He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". Can i register a car with export only title in arizona. In a prior People Magazine article, Damon explained how his lack of jobs, led to depression, then to years of 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. She was sometimes credited as Ebony Smith. In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. 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 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. However, his personal life was not as good as one would believe, especially when it came to his daughter, Carlena Harris. Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. display: block; She was 86. He was 57. On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? is for general information purposes only. As such, Lionel often enjoys patronizing Archie's attitudes by playing dumb in conversations and adopting a stereotypical speech pattern (saying things like "I'm gon' be a 'lectical engineer!" His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. Lets just say this, Ive taken detours but I always come back home. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. I had a really bad attitude.. 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. However, that said, the first year on the show was quite a heady experience. For his part, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie's racism and unrelenting condescension. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. 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). #TheJeffersons #LionelJefferson #BreakupThe Jeffersons | Lionel and Jenny Are Splitting Up! The actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson for more than a decade lost his life after a long battle with cancer. target_type: 'mix' All Rights Reserved. On the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained away like this: Bentley works as a Russian interpreter for the United Nations. Talk about stress and adjustment issues., In a 2001 PEOPLE interview, the actor further revealed that his dissatisfaction caused him to act out. And things start evolving and I started tutoring. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. *Singing*. Away from the world of entertainment, Damon bagged his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College in 2007. Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and films, beginning in 1965. Jane Fonda announces her cancer is in remission Mike Evans and other cast members of "The Jeffersons" circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. It achieved the record of having topped the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years. And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. 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. Damon sure had all of us fooled. He admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous. [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. Lionel sometimes loses patience with Michael, feeling that Michael relates to him as a representative of the black community rather than as an individual. Mike EvansAll in the Family 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. 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. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. 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.. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. This event creates tension for Archie, though it elates Michael and Gloria. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. 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. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Did you? '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. A total of 253 episodes aired on CBS over 11 seasons, from January 18, 1975, through July 2, 1985. Lionel tells Archie off, but also lets him know that they can remain friends. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. They married on January 10, 1976. Via People: A depressed and unemployed Evans came close to ending his own life. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on . 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 known for his roles as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen, and B.P. 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. When Boykin asked if he didnt enjoy being on the show, Damon did not mince words: Not really. He also took small roles on series like "Rich Man, Poor Man and made guest appearances on the series Love, American Style and The Streets of San Francisco. His last role was in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger in 2000. At which location is the altitude of polaris approximately 42? 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. Maestro cue the outro music! Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. He was 57. Both Weezy and George were cast later. 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. or "Lawd almighty, what is we gonna do?"). It was later revealed that he was actually Henry Jefferson, Georges brother. "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. 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. [citation needed] Evans's body was cremated. Although he was supposed to play a more significant role with more screen time, he left after the first season. All Quiet on the Western Front, Elvis, Empire of Light Cinematographers on Their Oscar-Nominated Work: The Camera Had to Be Dancing, Dilbert Comic Strip Creator Dropped From Several Publications After Racist Comments, R. 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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. What happened to Lionel on The Jeffersons? She was 86. Mike Evans as Lionel in Season 1 of "The Jeffersons". display: none; 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 . George (front) with wife Louise and son Lionel. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. display: none; The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. It happened after a stinging loss to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, in which Portland coughed up a 25-point lead. Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. Im learning a lot today. 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. One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. He was 57. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He was 57. Series overview [ edit] Episodes [ edit] Season 1 (1975) [ edit] Season 2 (1975-76) [ edit] Season 3 (1976-77) [ edit] Season 4 (1977-78) [ edit] Season 5 (1978-79) [ edit] On the first two seasons of All in the Family, Lionel has an uncle named Henry. It was later revealed that he was actually "Henry Jefferson," "George's" brother. Although popularly known as one of the actors who portrayed "Lionel Jefferson" on the long-running sitcom The Jeffersons (1975), Damon Evans is an accomplished singer and stage performer. 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. 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. 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). }); Copyright 2015 . Evans died of throat cancer. 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. That is the closest I ever got to meeting and/or knowing Mike Evans, his mother. ! After the original Lionel Jefferson actor, Mike Evans (no relation to Damon), left the show, Damon replaced him in 1975. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. Start Today. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. 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. target_type: 'mix' He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game . It sounds like you didnt enjoy doing the show. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. 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. Maestro cue the outro music! 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. 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." Mike Evans died in 2006 in his mothers house. She has a career that has included television, movies and live performances. 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. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in 1970s situation comedy All in the Family.. Mike Evans and more members of the "All in the Family" cast circa 1972 | Photo: Getty Images. It would be almost a decade before they were free to leave that venue. 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 comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. 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. 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?. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', 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. 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Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. 2006 The Associated Press. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.[5]. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. The Jeffersons was easily one of the top shows at the time, and anyone might have imagined Damon would be overjoyed for the opportunity. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; The nickname came about when Hemsley was still a teenager back in Philadelphia. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on 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. Evans kept the role of Lionel when The Jeffersons launched in 1975. 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. There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. 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. In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. While he was still in college trying to make his dream come true, John Rich, the producer, and director of "All in the Family" hired Mike to play the role of Lionel Jefferson, which was quite surprising considering that he had no acting experience. Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. All content, including text, and images contained on. Ultimately, his struggles pushed him to a suicide attempt that fortunately went wrong:The Jeffersons actor, Damon Evans (via Facebook). But his big break was his Jeffersons character of Tom Willis, a great foil to George. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. I didnt have any pride.. 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. }); Copyright 2015 . 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.. Are any of the members of peter, paul and mary still alive? 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. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? 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