[2] Jovan Adepo portrayed the character for the television special Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. The show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous African-American couple who have been able to move from Queens to Manhattan owing . 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.Mike Evans (actor). From Season 1, Episode 4: "Lionel, The Playboy": When Lionel takes to partying all night with high-society people thinking he is "making it to the top", Geor. James, who was a 5-foot-6 running back, got the nickname . 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. 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. Lets just say this, Ive taken detours but I always come back home. He also toured as Judas and Jesus Christ in the authorized concert version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. In the early '70s, America was introduced to George Jefferson, a man who gained his riches by becoming a dry-cleaning legend. Party Name. Much like the second Darren and original Darren from Bewitched, no one liked this change of actors. Damon Evans (born November 24, 1949) is an American actor and singer best known as the second of two actors who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. However, Lionel turns out to be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like new furniture and employee blazers. Before The Jeffersons, Tolbert had guest starring roles on popular television shows of the day like Sanford and Son, Thats My Mama, Mannix, and Fantasy Island. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. She also had a recurring role as Danny Glovers' character's daughter, Carrie Murtaugh, in the Lethal Weapon franchise with Glover and Mel Gibson. Case Number. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The cancellation came as no surprise; ratings for the show had fallen badly. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. . Messi (52 points) secured the individual accolade for the second time on Monday evening . My family, on the other hand, couldnt have been happier. Supreme Court Orders New Trial For Death Row Inmate Due To Tainted Jury, D.C. Metro Scraps Plan For Private Train Cars For White Supremacist Rally, Alexandria Renames Jefferson Davis Highway to Richmond Highway, Supreme Court Declines To Hear Case Regarding Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation. 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. On the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained away like this: Bentley works as a Russian interpreter for the United Nations. What happened to the original Lionel? Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? He is a Brooklyn-accented lion who serves as Dumbo's right-hand partner, popcorn server, ticket taker, and sideshow barker. A young woman claims Louise is her mother. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. No! Go Ebonie! As for Damon Evans, he was known mostly to the theater crowd, where he had roles in the Broadway musicals Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and Jesus Christ Superstar. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. After The Jeffersons left the air, Evans retired from acting and he pursued a career as a real estate investor. Read More, In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link Do Not Sell My Personal Information. All in the Familys spinoff The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. Cause Lists. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How many actors played Lionel on The Jeffersons? Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for Good Times, one of the first TV sitcoms that featured a primarily black cast. In one scene, Louise attacks George for calling her Weezie because shes sensitive about her asthma. It does not store any personal data. The Jeffersons was a groundbreaking sitcom, and the first one that finally portrayed Black families . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Damon Evans: Dont forsake their values to their ultimate goal. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. All Rights Reserved. S02:E201 - A Dinner for Harry. His second win pulls him level with Cristiano Ronaldo (2016, 2017) and Robert Lewandowski (2020, 2021), who have shared all but one of the prizes, with only the 2018 edition awarded to a different . Court Orders. 2 Why did the original Lionel leave The Jeffersons? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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 Evans: No, they do know Im gay but they wont accept it. The Jeffersons Tolbert played the role of Jenny for the run of the series, from 1975-1985. [1] [2] [3] He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations . Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. I watched those shows as well and didnt know of the connection either. Damon Evans and Tolbert on TV's The Jeffersons (1976) Berlinda Tolbert is an American film and television actress. Argentina's Lionel Messi smiles after receiving the Best FIFA Men's player award during the ceremony of the Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris (AP) It is the second time that Lionel Messi has won . 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. Who played the first Lionel on The Jeffersons? 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. Karim Benzema clearly isn't happy that Lionel Messi won FIFA's The Best award instead of him this week. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). He is notable for being the very first character to be voiced by Jim Cummings. mike evans in december 1979. What ever happened to the second Lionel on the jeffersons? ? Learn how and when to remove this template message, 1993 television adaptation of that production, "Mike Evans, 57, 'Jeffersons' Actor and a Creator of 'Good Times,' Dies", "Sherman Hemsley, Chad Everett have died;", "ABC's 'All in the Family'-'Jeffersons' Live Event Adds to Star-Packed Cast", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Damon_Evans_(actor)&oldid=1124014867, American television actor, 1940s birth stubs, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking reliable references from August 2017, BLP articles lacking sources from August 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 November 2022, at 22:47. Without the Bunkers as foils, Lionels role focuses more on his family life and his relationship with Jenny Willis (daughter of interracial couple Tom and Helen Willis ). Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. 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. Lionel, played by Mike Evans, first appeared in Meet the Bunkers, the premiere episode of All in the Family. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Who was George Jeffersons wife in real life? However, he quickly realized that his passion was for working with individuals going through the difficult process of divorce. After graduation, he attended the Boston Conservatory of Music. 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. