Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. During the final season of The Jeffersons, Lionel and Jenny announce they are seeking a divorce (after living apart for several years while Lionel worked in Japan). Mike Evans and more members of the "All in the Family" cast circa 1972 | Photo: Getty Images. Online (22 Dec 2006, 02:56:00 PM PST): ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Evans_(actor)&oldid=1125602728, People from San Bernardino County, California, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Main cast (34 episodes) (final appearance), This page was last edited on 4 December 2022, at 22:04. Justin Bieber concerts canceled on ticket sales sites All content, including text, and images contained on. On the first two seasons of All in the Family, Lionel has an uncle named Henry. I had a really bad attitude.. As Lionel's parents and uncle Henry appear more frequently, Lionel's role becomes less significant. Ebonie Smith, also known as Ebony Smith (born Negra Candalaria-Smith; September 16, 1978) is a Puerto Rican-born American former child actress known for her role as Jessica Jefferson in the sitcom The Jeffersons in four episodes in Seasons 10 and 11. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. They married on January 10, 1976. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. is for general information purposes only. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', When the series ended, Gibbs took on other TV roles including portraying Mary Jenkins on the sitcom 227. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/sherman-hemsley-net-worth/, https://the-jeffersons.fandom.com/wiki/Florence_Johnston, Georges Weezy nickname was based off on a real-life romance. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. He also acted in the 1976 TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and made guest appearances on the TV series Love, American Style and The Streets of San Francisco. His last role was in a 2000 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { I didnt have any pride.. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Harris said: "I just had to live with the fact that I didn't have an earthly father who wanted me, but the thing with that is it certainly caused me to be closer to my heavenly father and got me to a point where I was content. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). The late star was born in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1949, son to father Theodore Evans Sr., who made a living as a dentist, and to mother Annie Sue Evans, who . But while we were getting to know Mike Evans, the actor, his daughter, Carlena Harris, was apparently getting to know him as her dad, whom she says . (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. While Carlene suffered a lot at his hands, she eventually forgave him. Michael Jonas Evans (November 3, 1949 December 14, 2006) was an American actor, best known as Lionel Jefferson on both All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Although he was born in North Carolina, Mike eventually moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, where he decided that he wanted to try his luck in show business, having studied acting at Los Angeles City College. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? It sounds like you didnt enjoy doing the show. He also acted in the 1976 TV miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man" and made guest appearances on the TV series "Love, American Style" and "The Streets of San Francisco." Unfortunately, when Damon's work permit in the UK expired, and he returned to the United States, the actor discovered he had been typecast as a comedic character. The late star was born in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1949, son to father Theodore Evans Sr., who made a living as a dentist, and to mother Annie Sue Evans, who worked as a school teacher. So in 1978, he left the show and decided to pursue other acting roles, as well as his first passion of singing in the opera. As we previously reported, Damon Evans absolutely hated being a part of "The Jeffersons" and had several problems going on behind the scenes and internally (you can read about that HERE).So in 1978, he left the show and decided to pursue other acting roles, as well as his first passion of singing in the opera. Damon Evans took over the role and he stayed for two years in seasons three and fourthis was the dark period. The actor, who was 57 at the time of his passing, was famous for playing the role of Lionel Jefferson first in "All in the Family," and later in "The Jeffersons.". The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons During a guest appearance on "The Charay Vaughn Show," Harris opened up about the cruel way he used to treat her when she was only a child, revealing that he was never involved in her life. One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. Evans died of throat cancer. In a prior People Magazine article, Damon explained how his lack of jobs, led to depression, then to years of drug addiction. Upon recovering she returned for a few episodes, noticeably thinner and frailer. Because once you get there youll find out that there is no there there. Ed Sheeran reveals wife was diagnosed with tumor while pregnant What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? No! Lionel #2 from, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on, Wow! Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. Is mr. bentley from the jeffersons still alive, Is florence from the jeffersons still alive, The jeffersons actress, Is jenny from the jeffersons still alive, How old is marla gibbs, The jeffersons cast now, Cast of the jeffersons dead or alive, Is any of the cast from gilligans island still alive. Zara Cully, who played Mother Jefferson, had been absent from the first 17 episodes of Season Three due to a serious case of pneumonia caused by a collapsed lung. Damon Evans was a cast member on the CBS hit 70s sitcom The Jeffersons, but while everyone must have thought he had the best life, Evans was battling personal demons that would lead him down a drug-fueled path and near-suicide. Unfortunately, in the years that followed, Damon soon realized Hollywood had mostly typecast him as the comedic character, Lionel. However, he wanted to prove his diversity. It achieved the record of having topped the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years. KB: Wow. Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. Maddie Brown Shares Her Postpartum Journey Weeks after Giving Birth to Third Child, Jamie Lee Curtis Admits 'Saying Goodbye' to James Corden Was Harder than She Thought as His Show Ends, Man Finds Out His Fiance Is Pregnant, Forces Her to Choose between Abortion or Marriage, Charlie Sheen Could Not Understand the Chaos He Created in His Life Because of His Addictions, Widowed Mom Learns Her Son Escapes Home Every Night, He Returns One Day with Bag Full of Cash Story of the Day, 'Family Affair's' Johnny Whitaker's Family Threatened to 'Divorce' Him after He Became Penniless, The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Even though most people believed Mike would grow up to become one of the most famous faces in Hollywood, the truth is that those two episodes were the last time he was seen in front of the cameras. We came to know him as the character, "Lionel," from "The Jeffersons" and it was he and his friend, Eric Monte's, creative genius that gave us their sitcom creation, "Good Times.". Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. And I think, for me, that was the hardest thing was that I was so afraid to give up my identity as a performer. Mike Evans, the actor who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the TV series "All In The Family" and "The Jeffersons," passed away at the age of 57 years old following a short-lived career. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. ", In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. We wish that brotha the best though. To be quite honest, I didn't have a direction when I went there. There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479).[4]. Years after his passing, Harris claimed that God asked her to go to Los Angeles and stay at her paternal grandmother's home, where slept in the same room that her father died in. In 1975, a spin-off of the series titled "The Jeffersons" was created, and Mike kept on portraying Lionel. He explained during an interview with News & Notes that his foray into academics, though unplanned, was life-changing. Mike Evans and other cast members of "The Jeffersons" circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. However, that said, the first year on the show was quite a heady experience. In the second half of Wednesday's Live in Front of a iloveoldschoolmusic.com, A few of us were at the ILOSM office today, having one of our brainstorm idea sessions, and someone randomly blurted out the name Damon Evans a.k.a. George (front) with wife Louise and son Lionel. Lionel's patience runs out when Archie tells him not to see his niece socially because "white ought to stay with white and colored ought to stay with colored". But they're far from happy; in fact, they're so happy they've agreed to a separation. All Rights Reserved. There I was Lionel which was to them the epitome of what they wanted me to be, but Lionel was just a role I played as an actor. October 11, 2022September 27, 2022by John Groove Mike Evans left The Jeffersons after its first season in order to devote more time to writing for Maude spin-off Good Times, which he had helped create. Mike Evans left The Jeffersons after its first season in order to devote more time to writing for Maude spin-off Good Times, which he had helped create. Samuel L Jackson & Wife Are Married for 41 Years & 'Still Love Each Other' Though They Took 10 Years to Wed, 'Law & Order's' Camryn Manheim Turns 61 - Meet Her Son Milo Who Is All Grown-up & Is Also an Actor, Who Is Jake Sully from Avatar? Damon: No, they do know Im gay but they wont accept it. When Lionel Jefferson actor Mike Evans left The Jeffersons shortly after the All in the Family spin-off debuted on CBS in 1975, it was . No! He left in 1981 to pursue other projects but returned in 1983. All in the Family's CBS spinoff series, The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. The cause was throat cancer, said a niece, Chrystal Evans. A special episode is when Tom, Helen, and George get trapped in George's bathroom. This resulted in grueling struggle of unemployment, with very few acting gigs in between. On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. And things start evolving and I started tutoring. Im learning a lot today. He was 57. Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. He was 57. He was 57. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. (L) Damon Evans, the actor who played Lionel Jefferson on The Jeffersons sitcom; (inset photo) The Jeffersons stars, Isabel Sanford (Weezy Jefferson) and Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson) When most of us first saw actor, Damon Evans, pop up on The Jeffersons as Weezys and Georges son, we were like, Who dat?! Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. Damon Evans and Berlinda Tolbert ( who played Lionels wife Jenny) on TV's The Jeffersons. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Damon Evans: Not really. He was 57. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". I was afraid of change.. Damon Evans: Dont forsake their values to their ultimate goal. He was known for his roles as The Number Painter on the PBS childrens show Sesame Street and as the English neighbor Harry Bentley on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. Today Damon Evans is 72 years young and has made great strides in his life. Evans kept the role of Lionel when "The Jeffersons" launched in 1975. Did you? By the time she was 13 years old, he requested a DNA test to learn the truth, and, as it turns out, he was indeed Harris' father. Losing my anonymity at such a young age was devastating to me. Mike Evans left The Jeffersons after its first season in order to devote more time to writing for Maude spin-off Good Times, which he had helped create. Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. Evans also stated that he never had a chance to meet the first Lionel, played by Mike Evans, who was also the co-creator of the Good Times sitcom: Damon Evans: I was the second Lionel and I never met Mike, although I did meet his mother one Sunday in church during the first year I was doing the show. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect The question asked of me will always be Which Lionel are you, the first or the second? 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