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!" 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. 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. 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It was later revealed that he was actually "Henry Jefferson," "George's" brother. 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. 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. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. 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. display: block; 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. Talk about stress and adjustment issues. The cause was throat cancer, said a niece, Chrystal Evans. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. 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. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. I guess you can say that we all learn something new everyday, dont we? Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. } Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479). mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Lionel #2 from The Jeffersons. 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. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, a teacher. _taboola.push({ Because once you get there youll find out that there is no there there. Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. She was 86. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. 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? Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. In 1979, Mike came back for one more season, but eventually left again, forcing the creators to write Lionel and his wife Jenny (played by actress Berlinda Tolbert) out of the script, claiming that they faced marital problems. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { 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. 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. 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Mike Evans and more members of the "All in the Family" cast circa 1972 | Photo: Getty Images. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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. Tom Sizemore's family told there's "no further hope" after aneurysm 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. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. target_type: 'mix' A special episode is when Tom, Helen, and George get trapped in George's bathroom. Thinking that this is the beginning of the \"easy life,\" George is ill-prepared for the unexpected pitfalls his new address will bring him. On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. 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. He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. Actor Mike Evans. 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. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). [3] 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. Dont forsake values. [citation needed] Evans's body was cremated. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). 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 57. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. ", In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons Life sometime in 1997 Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on to! 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