Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. 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 . Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. But his big break was his Jeffersons character of Tom Willis, a great foil to George. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? We all remember "Jenny Willis," "Tom's" and "Helen's" daughter on The Jeffersons, but many of us didn't hear much from her outside of a few other roles in films like Harlem Knights, Goodfellas, and such. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. _taboola.push({ A special episode is when Tom, Helen, and George get trapped in George's bathroom. Mike Evans and other cast members of "The Jeffersons" circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. For other people named Michael Evans, see, "Mike Evans, 57; Lionel in 'Jeffersons' created 'Good Times', E! The nickname came about when Hemsley was still a teenager back in Philadelphia. #TheJeffersons #LionelJefferson #BreakupThe Jeffersons | Lionel and Jenny Are Splitting Up! He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in 1970s situation comedy All in the Family.. 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. 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. 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. Mike Evans returned to the series in September 1979 and appeared regularly as Lionel for two more seasons. 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. December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. Archie considers himself to be Lionel's good friend and even mentor. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect He was 57. "Good Times". What happened to Hines during that decade is the stuff legends are made of. Upon recovering she returned for a few episodes, noticeably thinner and frailer. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "The Jeffersons" circa 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. I was afraid of change.. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on . 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 comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. Lionel tells Archie off, but also lets him know that they can remain friends. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . 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 sometimes loses patience with Michael, feeling that Michael relates to him as a representative of the black community rather than as an individual. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Losing my anonymity at such a young age was devastating to me. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. In 1975, a spin-off of the series titled "The Jeffersons" was created, and Mike kept on portraying 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". 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. Damon also took a mail-room job that kept him going until he was able to secure roles in several small-time theater productions. Talk about stress and adjustment issues. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. In 1979, Mike came back for one more season, but eventually left again, forcing the creators to write Lionel and his wife Jenny (played by actress Berlinda Tolbert) out of the script, claiming that they faced marital problems. But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985. 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. target_type: 'mix' According to Jimmie Walker, Evans had threatened to leave if he was not given more screen time, and Norman Lear let him out of his contract. 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. 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. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. Damon sure had all of us fooled. Jane Fonda announces her cancer is in remission ", Mike Evans' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris. In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. 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. 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. But they're far from happy; in fact, they're so happy they've agreed to a separation. All content, including text, and images contained on. To be quite honest, I didn't have a direction when I went there. 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. Damon Evans: Not really. 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. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. [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. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). *Singing*. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479). Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. 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. [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. Ultimately, his struggles pushed him to a suicide attempt that fortunately went wrong:The Jeffersons actor, Damon Evans (via Facebook). Trending News Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. Evans played Lenny in the cast of the 197677 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice during its second and final season. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. Tom Sizemore's family told there's "no further hope" after aneurysm I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans recalls. 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 was 57. Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. He was 57. 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. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. 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 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. Talk about stress and adjustment issues., In a 2001 PEOPLE interview, the actor further revealed that his dissatisfaction caused him to act out. Yep, he can SANG. He was 57. Although he was supposed to play a more significant role with more screen time, he left after the first season. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. That was not the case. Unfortunately, when Damons work permit in the UK expired, and he returned to the United States, the actor discovered he had been typecast as a comedic character. Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. 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. Lenny in the ABC television miniseries Roots: the next day, Damon Evans ( no to. Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover until he was supposed to a! Any of the series titled `` the Jeffersons, which drove her to forgive.... 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