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 attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina. Id be late a lot. It was later revealed that he was actually Henry Jefferson, Georges brother. KB: Wow. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. 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. To this very day, I dont think they have a clue as to who I really am, and thats there loss. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. 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. Damon Evans on never meeting the 1st Lionel.. Mike Evans died in 2006 in his mothers house. Damon Evans: Not really. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. target_type: 'mix' 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. 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. 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. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Mike EvansAll in the Family 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. Upon recovering she returned for a few episodes, noticeably thinner and frailer. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Posted On : May 14, 2015. His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. 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. 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. I had a really bad attitude.. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. 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. Online (22 Dec 2006, 02:56:00 PM PST): ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Evans_(actor)&oldid=1125602728, People from San Bernardino County, California, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Main cast (34 episodes) (final appearance), This page was last edited on 4 December 2022, at 22:04. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Remember him? 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. 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. 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. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on . Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. 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. What happened to Hines during that decade is the stuff legends are made of. She was 66. 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 . 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. On the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained away like this: Bentley works as a Russian interpreter for the United Nations. . He was 57. ", Mike Evans' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris. In 1975, a spin-off of the series titled "The Jeffersons" was created, and Mike kept on portraying Lionel. However, his personal life was not as good as one would believe, especially when it came to his daughter, Carlena Harris. 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. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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 sets none to well with the Jeffersons or the Willises, who are determined to get at the root of the matter or in George's case, meddle to the point where they have to get back together.Available on Prime Video: https://amzn.to/3oYSG9XSubscribe to The Norman Lear Effect channel: https://bit.ly/NormanLearEffectFollow us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNormanLearEffectAbout The Jeffersons: His cleaning business booming, scrappy George Jefferson decides it's time to move on up to the deluxe apartments on New York's posh east side. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans recalls. Gibbs, who played the Jeffersons housekeeper Florence, is still alive today. Biography. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. Roxie Roker, the elegant and beautiful actress best known for her role as Helen Willis on the long-running hit CBS television series The Jeffersons, has died. He opened up about his drug addiction to a therapist and reportedly joined Narcotics Anonymous. He was 57. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. } ", In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. In the second half of Wednesday's Live in Front of a 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?. The episode with George's first appearance is called "Henry's Farewell," which is a fitting title--we never see Uncle Henry again. }); Copyright 2015 . 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. Via People: A depressed and unemployed Evans came close to ending his own life. Damon was only 25 in 1975 when he was tapped to replace Mike Evans (no relation) as Lionel Jefferson in the primetime TV show. However, that said, the first year on the show was quite a heady experience. The Grand Terrace was located at 317 East 35th Street, on the south side of Chicago. Kiss announce farewell tour set to conclude in NYC 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. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', They eventually marry and gave birth to a daughter, Jessica. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). He reportedly had a huge crush on a girl who was older than him. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. is for general information purposes only. For other people named Michael Evans, see, "Mike Evans, 57; Lionel in 'Jeffersons' created 'Good Times', E! 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. For his part, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie's racism and unrelenting condescension. Although he was supposed to play a more significant role with more screen time, he left after the first season. The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. 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. Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. What happened to Lionel on The Jeffersons? "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. While Carlene suffered a lot at his hands, she eventually forgave him. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? That didn't stop him from doing a fantastic job in front of the cameras and winning over the audience. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', And you know but gradually it happened, and of course, theres this whole new world in life. Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Talk about stress and adjustment issues., In a 2001 PEOPLE interview, the actor further revealed that his dissatisfaction caused him to act out. Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. 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 . They married on January 10, 1976. But they're far from happy; in fact, they're so happy they've agreed to a separation. The nickname came about when Hemsley was still a teenager back in Philadelphia. 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. This is a list of episodes of the American situation comedy The Jeffersons. I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself? he says. 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. When Lionel gets laid off from his job, George hires him to work in his office. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. He was 57. As Lionel's parents and uncle Henry appear more frequently, Lionel's role becomes less significant. Berlinda Tolbert was 22 years old when she first stepped onto the scene as "Jenny . Actor Mike Evans. Gibbs was born Margaret Theresa Bradley on June 14, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois. 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. 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. "Good Times". The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Damon sure had all of us fooled. Evans played Lenny in the cast of the 197677 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice during its second and final season. It sounds like you didnt enjoy doing the show. }); Copyright 2015 . Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. 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). He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). She was 86. His last role was in a 2000 episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger. Away from the world of entertainment, Damon bagged his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College in 2007. display: none; We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations . 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. A total of 253 episodes aired on CBS over 11 seasons, from January 18, 1975, through July 2, 1985. Justin Bieber concerts canceled on ticket sales sites I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. 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. 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. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. 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. Are any of the members of peter, paul and mary still alive? container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and films, beginning in 1965. Mike Evans and more members of the "All in the Family" cast circa 1972 | Photo: Getty Images. Wow! In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . I was afraid of change.. 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. All Rights Reserved. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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". We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life?

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