Damon sure had all of us fooled. Found Her! On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. He opened up about his drug addiction to a therapist and reportedly joined Narcotics Anonymous. 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 series lasted eight years and ran for eleven seasons, becoming the #1 comedy series in television with the highest rankings on its summer reruns. Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. "All in The Family" was one of the first television series of the '80s to present an all-black cast, and the premise of the series followed the life of an interracial couple. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? 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. He was 57. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. The actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson for more than a decade lost his life after a long battle with cancer. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. On the PBS childrens show Sesame Street, Benedict was the Mad Painter who painted numbers everywhere. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Remember him? #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. 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. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. / AP. 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 . 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. Lionel #2 from, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on, Wow! Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. 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. Damon Evans and Berlinda Tolbert ( who played Lionels wife Jenny) on TV's The Jeffersons. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. 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. Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. } Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. And I think, for me, that was the hardest thing was that I was so afraid to give up my identity as a performer. He has appeared in all 253 episodes of The Jeffersons . Talk about stress and adjustment issues. They married on January 10, 1976. Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? _taboola.push({ He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. Berlinda Tolbert was 22 years old when she first stepped onto the scene as "Jenny . Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. She has a career that has included television, movies and live performances. Mike Evans was known for being a bright and funny individual. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. Im learning a lot today. 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. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. Damon Evans: Dont forsake their values to their ultimate goal. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Damon Evans, one of two actors who played Lionel Jefferson on the '70s sitcom The Jeffersons, talks with Michel Martin. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in . I didnt have any pride.. 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.". He explained during an interview with News & Notes that his foray into academics, though unplanned, was life-changing. Wow! In 2007 (at age 56) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx College in New York. The show touched on issues that were taboo on TV at the time such as homosexuality, abortion, racism, rape, religion and more. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. On the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained away like this: Bentley works as a Russian interpreter for the United Nations. Damon Evans: Not really. In 1975, a spin-off of the series titled "The Jeffersons" was created, and Mike kept on portraying Lionel. . He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Evans . 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. When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. He was 57. Trending News "Good Times". *Singing* Well were moving on up! Evans appeared infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the two-part episode "Sayonara" in 1985. Start Today. Ed Sheeran reveals wife was diagnosed with tumor while pregnant Talk about stress and adjustment issues., In a 2001 PEOPLE interview, the actor further revealed that his dissatisfaction caused him to act out. But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985. 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. 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. Posted On : May 14, 2015. Getting high was all that mattered, Damon shared. 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? Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? _taboola.push({ The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. 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. He reportedly had a huge crush on a girl who was older than him. 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. 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. 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. The nickname came about when Hemsley was still a teenager back in Philadelphia. 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. Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. Gibbs, who played the Jeffersons housekeeper Florence, is still alive today. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. 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 character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself? he says. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. Archie considers himself to be Lionel's good friend and even mentor. Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. 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'. What happened to Hines during that decade is the stuff legends are made of. 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. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . KB: Wow. But his big break was his Jeffersons character of Tom Willis, a great foil to George. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. 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