Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. At which location is the altitude of polaris approximately 42? On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. ", Mike Evans' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris. All Rights Reserved. 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. They married on January 10, 1976. Maestro cue the outro music! 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. 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. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Evans . Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. No! Damon Evans: Dont forsake their values to their ultimate goal. 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. 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. / AP. 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. 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". When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. 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. However, his personal life was not as good as one would believe, especially when it came to his daughter, Carlena Harris. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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. 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. is for general information purposes only. I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Because once you get there youll find out that there is no there there. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Found Her! 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All Rights Reserved. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Mike EvansAll in the Family He admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous. The show touched on issues that were taboo on TV at the time such as homosexuality, abortion, racism, rape, religion and more. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Unfortunately, that didn't make their relationship any better. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. 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 57. We wish that brotha the best though. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Damon Evans took over the role and he stayed for two years in seasons three and fourthis was the dark period. The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. 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. Damon: No, they do know Im gay but they wont accept it. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. He was 57. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Maestro cue the outro music! 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.. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. 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. Mike Evans died in 2006 in his mothers house. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. 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. There I was Lionel which was to them the epitome of what they wanted me to be, but Lionel was just a role I played as an actor. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479).[4]. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Did you? Evans played Lenny in the cast of the 197677 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice during its second and final season. 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. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. '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. 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. 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. Its really been pretty phenomenal. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. It happened after a stinging loss to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, in which Portland coughed up a 25-point lead. }); Copyright 2015 . In 2007 (at age 56) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx College in New York. target_type: 'mix' Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in . Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans recalls. 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. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. It was later revealed that he was actually "Henry Jefferson," "George's" brother. (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?! 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. Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. However, that said, the first year on the show was quite a heady experience. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The Jeffersons Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. 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. Away from the world of entertainment, Damon bagged his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College in 2007. _taboola.push({ The Jeffersons was easily one of the top shows at the time, and anyone might have imagined Damon would be overjoyed for the opportunity. 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. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? She was 66. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. He was 57. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Wow! Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. "Good Times". 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