All Rights Reserved. Lionel #2 from, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on, Wow! Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. Series overview [ edit] Episodes [ edit] Season 1 (1975) [ edit] Season 2 (1975-76) [ edit] Season 3 (1976-77) [ edit] Season 4 (1977-78) [ edit] Season 5 (1978-79) [ edit] Posted On : May 14, 2015. The nickname came about when Hemsley was still a teenager back in Philadelphia. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect Getting high was all that mattered, Damon shared. But he didn't waste any time finding a new project and found himself working behind the cameras in "Good Times," the show which he helped create and started writing for. Lionel #2 from The Jeffersons. . When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. ", Mike Evans' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. To the east si-i-ide!. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. Actor Mike Evans, who played Lionel Jefferson in the television comedy series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. 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. Wow! Mike drew his last breath at his home his mothers home in Twentynine Palms in 2006, as announced by his niece, Chrystal Evans, following a battle with throat cancer. His last role was in a 2000 episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. She has a career that has included television, movies and live performances. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. No! In 2007 (at age 56) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx College in New York. } Michael Jonas Evans was born Nov. 3, 1949, in Salisbury, N.C. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. }); Copyright 2015 . And I think, for me, that was the hardest thing was that I was so afraid to give up my identity as a performer. 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.". Archie considers himself to be Lionel's good friend and even mentor. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Franklin Cover, Paul Benedict, Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs, Ned Wertimer, Berlinda Tolbert, Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, and Mike Evans from "The Jeffersons" in 1975 in Los Angeles, California | Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "The Jeffersons" circa 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for Good Times, one of the first TV sitcoms that featured a primarily black cast. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; He admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous. In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. 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". That is the closest I ever got to meeting and/or knowing Mike Evans, his mother. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in . #TheJeffersons #LionelJefferson #BreakupThe Jeffersons | Lionel and Jenny Are Splitting Up! Mike Evans died in 2006 in his mothers house. 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[1], A college student majoring in drama but with no acting experience, Evans caught his big break when All in the Family producer and director John Rich hired him to play Lionel Jefferson, the son of the Bunkers' new black neighbors. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina. This sets none to well with the Jeffersons or the Willises, who are determined to get at the root of the matter or in George's case, meddle to the point where they have to get back together.Available on Prime Video: https://amzn.to/3oYSG9XSubscribe to The Norman Lear Effect channel: https://bit.ly/NormanLearEffectFollow us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNormanLearEffectAbout The Jeffersons: His cleaning business booming, scrappy George Jefferson decides it's time to move on up to the deluxe apartments on New York's posh east side. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. 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 . Damon sure had all of us fooled. 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. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. Franklin Cover first began acting in 1960 and was on The Jackie Gleason Showa couple of times in 1967 as a police officer. Instead of apologizing for not taking care of her for years, never being there for her when she needed him the most while growing up, or even trying to make amends, the actor kept his distance. Maestro cue the outro music! 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 and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. According to him, he wanted to educate America in the sense that Lionel was a black married man who was working on his masters and was ready to have a family, which was something America hadn't seen yet. Its really been pretty phenomenal. As such, Lionel often enjoys patronizing Archie's attitudes by playing dumb in conversations and adopting a stereotypical speech pattern (saying things like "I'm gon' be a 'lectical engineer!" Damon sure had all of us fooled. In 1975, a spin-off of the series titled "The Jeffersons" was created, and Mike kept on portraying Lionel. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. Early life [ edit] Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. While Carlene suffered a lot at his hands, she eventually forgave him. Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. "Good Times". Remember him? He was 57. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. He was survived by his two daughters (Carlena and Tammie), his mother (Annie Sue), a brother, a cousin, and a niece. Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. Im learning a lot today. Damon Evans on never meeting the 1st Lionel.. It was later revealed that he was actually Henry Jefferson, Georges brother. She was sometimes credited as Ebony Smith. Helen Willis ( ne Douglas) (portrayed by Roxie Roker, except for her first appearance in All in the Family, when she was portrayed by Kim Hamilton) is Louise's best friend and George's nemesis. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', On the PBS childrens show Sesame Street, Benedict was the Mad Painter who painted numbers everywhere. 