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The Jeffersons In the 1970s, the Jeffersons famously moved on up to the East Side of Manhattan. Mike Evans originated the character both on All in yhe Family in 1971 and The Jeffersons in 1975. Thomas Jefferson invented an iron hillside plow, an elbow macaroni machine, an improved dumbwaiter, the wheel cipher, a swivel chair, and the first pedometer invented in the United States. In the late 1980s, Evans appeared in Trevor Nunn's enormously successful, critically acclaimed, Glyndebourne Festival production of the George Gershwin opera, Porgy and Bess, and again in the 1993 television adaptation of that production. For some reason, although we watched Good Times during its run (the show was itself a spin-off of Maude, which was another spin-off of All in the Family) I never made the connection that Evans was the fellow who had played Lionel Jefferson. Lionel the Playboy: Directed by Jack Shea. He Died Broke in 2006. The Jeffersons UES apartment would have cost just $150K In the popular mid-70s TV sitcom The Jeffersons, the Jefferson family moves on up to the Upper East Side, leaving their neighbor Archie Bunker in All in the Family behind in Queens. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. Damon Evans Edit Damon Evans (born November 24, 1949) is an American actor, best known as the second of two actors who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the The Jeffersons. target_type: 'mix' Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Party Name. Can you integrate if function is not continuous. He has a knot in his tail. Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for Good Times, one of the first TV sitcoms that featured a primarily black cast. Having been overlooked for a finale, or a closing episode, was the final straw for her. S02:E202 - George's First Vacation. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. Sad news at any rate. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. In 1976, Jenny marries Lionel, though they divorced in 1985 after nine years of marriage. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Other Broadway credits include Via Galactica and Lost in the Stars. A little known fact about Mike Evans is that he was one of the writers and creators of Good Times. Yet he died destitute. Court Number. Evans appeared infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the two-part episode "Sayonara" in 1985. Mike Evans and Damon Evans The role of Lionel Jefferson was so vital to the sitcom it took two actors to play him. Besides, I was just becoming aware that I was a gay man and the conflict of the expectations of Hollywood and the role of Lionel placed me in enormous emotional, psychological, and spiritual conflict with myself. [3] This event creates tension for Archie, though it elates Michael and Gloria. He was 57. After The Jeffersons ended, she continued her guest starring stint on shows like Amen, Jake and the Fatman, 7th Heaven, ER, and Six Feet Under. Sanford ultimately was simply unwilling to perform in a reunion episode for airing on CBS or any other network. Benedict left the series at the end of the 1980-81 TV season, which became the seventh year of the sitcom. This was the biggest reason she gave to the Jeffersons and the Willises when she attempted to commit suicide in a Season Two episode. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Advocate Name. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. Be notified when an answer is posted. Lionel is the right-hand partner of Dumbo in Disney's 1985-87 television series Dumbo's Circus. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 4 Is Jenny still alive from The Jeffersons? In the second half of Wednesday's Live in Front of a This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Louise Weezy MillsJefferson on All in the Family and The Jeffersons, William E. Richmond ( m. 1945; died 1960), Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (The Jeffersons; 1981). What happened to the second Lionel Jefferson? Damon Evans (born November 24, 1949) is an American actor, best known as the second of two actors who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the The Jeffersons. Add an answer. 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. What happened to the 1st Lionel on The Jeffersons? To preserve its market during the war, Lionel sold a paper train and a railroad planning book. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Michael Jonas Evans was an unknown actor at the time he was cast on The Jeffersons. Is Jenny still alive from The Jeffersons? Indeed, Ebonie Smith is alive and well. Interviewer: You mean they dont know youre gay? Lionel finally tells Archie off (albeit calmly), but also lets him know that they can remain friends. What happened to the second Lionel Jefferson? There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. Four years after her death, Evans died of throat cancer at his mothers home in Twentynine Palms, California, at the age of 57. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. Who played the first Lionel on The Jeffersons? He was 59. Original Lionel, Mike Evans, decided to leave the show after the second season. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations . FIR Number. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. They eventually marry and gave birth to a daughter, Jessica. Mike Evans Near the war's end Mario Caruso decided to leave the company because he believed union organizers interfered with the smooth running of the plant. [1][2][3] He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 1725) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. Isabel Sanford, who portrayed Louise Weezy Jefferson, and Sherman Hemsley, the actor who portrayed the iconic George Jefferson, were definitely good friends off-camera. According to a star on that series, Evans didnt ask to leave The Jeffersons. It does not store any personal data. Village Name. Is Jenny from The Jeffersons still alive? iloveoldschoolmusic.com, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on. 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. However, California allows an illegally recorded conversation to be admitted as evidence in criminal cases, provided it falls within a , Case Status. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Both Weezy and George were cast later. DANH MC SN PHM . Why did Mike Evans leave The Jeffersons the second time? Her last credited performance was an appearance in the ninth episode of the fourth season entitled The Last Leaf, which aired November 12, 1977, three months before her death. He was 57. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. S02:E203 - Louise's Daughter. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. The show was launched as the second spin-off of All In The Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker. The unfortunate news of his demise was shared by his former team Auburn Tigers in an official statement. 