I had a really bad attitude.. 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." 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. Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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. Lionel #2 from The Jeffersons. We wish that brotha the best though. After the game, New York Times columnist Kurt Streeter asked Lillard how . 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. }); Copyright 2015 . 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. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. 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. One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. Dont forsake values. Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. 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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. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mothers home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. 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. Found Her! Posted On : May 14, 2015. 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 survived by his two daughters (Carlena and Tammie), his mother (Annie Sue), a brother, a cousin, and a niece. 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. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? 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. He opened up about his drug addiction to a therapist and reportedly joined Narcotics Anonymous. 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. 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. 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. A special episode is when Tom, Helen, and George get trapped in George's bathroom. It sounds like you didnt enjoy doing the show. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Damon Evans on never meeting the 1st Lionel.. Start Today. He was 57. The actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson for more than a decade lost his life after a long battle with cancer. 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. 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 explained to NPR, why he decided to go to college at an older age: Damon Evans- I am useless when I am not active. 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 known for his roles as The Number Painter on the PBS childrens show Sesame Street and as the English neighbor Harry Bentley on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. 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. He was 57. To the east si-i-ide!. However, Lionel turns out to be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like new furniture and employee blazers. Damon Evans: Dont forsake their values to their ultimate goal. Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. 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 Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina. However, his personal life was not as good as one would believe, especially when it came to his daughter, Carlena Harris. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. While Carlene suffered a lot at his hands, she eventually forgave him. Evans gave life to the character through all of the seasons of "All in The Family" but when it came to playing the role on the spin-off show that was centered on the life of the black family, he took a break for three years and was replaced by actor Damon Evans. Evans appeared infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the two-part episode "Sayonara" in 1985. 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. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. display: none; I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself? he says. *Singing*. All Rights Reserved. No! 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. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". He has appeared in all 253 episodes of The Jeffersons . Damon Evans: Not really. LOS ANGELES Actress Isabel Sanford, best known as Weezie, Louise Jefferson on the television sitcom The Jeffersons, died of natural causes, her publicist said Monday. Lionel #2 from, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on, Wow! TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Yep, he can SANG. 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. Unfortunately, in the years that followed, Damon soon realized Hollywood had mostly typecast him as the comedic character, Lionel. However, he wanted to prove his diversity. 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. Are any of the members of peter, paul and mary still alive? His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. The Grand Terrace was located at 317 East 35th Street, on the south side of Chicago. 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. Its really been pretty phenomenal. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. 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. I didnt have any pride.. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Via People: A depressed and unemployed Evans came close to ending his own life. Damon sure had all of us fooled. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. 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. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. No! 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. Mike EvansAll in the Family When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. He admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous. Sanford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since July 4, said Brad Lemack. The show touched on issues that were taboo on TV at the time such as homosexuality, abortion, racism, rape, religion and more. What happened to the first Lionel on The Jeffersons show? Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. [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. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game . Berlinda Tolbert was 22 years old when she first stepped onto the scene as "Jenny . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was later revealed that he was actually Henry Jefferson, Georges brother. 2006 The Associated Press. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. Lets just say this, Ive taken detours but I always come back home. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Gibbs, who played the Jeffersons housekeeper Florence, is still alive today. According to him, he wanted to educate America in the sense that Lionel was a black married man who was working on his masters and was ready to have a family, which was something America hadn't seen yet. Did you? 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. This resulted in grueling struggle of unemployment, with very few acting gigs in between. 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. What happened to Hines during that decade is the stuff legends are made of. 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 . On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. She was 86. We wish that brotha the best though. The episode with George's first appearance is called "Henry's Farewell," which is a fitting title--we never see Uncle Henry again. 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. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. 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Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479). On September 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in February 2001. He explained during an interview with News & Notes that his foray into academics, though unplanned, was life-changing. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; The Jeffersons was easily one of the top shows at the time, and anyone might have imagined Damon would be overjoyed for the opportunity. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? To get her attention, he called her Weezy, and it stuck. Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. 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. 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. *Singing* Well were moving on up! Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. We came to know him as the character, "Lionel," from "The Jeffersons" and it was he and his friend, Eric Monte's, creative genius that gave us their sitcom creation, "Good Times.". Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. (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?! He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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 . Mike Evans was known for being a bright and funny individual. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. This event creates tension for Archie, though it elates Michael and Gloria. Biography. Actress Marla Gibbs, best known for her roles on shows like The Jeffersons and 227 is now 90 years of age and still going strong. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. As Lionel's parents and uncle Henry appear more frequently, Lionel's role becomes less significant. 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. It was later revealed that he was actually "Henry Jefferson," "George's" brother. This is a list of episodes of the American situation comedy The Jeffersons. On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. }); Copyright 2015 . Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. I was afraid of change.. There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. 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. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. Id be late a lot. But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985. I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans recalls. 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. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. 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). He was 57. In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. [citation needed] Evans's body was cremated. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Was known for his role as Bentley on the Jeffersons: nth-child ( 5 ) { Gibbs, played. What advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an career... How the Jeffersons & quot ; Jenny passed away in July 2004 Twentynine Palms said! 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To your inbox every day as Good as one would believe, especially when it came to his,. 14 at his mothers home in Twentynine Palms, said Brad Lemack mother, Annie Sue Evans, was creator/writer... Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans ( no relation Mike.
what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons