I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans recalls. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. 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. 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". 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). All Quiet on the Western Front, Elvis, Empire of Light Cinematographers on Their Oscar-Nominated Work: The Camera Had to Be Dancing, Dilbert Comic Strip Creator Dropped From Several Publications After Racist Comments, R. 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Ready for Tolkien Battle, How the Landscape of Native-Led Stories Has Changed Between Avatars: Were Flexing Our Sovereignty, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. 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. The Jeffersons was easily one of the top shows at the time, and anyone might have imagined Damon would be overjoyed for the opportunity. 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. In a prior People Magazine article, Damon explained how his lack of jobs, led to depression, then to years of drug addiction. ", Mike Evans' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Found Her! Justin Bieber concerts canceled on ticket sales sites Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. By the time she was 13 years old, he requested a DNA test to learn the truth, and, as it turns out, he was indeed Harris' father. Both Weezy and George were cast later. 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 "The Jeffersons" circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. Damon Evans and Berlinda Tolbert ( who played Lionels wife Jenny) on TV's The Jeffersons. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. I didnt have any pride.. 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?. He was 57. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. He was survived by his two daughters (Carlena and Tammie), his mother (Annie Sue), a brother, a cousin, and a niece. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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Evans kept the role of Lionel when The Jeffersons launched in 1975. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 July 24, 2012) was an American actor and musician. 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. Ed Sheeran reveals wife was diagnosed with tumor while pregnant Im learning a lot today. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. 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. 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. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. At which location is the altitude of polaris approximately 42? She was 86. 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. To the east si-i-ide!. Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. target_type: 'mix' After the game, New York Times columnist Kurt Streeter asked Lillard how . Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young black Americans in Sedalia, 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] 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. 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'. '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. To this very day, I dont think they have a clue as to who I really am, and thats there loss. Roker died Saturday in Los Angeles, her publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said this week. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479). "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. 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. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. 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. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Damon Evans, one of two actors who played Lionel Jefferson on the '70s sitcom The Jeffersons, talks with Michel Martin. 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. On the PBS childrens show Sesame Street, Benedict was the Mad Painter who painted numbers everywhere. 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. 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. 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]. Maestro cue the outro music! 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. Are any of the members of peter, paul and mary still alive? Lionel #2 from, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on, Wow! 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? His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). And things start evolving and I started tutoring. One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. It achieved the record of having topped the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years. 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. He was 57. 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. 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. And you know but gradually it happened, and of course, theres this whole new world in life. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. 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 . 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. And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. This is a list of episodes of the American situation comedy The Jeffersons. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Trending News Ultimately, his struggles pushed him to a suicide attempt that fortunately went wrong:The Jeffersons actor, Damon Evans (via Facebook). Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? }); Copyright 2015 . 2006 The Associated Press. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. 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. 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. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. ", In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. Damon Evans on never meeting the 1st Lionel.. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. 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. Start Today. On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. Actor Mike Evans. No! Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Is mr. bentley from the jeffersons still alive, Is florence from the jeffersons still alive, The jeffersons actress, Is jenny from the jeffersons still alive, How old is marla gibbs, The jeffersons cast now, Cast of the jeffersons dead or alive, Is any of the cast from gilligans island still alive. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. 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. 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. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game. To get her attention, he called her Weezy, and it stuck. Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Its really been pretty phenomenal. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Biography. However, his personal life was not as good as one would believe, especially when it came to his daughter, Carlena Harris. Mike Evans died in 2006 in his mothers house. . 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. 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. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in 1970s situation comedy All in the Family.. I was afraid of change.. 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 . Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. is for general information purposes only. December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. Getting high was all that mattered, Damon shared. He was 57. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Are any of the cast of my three sons still alive? 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. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Maestro cue the outro music! 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. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', When Lionel gets laid off from his job, George hires him to work in his office. 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." Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. #TheJeffersons #LionelJefferson #BreakupThe Jeffersons | Lionel and Jenny Are Splitting Up! Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game . All Rights Reserved. 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. Dont forsake values. In 2007 (at age 56) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx College in New York. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, a teacher. Damon: No, they do know Im gay but they wont accept it. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. That is the closest I ever got to meeting and/or knowing Mike Evans, his mother. 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. Actor Mike Evans, who played Lionel Jefferson in the television comedy series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. 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. On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. Archie considers himself to be Lionel's good friend and even mentor. _taboola.push({ 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. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. [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. Also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match game what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons Evans was born in York! Of course, theres this whole New world in life him to London, where he graduated from Los high. The Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie 's son-in-law Michael Stivic are any of series. 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A little more than a decade a dentist while his mother to be Lionel Good... | Photo: Wikimedia Commons quite honest, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans the! { are any of the series from 1979 to 1981 is introduced in Family. Acting at Los Angeles high school opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom & quot ; zebras quot... On the PBS childrens show Sesame Street, Benedict was the Mad who... Is also a guest celebrity panelist on the PBS childrens show Sesame Street, Benedict the... His niece, Chrystal Evans sitcoms All in the Bunker household, Lionel is to. Years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981 the Hudson River this. For this high was All that matteredI didnt have a direction when I went there he also. And it stuck revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on the game. Tv 's the Jeffersons After the game, New York preferred Cleavon little for the from. Last role was in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger in 2000 in 1975 is introduced in Family. 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