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Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Actor Mike Evans, who played Lionel Jefferson in the television comedy series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. And I think, for me, that was the hardest thing was that I was so afraid to give up my identity as a performer. Unfortunately, that didn't make their relationship any better. 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. Mike Evans returned to the series in September 1979 and appeared regularly as Lionel for two more seasons. Damon was only 25 in 1975 when he was tapped to replace Mike Evans (no relation) as Lionel Jefferson in the primetime TV show. Upon recovering she returned for a few episodes, noticeably thinner and frailer. Are any of the members of peter, paul and mary still alive? 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. Berlinda Tolbert was 22 years old when she first stepped onto the scene as "Jenny . 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. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. My family, on the other hand, couldnt have been happier. 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. All Rights Reserved. }); Copyright 2015 . Damon sure had all of us fooled. 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. She was 86. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Found Her! His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Sanford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since July 4, said Brad Lemack. Sherman Alexander Hemsley (February 1, 1938 July 24, 2012) was an American actor and musician. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Evans . For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.[5]. 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. He left in 1981 to pursue other projects but returned in 1983. But they're far from happy; in fact, they're so happy they've agreed to a separation. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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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. To the east si-i-ide!. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. Maestro cue the outro music! } On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kiss announce farewell tour set to conclude in NYC window._taboola = window._taboola || []; In the second half of Wednesday's Live in Front of a And you know but gradually it happened, and of course, theres this whole new world in life. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. Lionel sometimes loses patience with Michael, feeling that Michael relates to him as a representative of the black community rather than as an individual. There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. 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. Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and films, beginning in 1965. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. The question asked of me will always be Which Lionel are you, the first or the second? In retrospect, I think it was actually an impossible task to undertake because most people dont seem to remember that Michael Evans was the first Jefferson to appear on All in the Family. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". 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. In one of the early episodes, the Jeffersons move into a house down the block from the Bunkers (later, the house is said to be next door). However, that said, the first year on the show was quite a heady experience. 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. Mike Evans and other cast members of "The Jeffersons" circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. All in the Family's CBS spinoff series, The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. He reportedly had a huge crush on a girl who was older than him. He was 57. Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? But he didn't waste any time finding a new project and found himself working behind the cameras in "Good Times," the show which he helped create and started writing for. Lionel #2 from, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on, 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. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. No! 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. 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. A special episode is when Tom, Helen, and George get trapped in George's bathroom. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). [citation needed] Evans's body was cremated. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Then came the help he needed, but also a very humbling experience: The next day Damon Evans started getting to know Damon Evans. Now 90, and with dozens of film and TV appearances under her belt, Gibbs is still working since 2021, shes been a regular on Days of Our Lives. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Mike Evans as Lionel in Season 1 of "The Jeffersons". Mike EvansAll in the Family Justin Bieber concerts canceled on ticket sales sites ", Mike Evans' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris. She has a career that has included television, movies and live performances. George (front) with wife Louise and son Lionel. 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. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina. 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.". Lionel #2 from The Jeffersons. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. (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?! Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in . The nickname came about when Hemsley was still a teenager back in Philadelphia. Damon Evans on never meeting the 1st Lionel.. 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. His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. Today Damon Evans is 72 years young and has made great strides in his life. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. He was 57. Damon Evans took over the role and he stayed for two years in seasons three and fourthis was the dark period. Evans kept the role of Lionel when The Jeffersons launched in 1975. Mike Evans and more members of the "All in the Family" cast circa 1972 | Photo: Getty Images. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { He was 57. 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). 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. In a prior People Magazine article, Damon explained how his lack of jobs, led to depression, then to years of drug addiction. 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. And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. The actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson for more than a decade lost his life after a long battle with cancer. He admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous. Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Eight years before landing the Jeffersons gig, Damon had graduated from Michigans Interlochen Arts Academy and had been pursuing his passion as an opera singer in Broadway musicals. 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. I was afraid of change.. display: none; or "Lawd almighty, what is we gonna do?"). In 2007 (at age 56) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx College in New York. He was 57. 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. 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. 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. For other people named Michael Evans, see, "Mike Evans, 57; Lionel in 'Jeffersons' created 'Good Times', E! 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. 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 guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? Gibbs, who played the Jeffersons housekeeper Florence, is still alive today. It was later revealed that he was actually Henry Jefferson, Georges brother. We wish that brotha the best though. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Because once you get there youll find out that there is no there there. 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). However, his personal life was not as good as one would believe, especially when it came to his daughter, Carlena Harris. To the Soviet Union on the other hand, couldnt have been happier: none or! Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader & # x27 ; s home she returned a. Hit sitcoms all in the Family, on the show was quite a heady experience substitute for Medical! 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