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. At which location is the altitude of polaris approximately 42? He was 57. [citation needed] Evans's body was cremated. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. The Grand Terrace was located at 317 East 35th Street, on the south side of Chicago. Damon Evans: If I had to make that particular choice over again, that is accepting or not accepting the role of Lionel and replacing actor Michael Evans, I definitely would have refused the role. Its great that Damon sought the help he desperately needed, but in the beginning the sudden reality of him having to go from Lionel the superstar, back to the everyday civilian, working in the mail room, had to a tough adjustment. The cause was throat cancer, said a niece, Chrystal Evans. Maestro cue the outro music! Losing my anonymity at such a young age was devastating to me. _taboola.push({ Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479).[4]. I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. Lionel Jefferson, who appeared in seasons 1-5 of All In The Family is the son of George and Louise Jefferson, On the AITF series, the part was played by Mike Evans, who would go on to co-create another Norman Lear produced sitcom, Good Times in 1975, the same season his character Lionel, George and Louise were spun off themselves into a series, titled The Jeffersons. Damon let the cat of the bag when he publicly revealed that he hated playing "Lionel" on The Jeffersons and deeply regrets doing the show. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. 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. All Rights Reserved. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. Kiss announce farewell tour set to conclude in NYC Can i add someone to my wells fargo account online? On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Original Lionel, Mike Evans, decided to leave the show after the second season. However, Lionel turns out to be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like new furniture and employee blazers. Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and films, beginning in 1965. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. [2], Evans continued to play the role on the spinoff The Jeffersons, but left after the first season to pursue other aspects of his career. George (front) with wife Louise and son Lionel. 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 . A special episode is when Tom, Helen, and George get trapped in George's bathroom. *Singing*. The episode with George's first appearance is called "Henry's Farewell," which is a fitting title--we never see Uncle Henry again. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? To this very day, I dont think they have a clue as to who I really am, and thats there loss. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game. Now 90, and with dozens of film and TV appearances under her belt, Gibbs is still working since 2021, shes been a regular on Days of Our Lives. Actor and opera singer Damon Evans (no relation to Michael) then took the role of Lionel, but Mike Evans returned in the role for the sixth through eighth seasons. It happened after a stinging loss to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, in which Portland coughed up a 25-point lead. 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. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. Not only that, but she believes that she felt his spirit asking her to save his house, which was bound to be foreclosed. My family, on the other hand, couldnt have been happier. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. He was 57. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. 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. Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. target_type: 'mix' What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? High on crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, he walked from his upper Manhattan apartment to the George Washington Bridge and contemplated leaping into the Hudson River 250 feet below. As Lionel's parents and uncle Henry appear more frequently, Lionel's role becomes less significant. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. 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). 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. For other people named Michael Evans, see, "Mike Evans, 57; Lionel in 'Jeffersons' created 'Good Times', E! The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. Eight years before landing the Jeffersons gig, Damon had graduated from Michigans Interlochen Arts Academy and had been pursuing his passion as an opera singer in Broadway musicals. Evan's character, Lionel, was one of the first characters that showcased an opinionated black young man, and even though he had to deal with his neighbor Archie's constant ignorant and racist comments, Lionel usually played along, remaining unfazed about the demonstrations of bigotry displayed by Archie. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. Tom Sizemore's family told there's "no further hope" after aneurysm mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', He left in 1981 to pursue other projects but returned in 1983. Besides, I was just becoming aware that I was a gay man and the conflict of the expectations of Hollywood and the role of Lionel placed me in enormous emotional, psychological, and spiritual conflict with myself. 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.. Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. He was 57. The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. Ultimately, his struggles pushed him to a suicide attempt that fortunately went wrong:The Jeffersons actor, Damon Evans (via Facebook). What happened to Hines during that decade is the stuff legends are made of. In one of the early episodes, the Jeffersons move into a house down the block from the Bunkers (later, the house is said to be next door). In a prior People Magazine article, Damon explained how his lack of jobs, led to depression, then to years of drug addiction. display: none; Damon Evans: Not really. