He was 57. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. 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. The episode with George's first appearance is called "Henry's Farewell," which is a fitting title--we never see Uncle Henry again. She was sometimes credited as Ebony Smith. For his part, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie's racism and unrelenting condescension. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons 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. 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? She was 66. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. 134K views 1 year ago #TheJeffersons #Breakup The Jeffersons (Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley) get the news that Lionel and Jenny (Mike Evans and Berlinda Tolbert) are separating, so they. To support himself, he took a job in the mail room of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, where he gamely replied Yes whenever coworkers asked, Werent you Lionel? Evans also joined a church and began taking singing lessons. Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for "Good Times," one of the first TV comedy series that featured a primarily black cast. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. 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 . The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Evans died of throat cancer. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. [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. 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. What happened to Lionel on The Jeffersons? Damon Evans, one of two actors who played Lionel Jefferson on the '70s sitcom The Jeffersons, talks with Michel Martin. His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Tom Sizemore's family told there's "no further hope" after aneurysm Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Father and daughter stopped talking for good when she was 21 years old, and he kept on denying that he was Harris' biological father, claiming that his brother a man that nobody ever knew was her real dad. Talk about stress and adjustment issues. The actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson for more than a decade lost his life after a long battle with cancer. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. Upon recovering she returned for a few episodes, noticeably thinner and frailer. We wish that brotha the best though. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985. It happened after a stinging loss to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, in which Portland coughed up a 25-point lead. 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. . 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. Evans gave life to the character through all of the seasons of "All in The Family" but when it came to playing the role on the spin-off show that was centered on the life of the black family, he took a break for three years and was replaced by actor Damon Evans. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. 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. Damon Evans: Dont forsake their values to their ultimate goal. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.[5]. On the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained away like this: Bentley works as a Russian interpreter for the United Nations. He was 57. Found Her! Although popularly known as one of the actors who portrayed "Lionel Jefferson" on the long-running sitcom The Jeffersons (1975), Damon Evans is an accomplished singer and stage performer. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on All in the Family, producer, Norman Lear, had pegged Sherman Hemsley to play George Jefferson. But when All in the Family became a hit, Hemsley was tied up on Broadway as the co-star of Purlie, and was understandably reluctant to break his contract. Damon Evans took over the role and he stayed for two years in seasons three and fourthis was the dark period. 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. 2006 The Associated Press. It was later revealed that he was actually Henry Jefferson, Georges brother. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. I had a really bad attitude.. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { "Good Times". mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Kiss announce farewell tour set to conclude in NYC His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. _taboola.push({ [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. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. When Lionel gets laid off from his job, George hires him to work in his office. } The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mothers home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Mike EvansAll in the Family Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Evans played Lenny in the cast of the 197677 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice during its second and final season. Sanford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since July 4, said Brad Lemack. Actor Mike Evans, who played Lionel Jefferson in the television comedy series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. As Lionel's parents and uncle Henry appear more frequently, Lionel's role becomes less significant. / AP. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Evans kept the role of Lionel when "The Jeffersons" launched in 1975. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. All in the Family's CBS spinoff series, The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? display: none; 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. Start Today. On September 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in February 2001. I had not even seen one episode of the show before I took over the part, and the producers discouraged me from ever watching any of the episodes in which Mike had appeared. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game. [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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. }); Copyright 2015 . Little did fans know back then though, Damon was unhappy and would soon be headed down a years long battle with himself and drug addiction. I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself? he says. It's really been pretty phenomenal., Although Damon has been out of the spotlight for a long time, the actor/opera singer is remembered for his works in productions like Operas Porgy And Bess, Broadways Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and Jesus Christ Superstar, and as a young Alex Haley in the ABC TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Are any of the cast of my three sons still alive? This resulted in grueling struggle of unemployment, with very few acting gigs in between. Posted On : May 14, 2015. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. A total of 253 episodes aired on CBS over 11 seasons, from January 18, 1975, through July 2, 1985. Losing my anonymity at such a young age was devastating to me. In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. 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.". It sounds like you didnt enjoy doing the show. Id be late a lot. And you know but gradually it happened, and of course, theres this whole new world in life. When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. 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. All Rights Reserved. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans recalls. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. KB: Wow. To get her attention, he called her Weezy, and it stuck. Lear improvised and hired Mel Stewart as a sort of placeholder. In the sitcoms storyline, Stewart posed as George Jefferson when he joined Georges wife, Louise (played by Isabel Sanford), for dinner at the Bunker home. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "The Jeffersons" circa 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. 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. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . display: none; It really was the verbal autobiography that brought this attention to the fact of what Ive done and I and for I talked to the students about what it meant about learning to let go of family, about, you know, following your own course in life, and about confronting the fear of change. Away from the world of entertainment, Damon bagged his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College in 2007. He was known for his roles as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen, and B.P. Maestro cue the outro music! Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and films, beginning in 1965. *Singing* Well were moving on up! (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?! 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'. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. A few episodes, noticeably thinner and frailer work would take him to work his. The show appear more frequently, Lionel 's role becomes less significant.. # inline-recirc-item id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d... 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what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons