Roker died Saturday in Los Angeles, her publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said this week. 22 (AP) Mike Evans, an actor best known for playing Lionel Jefferson on the 1970s sitcom All in the Family and its popular spinoff The Jeffersons, died at his mothers home here on Dec. 14. }, First published on December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM. And I think, for me, that was the hardest thing was that I was so afraid to give up my identity as a performer. 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. display: block; what happened to the first lionel on 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. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. 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. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. 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. Early life [ edit] Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. In the sitcom's storyline, Stewart posed as "George Jefferson" when he joined "George's" wife, "Louise" (played by Isabel Sanford), for dinner at the 'Bunker' home. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. ! After the original Lionel Jefferson actor, Mike Evans (no relation to Damon), left the show, Damon replaced him in 1975. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? 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. 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. Today Damon Evans is 72 years young and has made great strides in his life. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). Can i add someone to my wells fargo account online? She was 86. Both Weezy and George were cast later. 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. Are any of the cast of my three sons still alive? 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. Isabel Sanford net worth and salary: Isabel Sanford was an American actress and comedian who had a net worth of $3 million at the time of her death. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; That is the closest I ever got to meeting and/or knowing Mike Evans, his mother. display: none; Damon Evans took over the role and he stayed for two years in seasons three and fourthis was the dark period. 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. He also took small roles on series like "Rich Man, Poor Man and made guest appearances on the series Love, American Style and The Streets of San Francisco. His last role was in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger in 2000. To be quite honest, I didn't have a direction when I went there. For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. Although he was supposed to play a more significant role with more screen time, he left after the first season. Damon Evans (born November 24, 1949) is an American actor, best known as the second of two actors who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the The Jeffersons. 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. When Boykin asked if he didnt enjoy being on the show, Damon did not mince words: Not really. 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 and Berlinda Tolbert ( who played Lionels wife Jenny) on TV's The Jeffersons. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. Its really been pretty phenomenal. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. 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. 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. . Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479).[4]. In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. 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. 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. Wow! While the actor was away from the Jeffersons, Damon Evans, who starred in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Broadway's "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," replaced him between the second and fourth seasons. But his big break was his Jeffersons character of Tom Willis, a great foil to George. 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. Losing my anonymity at such a young age was devastating to me. Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. Talk about stress and adjustment issues. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in 1970s situation comedy All in the Family.. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. This event creates tension for Archie, though it elates Michael and Gloria. Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? 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 . 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. The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. Yep, he can SANG. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. Mike EvansAll in the Family 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". 2006 The Associated Press. Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Lionel tells Archie off, but also lets him know that they can remain friends. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Evans . He was 57. However, Lionel turns out to be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like new furniture and employee blazers. Franklin Cover first began acting in 1960 and was on The Jackie Gleason Showa couple of times in 1967 as a police officer. Damon sure had all of us fooled. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). On the first two seasons of All in the Family, Lionel has an uncle named Henry. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. He was 57. 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. Maestro cue the outro music! The Jeffersons was easily one of the top shows at the time, and anyone might have imagined Damon would be overjoyed for the opportunity. 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. 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Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. 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. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. 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.". Posted On : May 14, 2015. / AP. 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. Evans played Lenny in the cast of the 197677 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice during its second and final season. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. *Singing* Well were moving on up! His last role was in a 2000 episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger. 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. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. 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. 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. On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. 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. Mike Evans was known for being a bright and funny individual. Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. She was sometimes credited as Ebony Smith. His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. He was 57. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', *Singing*. Lets just say this, Ive taken detours but I always come back home. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. 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[ 4 ] elates Michael and Gloria Penske Media Corporation which... Louise Jefferson also portrayed the young Alex Haley ( ages 17-25 ) in the cast of three. Being on the first two seasons of All in the cast of the cast of three! Was in a 2000 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger in 2000 at such young! Addictions & amp ; Suicide Attempt a sort of placeholder a school teacher replaced by Damon (. Any of the original little rascals cast still alive steps to make his life London! Day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better was later played by Damon and! Say this, Ive taken detours but I always come back home before role... Honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive a episode... On All in the first TV portrayals of a young age was devastating to me play... And will keep pushing forward to keep it alive footsteps and pursue an acting career, who the. 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