what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons

mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Berlinda Tolbert was 22 years old when she first stepped onto the scene as "Jenny . 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.". The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. She was sometimes credited as Ebony Smith. 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. 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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. 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. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. I was afraid of change.. Damon Evans, one of two actors who played Lionel Jefferson on the '70s sitcom The Jeffersons, talks with Michel Martin. 2006 The Associated Press. display: none; 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'. Getting high was all that mattered, Damon shared. One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. Original Lionel, Mike Evans, decided to leave the show after the second season. I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself? he says. 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. Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. My family, on the other hand, couldnt have been happier. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.[5]. Lionel #2 from The Jeffersons. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. *Singing*. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). As Lionel's parents and uncle Henry appear more frequently, Lionel's role becomes less significant. 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. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. All Rights Reserved. what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons 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.. He was 57. They eventually marry and gave birth to a daughter, Jessica. (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?! 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. 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] 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. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. 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. She was 86. Lionel sometimes loses patience with Michael, feeling that Michael relates to him as a representative of the black community rather than as an individual. 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. 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, the actor confessed during an interview with Keith Boykin, per ILOSM. For other people named Michael Evans, see, "Mike Evans, 57; Lionel in 'Jeffersons' created 'Good Times', E! AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. No! Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 December 1, 2008) was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and films, beginning in 1965. *Singing* Well were moving on up! On September 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in February 2001. At which location is the altitude of polaris approximately 42? 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. Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. Dont forsake values. 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. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). Damon Evans played Lionel from seasons 2-4, before being replaced by Mike Evans, who left the series to co-produce and develop another Norman Lear series. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. We wish that brotha the best though. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Did you? . }); Copyright 2015 . 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Ed Sheeran reveals wife was diagnosed with tumor while pregnant 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. 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. [2], Evans continued to play the role on the spinoff The Jeffersons, but left after the first season to pursue other aspects of his career. After the game, New York Times columnist Kurt Streeter asked Lillard how . Mike Evans and other cast members of "The Jeffersons" circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. All in the Family's CBS spinoff series, The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. 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. 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. Damon was only 25 in 1975 when he was tapped to replace Mike Evans (no relation) as Lionel Jefferson in the primetime TV show. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. 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. '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. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; 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. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479).[4]. Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. 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. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for "Good Times," one of the first TV comedy series that featured a primarily black cast. Its really been pretty phenomenal. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. Archie considers himself to be Lionel's good friend and even mentor. That is the closest I ever got to meeting and/or knowing Mike Evans, his mother. He opened up about his drug addiction to a therapist and reportedly joined Narcotics Anonymous. Maestro cue the outro music! Sanford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since July 4, said Brad Lemack. December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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. As & quot ; Jenny the what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons of the series Good Times 197479! And, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does ). [ ]. Was diagnosed in February 2001 around the world ( and, in fact, appears on screen Archie... Role becomes less significant Friday at Cedars-Sinai medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since July 4 said... California 's Inland Empire. [ 5 ] was diagnosed in February 2001 a daughter, Jessica more! 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what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons