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. She was 66. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. That is the closest I ever got to meeting and/or knowing Mike Evans, his mother. No! George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . Damon: No, they do know Im gay but they wont accept it. 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. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. In the second half of Wednesday's Live in Front of a 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. 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. He was 57. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. _taboola.push({ Wow! mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. What happened to Hines during that decade is the stuff legends are made of. I didnt have any pride.. He was 57. Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. 2006 The Associated Press. 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. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. 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. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. Roker died Saturday in Los Angeles, her publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said this week. Damon also took a mail-room job that kept him going until he was able to secure roles in several small-time theater productions. Then came the help he needed, but also a very humbling experience: The next day Damon Evans started getting to know Damon Evans. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. He was survived by his two daughters (Carlena and Tammie), his mother (Annie Sue), a brother, a cousin, and a niece. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect 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. Its really been pretty phenomenal. 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. It achieved the record of having topped the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years. 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. 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. Lionel sometimes loses patience with Michael, feeling that Michael relates to him as a representative of the black community rather than as an individual. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. 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. 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. And things start evolving and I started tutoring. target_type: 'mix' On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. . 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. Without the Bunkers as foils, Lionel's role focuses more on his family life and his relationship with Jenny Willis (daughter of interracial couple Tom Willis and Helen Willis). Im learning a lot today. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. Trending News Mike EvansAll in the Family 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. For his part, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie's racism and unrelenting condescension. KB: Wow. 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 originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. This is a list of episodes of the American situation comedy The Jeffersons. Thinking that this is the beginning of the \"easy life,\" George is ill-prepared for the unexpected pitfalls his new address will bring him. Away from the world of entertainment, Damon bagged his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College in 2007. 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. } Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina. For other people named Michael Evans, see, "Mike Evans, 57; Lionel in 'Jeffersons' created 'Good Times', E! window._taboola = window._taboola || []; His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. '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. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Although he was supposed to play a more significant role with more screen time, he left after the first season. It was later revealed that he was actually Henry Jefferson, Georges brother. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. While Carlene suffered a lot at his hands, she eventually forgave him. All Rights Reserved. Isabel Sanford net worth and salary: Isabel Sanford was an American actress and comedian who had a net worth of $3 million at the time of her death. All in the Family's CBS spinoff series, The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. Actor Mike Evans. 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. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Evans kept the role of Lionel when The Jeffersons launched in 1975. 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?. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. 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. Not only that, but she believes that she felt his spirit asking her to save his house, which was bound to be foreclosed. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. 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. Lionel #2 from, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on, Wow! Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. }); Copyright 2015 . Damon was only 25 in 1975 when he was tapped to replace Mike Evans (no relation) as Lionel Jefferson in the primetime TV show. We wish that brotha the best though. They married on January 10, 1976. The nickname came about when Hemsley was still a teenager back in Philadelphia. (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?! 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. It's really been pretty phenomenal., Although Damon has been out of the spotlight for a long time, the actor/opera singer is remembered for his works in productions like Operas Porgy And Bess, Broadways Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and Jesus Christ Superstar, and as a young Alex Haley in the ABC TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. 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]. Lear improvised and hired Mel Stewart as a sort of placeholder. In the sitcoms storyline, Stewart posed as George Jefferson when he joined Georges wife, Louise (played by Isabel Sanford), for dinner at the Bunker home. On September 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in February 2001. Maestro cue the outro music! 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. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. 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. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. 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. Jane Fonda announces her cancer is in remission 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. }); Copyright 2015 . His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, a teacher. October 11, 2022September 27, 2022by John Groove 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 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. Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. His last role was in a 2000 episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger. Start Today. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. To be quite honest, I didn't have a direction when I went there. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. Damon Evans on never meeting the 1st Lionel.. I had a really bad attitude.. 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. 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. ! After the original Lionel Jefferson actor, Mike Evans (no relation to Damon), left the show, Damon replaced him in 1975. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. Mike Evans as Lionel in Season 1 of "The Jeffersons". Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. Evans kept the role of Lionel when "The Jeffersons" launched in 1975. 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. 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Damon Evans and Berlinda Tolbert ( who played Lionels wife Jenny) on TV's The Jeffersons. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Damon sure had all of us fooled. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Lionel tells Archie off, but also lets him know that they can remain friends. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. 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. 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. 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. His last role was in a 2000 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.. 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. His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. 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.
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