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. }, First published on December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. 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. If I had to make that particular choice over again, that is accepting or not accepting the role of Lionel and replacing actor Michael Evans, I definitely would have refused the role, the actor confessed during an interview with Keith Boykin, per ILOSM. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). I didnt have any pride.. Actress Marla Gibbs, best known for her roles on shows like The Jeffersons and 227 is now 90 years of age and still going strong. There I was a total unknown one day, and the next appearing on network television in one of the top 10 TV shows on the air. Ed Sheeran reveals wife was diagnosed with tumor while pregnant Get to Know 'The Girl from Plainville' Star's Girlfriend of 7 Years, Roseanne Barr Blamed Sara Gilbert for Destroying Her Her Family-Oriented Life After the Scandal, James Drury Died Months after Wife of 40 Years He Had Several Heartbreaks before His 'Wonderful Marriage'. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Found Her! 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. Are any of the members of peter, paul and mary still alive? I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Damon recalled, but then another thought crept in that stopped him from ending his life: I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself?. ", In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. or "Lawd almighty, what is we gonna do?"). is for general information purposes only. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. I had a really bad attitude.. } Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. display: block; In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Damon let the cat of the bag when he publicly revealed that he hated playing Lionel on The Jeffersons and deeply regrets doing the show. The Jeffersons Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Without the Bunkers as foils, Lionel's role focuses more on his family life and his relationship with Jenny Willis (daughter of interracial couple Tom Willis and Helen Willis). George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . 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. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. }); Copyright 2015 . Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Isabel Sanford, (born August 29, 1917, New York, New York, U.S.died July 9, 2004, Los Angeles, California), American actress best known for her role as Louise (Weezy) Jefferson in the long-running television situation comedy The Jeffersons (197585). And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. Upon recovering she returned for a few episodes, noticeably thinner and frailer. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { [3] Actor and opera singer Damon Evans (no relation to Michael) then took the role of Lionel, but Mike Evans returned in the role for the sixth through eighth seasons. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? Damon Evans took over the role and he stayed for two years in seasons three and fourthis was the dark period. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { 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. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Mike EvansAll in the Family Biography. 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. I heard Gladys Knight say this, that we all get lost in the maze of materialism, but theres a greater force if you believe in it, that brings us back home. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mothers home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Damon Evans (born November 24, 1949) is an American actor best known as the second of two actors who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. According to her, she was raised by her mother and grandmother, and that, shockingly, Mike absolutely refused to believe that he was her biological father. KB: Wow. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations . His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985. Start Today. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, a teacher. Today Damon Evans is 72 years young and has made great strides in his life. Mike Evans was known for being a bright and funny individual. George Jefferson is a fictional character played by Sherman Hemsley on the American television sitcoms All in the Family (1973-1975, 1978) and its spin-off The Jeffersons (1975-1985), in which he serves as the program's protagonist. A total of 253 episodes aired on CBS over 11 seasons, from January 18, 1975, through July 2, 1985. Id be late a lot. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. 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.". Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Evans . The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game . To be quite honest, I didn't have a direction when I went there. What happened to the first Lionel on The Jeffersons show? The show touched on issues that were taboo on TV at the time such as homosexuality, abortion, racism, rape, religion and more. 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. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). He was 57. Trending News Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. For his part, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie's racism and unrelenting condescension. This event creates tension for Archie, though it elates Michael and Gloria. On the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained away like this: Bentley works as a Russian interpreter for the United Nations. And you know but gradually it happened, and of course, theres this whole new world in life. Talk about stress and adjustment issues., In a 2001 PEOPLE interview, the actor further revealed that his dissatisfaction caused him to act out. She was 86. It would be almost a decade before they were free to leave that venue. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson.

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