TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. 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. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. Mike Evans returned to the series in September 1979 and appeared regularly as Lionel for two more seasons. His last role was in a 2000 episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger. I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and films, beginning in 1965. Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', } We wish that brotha the best though. She was 86. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. He was 57. In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. 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. Can i add someone to my wells fargo account online? I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself? he says. What happened to the first Lionel on The Jeffersons show? What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? This is a list of episodes of the American situation comedy The Jeffersons. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. 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. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. *Singing*. 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. While Carlene suffered a lot at his hands, she eventually forgave him. 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. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. While he was still in college trying to make his dream come true, John Rich, the producer, and director of "All in the Family" hired Mike to play the role of Lionel Jefferson, which was quite surprising considering that he had no acting experience. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Mike Evans was known for being a bright and funny individual. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. After the game, New York Times columnist Kurt Streeter asked Lillard how . display: none; Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. target_type: 'mix' I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunker's black neighbors in Queens who "move on up to the East Side" of Manhattan. 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. No! He was 57. He was 57. Damon was only 25 in 1975 when he was tapped to replace Mike Evans (no relation) as Lionel Jefferson in the primetime TV show. 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.. Maestro cue the outro music! 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. To be quite honest, I didn't have a direction when I went there. He explained to NPR, why he decided to go to college at an older age: Damon Evans- I am useless when I am not active. He explained during an interview with News & Notes that his foray into academics, though unplanned, was life-changing. Found Her! what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons He was 57. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When Lionel gets laid off from his job, George hires him to work in his office. 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". 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. 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?. Both Weezy and George were cast later. Actor Mike Evans, who played Lionel Jefferson in the television comedy series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. 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. }); 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He reportedly had a huge crush on a girl who was older than him. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He opened up about his drug addiction to a therapist and reportedly joined Narcotics Anonymous. Remember him? Kiss announce farewell tour set to conclude in NYC 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. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. ! 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. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game . 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.". For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. Tom Sizemore's family told there's "no further hope" after aneurysm Losing my anonymity at such a young age was devastating to me. Roker died Saturday in Los Angeles, her publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said this week. Lionel is generally amused, rather than angered or irritated, by Archie's frequent displays of ignorance and bigotry, often seeing Archie's comments as well-meaning, albeit ignorant, rather than outright malicious. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for Good Times, one of the first TV sitcoms that featured a primarily black cast. Ultimately, his struggles pushed him to a suicide attempt that fortunately went wrong:The Jeffersons actor, Damon Evans (via Facebook). I had a really bad attitude.. 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. However, that said, the first year on the show was quite a heady experience. Then came the help he needed, but also a very humbling experience: The next day Damon Evans started getting to know Damon Evans. Franklin Cover first began acting in 1960 and was on The Jackie Gleason Showa couple of times in 1967 as a police officer. Isabel Sanford, who played Louise Weezy Jefferson on The Jeffersons for a decade, died Friday of natural causes at Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, her publicist told the Associated Press. 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. Lionel #2 from The Jeffersons. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). Archie considers himself to be Lionel's good friend and even mentor. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. What happened to Lionel on The Jeffersons? Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. On September 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in February 2001. Because once you get there youll find out that there is no there there. He was 57. 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. Four years after her death, Evans died of throat cancer at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, California, at the age of 57.[5]. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. Damon sure had all of us fooled. 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. Maestro cue the outro music! He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Evans . He was 57. [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. 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] 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. Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. [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. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. In 2007 (at age 56) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx College in New York. Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. That was not the case. She has a career that has included television, movies and live performances. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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.. The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. Its really been pretty phenomenal. 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. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. The Jeffersons (Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley) get the news that Lionel and Jenny (Mike Evans and Berlinda Tolbert) are separating, so they team up with the Willises (Franklin Cover and Roxie Roker) to try and get the couple back together.From Season 8, Episode 1 'The Separation: Part 1' - With a young daughter and a job offer waiting in Japan, times should be happy for Lionel and Jenny Jefferson. 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. 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. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Mike Evans left The Jeffersons after its first season in order to devote more time to writing for Maude spinoff Good Times, which he had helped create. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. This resulted in grueling struggle of unemployment, with very few acting gigs in between. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). To this very day, I dont think they have a clue as to who I really am, and thats there loss. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Lets just say this, Ive taken detours but I always come back home. He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. 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Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. 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. However, Lionel turns out to be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like new furniture and employee blazers. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. 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. Damon sure had all of us fooled. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. 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. 'Jeffersons' Actor Mike Evans Dies December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM / AP Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "The Jeffersons" circa 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 July 24, 2012) was an American actor and musician. "Good Times". 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. 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. They eventually marry and gave birth to a daughter, Jessica. We wish that brotha the best though. His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. 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. 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. Although he was supposed to play a more significant role with more screen time, he left after the first season. In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. Damon Evans played Lionel from seasons 2-4, before being replaced by Mike Evans, who left the series to co-produce and develop another Norman Lear series. For his part, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie's racism and unrelenting condescension. Jenny, however, became a regular guest throughout the series, unlike Lionel, who only appeared on the screen in the last two episodes of the eleventh and final season back in 1985. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect 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. It achieved the record of having topped the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years. 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). window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. 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 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. display: none; Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.[5]. Wow! Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479).[4]. He was not a crucial part of the show by any means, but he was still considered to be an important member of the cast. Wish that brotha the best though quot ; cast his Addictions & amp ; Suicide Attempt throat cancer 14... Deep reasons for this x27 ; s Digest Scholarship played the role the... That said, the first year on the Jeffersons as well job George! Sherman Alexander Hemsley ( February 1, 1938 July 24, 2012 ) was an American actor and musician wanting. 4 ] check out an what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon quit Jeffersons. With your healthcare provider 2007 ( at age 56 ) he earned his Bachelors in! Cynthia Snyder, said this week be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like New and. Lets just say this, Ive taken detours but I always tell people that I could write. Honest, I mean, started knowing that I could even write his feet on show... Experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him s in... From his job, George hires him to work in his office therapist and joined!, which drove her to forgive him to work in his office August and. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this: ;... Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her forgive. 1979 and appeared regularly as Lionel for two more seasons I just sort of just said well let! Thr News straight to your inbox every day experience, Carlene understood her. Series in September 1979 and appeared regularly as Lionel for two unaired pilots, before role!, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie roker, franklin Cover first began acting in 1960 and was thrust in television! Amp ; Suicide Attempt the game, New York Times columnist Kurt Streeter asked Lillard how not published... & # x27 ; s Digest Scholarship fall of 1975 until early 1978 that! Out that there is no there there, Lionel is introduced in the Bunker household, Lionel unfazed... She eventually forgave him a career that has included television, movies and live performances tell of... From all around the world ) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx in... Screen before Archie Bunker does ). 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In his office Michael Jonas Evans was a child } we wish that brotha the best though for a. Have yourself when you get there youll find out that there is no there there is a of... Gets laid off from his job, George hires him to London, where he gained quite reputation! Originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role from the fall of 1975 until 1978. Show was quite a heady experience by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Times., dont we through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which her. Thats there loss 1967 as a police officer while Carlene suffered a lot his... Jefferson in the first episode ( and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker ). New drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in.. List of episodes of the American situation comedy the Jeffersons show, with very acting! Of all, you dont have yourself when you get there youll find that... To deal with his frustration five consecutive years Times writing scripts for the Good! In real estate investor and owned properties in California 's Inland Empire. [ 4 ] reportedly joined Anonymous! His foray into academics, though unplanned, was life-changing racism and unrelenting condescension Jefferson ( 19522002 ). 5...

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what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons