefully to the firing of a missile the military said originated from Yemen. Sirens sounded across parts of Israel, alerting residents to the attack and the launch of two projectiles from Gaza. All were intercepted by Israeli defense systems. The missile launch marked the first attack by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since the end of the 12-day war initiated by Israel with Iran. Katz said Yemen could face the same fate as Tehran. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, vowed on social media that Yemen will not "stop its support for Gaza … unless the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted." Speaking to his Cabinet, Netanyahu did not elaborate on plans for his visit to Washington next week, except to say he will discuss a trade deal. Iran is also expected to be a main topic of discussion in Washington after Trumpbrokered a ceasefirebetween it and Israel. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report. ___ Follow the AP's war coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

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July 02, 2025

Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal

Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumps...

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20 states sue after the Trump administration releases private Medicaid data to deportation officials

20 states sue after the Trump administration releases private Medicaid data to deportation officials

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration violated federal privacy laws when it turned over Medicaid data on millions of enrollees to deportation officials last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta alleged on Tuesday, saying he and 19 other states' attorneys general havesuedover the move. Health secretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.'s advisers ordered the release of a dataset that includes the private health information of people living in California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C., to the Department of Homeland Security,The Associated Press firstreported last month. All of those states allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs that pay for their expenses using only state taxpayer dollars. The unusual data sharing of private health information, including addresses, names, social security numbers, immigration status, and claims data for enrollees in those states, was released to deportation officials as they accelerated enforcement efforts across the country. The data could be used to help the Department of Homeland Security locate migrants in its mass deportation campaign, experts said. Bonta said the Trump administration's data release violates federal health privacy protection laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). "This is about flouting seven decades of federal law policy and practice that have made it clear that personal healthcare data is confidential and can only be shared in certain narrow circumstances that benefit the public's health or the Medicaid program," Bonta said during a news conference on Tuesday. The Trump administration has sought to arm deportation officials with more data onimmigrants. In May, for example,a federal judgerefused to block theInternal Revenue Servicefrom sharing immigrants' tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help agents locate and detain people living without legal status in the U.S. The move to shore up the federal government's data on immigrant Medicaid enrollees appears to have been set in motion in May, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it would be reviewing some states rolls to ensure federal funds have not been used to pay for coverage for people with "unsatisfactory immigration status." As part of the review, CMS asked California, Washington and Illinois to share details about non-U.S. citizens who have enrolled in their state's Medicaid program, according to a June 6 memo signed by Medicaid Deputy Director Sara Vitolo that was obtained by the AP. The memo was written by several CMS officials under Vitolo's supervision, according to sources familiar with the process. CMS officials attempted to fight the data sharing request from Homeland Security, saying that to do so would violate federal laws, including the Social Security Act and the Privacy Act of 1974, according to the memo. The legal arguments outlined in the memo were not persuasive to Trump appointees at HHS, which oversees the Medicaid agency. Four days after the memo was sent, on June 10, HHS officials directed the transfer of "the data to DHS by 5:30 ET today," according to email exchanges obtained by AP. HHS is "aggressively cracking down on states that may be misusing federal Medicaid funds," agency spokesman Andrew Nixon said in a statement. The agency has not provided details on DHS' role in the effort. Nixon also defended the legality of releasing the data to DHS. "HHS acted entirely within its legal authority – and in full compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them," he said in the statement. Dozens of Democratic members of Congress — in both the House and Senate —have sent lettersto the involved agencies, demanding that data sharing cease and that Homeland Security destroy the information it has received so far. — Associated Press writer Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco contributed.

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July 02, 2025

20 states sue after the Trump administration releases private Medicaid data to deportation officials

20 states sue after the Trump administration releases private Medicaid data to deportation officials WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administrat...

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Former classmate of firefighter ambush suspect details past extremist views

Former classmate of firefighter ambush suspect details past extremist views

As the investigation into thedeadly firefighter ambushin Idaho over the weekend continues, police are still trying to piece together why suspect Wess Roley allegedly instigated the attack, a source familiar told ABC News. Law enforcement officials identified Roley as the suspected gunman after he was found dead on Canfield Mountain with a shotgun and his cell phone nearby. The FBI is taking the lead in the technical processing of the phone and what it holds, officials said in an update Tuesday night. Officials hope to exploit the contents of the device to glean any potential insight into a possible motive. Two firefighters were killed in the attack on Sunday -- Frank Harwood, 42, a battalion chief with the Kootenai County Fire & Rescue Department and John Morrison, 52, battalion chief of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department -- and another firefighter, Dave Tysdal, of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department, was injured while responding to the brush fire, which officials believe Roley purposely started before the ambush. MORE: Suspect in deadly Idaho ambush previously wanted to be a firefighter: Sheriff Part of the investigation into Roley's background is focusing on his childhood in Arizona, where he lived with his mother and stepfather, the sources said. Authorities have spoken with some of Roley's immediate family, though it's unclear what they've said, the source added. Police in Idaho have publicly stated that they believe Roley acted alone and that they don't believe the attack on firefighters had any connection to terrorism. The source familiar with the investigation, however, said that authorities learned Roley grew up with a family that had firearms and felt comfortable handling them. The source said Roley's stepfather lawfully possessed many firearms. Photos posted to the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Roley's mother and stepfather, reviewed by ABC News, reflect that familiarity with firearms. Nearly half of Arizona residents own firearms, according to Everytown Research and Policy. MORE: Grandfather of suspect in deadly Idaho firefighter ambush speaks out In an interview with ABC News on Tuesday, a former classmate of Roley's said that while the alleged sniper was always "really different," he still has "a hard time trying to correlate the same Wess that I grew up with to the Wess that did what he did." "I don't know why he did it, and it's -- it's shocking to me," said the former classmate Dieter, who didn't want his last name used publicly. "It's something that villains do, plain and simple." Dieter described Wess Roley as someone who was unusually outspoken in the strident ways he would defend his views. Dieter claimed Roley was someone who talked about Nazism, who was "very pro-gun," who spoke of wanting to join the military, who would often make drawings of bombs and military vehicles and who allegedly got in trouble once for drawing swastikas in a textbook. Roley would also say "awful things" related to the border crisis, Dieter said. Dieter said he and his friends would brush off all the comments as "Wess just being Wess," trying to say outlandish things to be "edgy" and stand out. Dieter said Roley never spoke much about his family or his background, except he allegedly often claimed to have been born in Germany and to be more German and "more patriotic" than others. MORE: Bryan Kohberger agrees to plead guilty to all counts in Idaho college murders case: Letter from prosecutors According to Dieter, he and Wess were "never close," but they were part of the same friend group -- going to school together in the Phoenix area beginning in late elementary school and continuing until sophomore year of high school, when Dieter moved to Colorado. During their freshman year of high school, however, Dieter claimed Roley "definitely was becoming more kind of unhinged in what he would say... and what he thought was right." Roley's family's attorney, Justin P. Whittenton, shared a statement on behalf of the family on Monday, saying they "intend to fully cooperate with authorities in seeking answers." "At this time, we, the family of Wess Roley would like to offer our most heartfelt condolences to the families of those whose lives were taken and to the community of Coeur d'Alene at large," the family said in the statement. "There are no words that can suffice for this tragedy and the infinite losses suffered by those affected by this shooting. We do not understand why this happened or how this came about," the family added. ABC News has reached out to Roley's mother and stepfather for further comment, but did not immediately hear back.

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July 02, 2025

Former classmate of firefighter ambush suspect details past extremist views

Former classmate of firefighter ambush suspect details past extremist views As the investigation into thedeadly firefighter ambushin Idaho o...

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Kylie Jenner Quietly Marks a Relationship Milestone With Timothée Chalamet

Kylie Jenner Quietly Marks a Relationship Milestone With Timothée Chalamet

THE RUNDOWN Kylie Jenner followed Timothée Chalamet on Instagram, giving digital proof that their relationship of two years is going strong. Chalamet didn't follow her back—but only because he doesn't follow anyone on the social media platform. Jenner and Chalamet have had several public dates this year, including at awards shows like the Oscars. Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet are going strong—and Jenner wants Instagram to know it. The beauty entrepreneur quietly followed the actor on the platform. Chalamet didn't return the favor, but only because he doesn't follow anyone. Jenner follows just 119 people—not even herex Travis Scott, with whom she co-parents their two children, Stormi and Aire, isamong them. The star values privacy in her personal life. She has made a point not to speak about Chalamet in interviews, tellingELLEthis fall, "I think it's important to keep things to yourself. It's hard for me to make a decision by myself sometimes, so the opinion of the whole world…it can be tough." Chalamet and Jenner have had public dates, however. Theyattended the Oscarstogether and madetheir red carpet debut this Mayat the 70th David Di Donatello Awards in Rome. The couple was last photographed on May 30, when they posed backstage withOh, Mary!'s Cole Escola while at the Broadway show in New York City: Jenner was most recently spottedat Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's weddingin Venice, Italy, this past weekend. Chalamet was not seen with her. In May, a sourcetoldEntertainment Tonightthat Jenner wants a very serious future with Chalamet—one that even includes more children. "Kylie thinks Timothée is so great with her kids, and she has told her closest friends that she would love to have another baby with him some day," the insider said. The source added that Jenner is "so in love with Timothée. She loves learning about his world and supporting him whenever she can." You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)

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July 02, 2025

Kylie Jenner Quietly Marks a Relationship Milestone With Timothée Chalamet

Kylie Jenner Quietly Marks a Relationship Milestone With Timothée Chalamet THE RUNDOWN Kylie Jenner followed Timothée Chalamet on Instagram,...

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