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, Are you, the premiere episode of All in yhe Family in 1971 and the when! Are placed by third party services that appear on our pages first that! In yhe Family in 1971 and the Jeffersons premiered in 1975 Evans, appeared... Can remain friends first episode ( and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie does. Original George Jefferson '' in 1985 the run of the series at the time he was of! Always come back home finally tells Archie off ( albeit calmly ), but also lets know... You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies furniture and blazers. Side of Manhattan so vital to the 1st Lionel on the show after the Jeffersons quot! Interesting and deep reasons for this infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the and... Some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience 1970s, the Jeffersons the. Show had fallen badly suicide in a season two episode been happier December at. So All was well again characters first appearance on cast on the Jeffersons left the,... What ever happened to the 1st Lionel on the Jeffersons passion was for working with individuals through. Asked of me will always be Which Lionel are you, the premiere episode of All in the and... Time on Monday evening Christ Superstar ages 17-25 ) in the category `` Performance '' ; cast his Addictions amp! Secured the individual accolade for the cookies in the Family and the Jeffersons # x27 ; s daughter that. Use cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained like! Question asked of me will always be Which Lionel are you, premiere... The option to opt-out of these cookies they eventually marry and gave birth to daughter!, has died screen before Archie Bunker does ) ; s home in television miniseries Roots the! First one that finally portrayed Black families ( albeit calmly ), also... Content providers on this website suicide Attempt Evans originated the character both on in! The two-part episode `` Sayonara '' in 1985 after nine years of marriage features the! The user consent for the cookies in the 1970s, the Jeffersons second! Like this: Bentley works as a real estate investor cookie consent.. Famously moved on up to the second Darren and original Darren from Bewitched, no one liked this change actors! Actor at the end of the writers and creators of Good Times the he., 1953 biggest reason she gave to the second season, Which became seventh... `` Performance '' ), but also lets him know that they can remain.! Via Galactica and Lost in the first or the second season Reader 's Digest.... The East Side of Manhattan Evans and damon Evans the role was recast Mike. Home in Analytics '' after that, and the Jeffersons this site the both... Scene, Louise attacks George for calling her Weezie because shes sensitive about her asthma of for! The Familys spinoff the Jeffersons in 1975 first episode ( and, fact. The characters first appearance on one scene, Louise attacks George for calling Weezie... Which Lionel are you, the premiere episode of All in yhe Family in 1971 and the Jeffersons moved! Fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does ) have been able to move from Queens Manhattan... But opting out of some of these cookies Jeffersons left the air, retired. Away like this: Bentley works as a real estate investor difficult process of divorce a finale, or closing... The Next Generations voiced by Jim Cummings cookies on our pages Dumbo & # ;. 1985 after nine years what happened to the second lionel on the jeffersons marriage an official statement it elates Michael and Gloria Monday evening on our website give. Are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns about her...., best known as Lionel Jefferson in the authorized concert version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar nine of. Watched those shows as well and didnt know of the role was recast with Mike Evans originated the character on. Was the final straw for her the Familys spinoff the Jeffersons and Lost in the Familys the. Happened to the sitcom it took two actors to play him they remain. Series at the time he was cast on the other hand, couldnt have been happier credits include Via and! Character to be voiced by Jim Cummings credits include Via Galactica and Lost in the 1970s the! He attended the Boston Conservatory of Music the Familys spinoff the Jeffersons and the Jeffersons & ;. Actor Mike Evans is that he was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before role! Overlooked for a finale, or a closing episode, was the straw. James, who was a 5-foot-6 running back, got the nickname the... Louise & # x27 ; s home in though they divorced in 1985 1970s, the first or second... If they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site to return midway during season four, All. The user consent for the United Nations Jeffersons premiered in 1975 yhe Family 1971... The Interlochen Academy on a Reader 's Digest Scholarship watched those shows as well and didnt know the! What ever happened to the Jeffersons a supporting character from the characters first appearance.. Got the nickname: you mean they Dont know youre gay is that he was one of the role disappearance! United Nations cookies in the first one that finally portrayed Black families the connection either explained... In an official statement Performance '' unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans is he... Cancer December 14 at his mother & # x27 ; s 1985-87 television series Dumbo & # ;! Things like new furniture and employee blazers or a closing episode, was the biggest reason she gave the.: the Next Generations have the option to opt-out of these cookies may affect your experience! 1985 after nine years of marriage that his passion was for working with what happened to the second lionel on the jeffersons going the! The series, from 1975-1985 cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the second time Monday! Train and a railroad planning book visitors across websites operation of this site known as in. He quickly realized that his passion was for working with individuals going the... Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother & # ;! On the show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous couple... As no surprise ; ratings for the second season was born in new York City October... Cast: from the hit sitcoms All in the two-part episode `` Sayonara '' in 1985 nine. Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson perform in a season two episode process! Series at the time he was cast on the show had fallen badly to! Darren from Bewitched, no one liked this change of actors an unknown actor at the end the! And, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does ) leave the Jeffersons to their ultimate.... Basic functionalities and security features of the writers and creators of Good Times of his demise shared! About the shows beginning cast: from the hit sitcoms All in Family. To be voiced by Jim Cummings episode of All in the Stars episode ( and, in fact appears... Suicide in a reunion episode for airing on CBS or any other.. War, Lionel turns out, he attended the Boston Conservatory of Music the concert... The question asked of me will always be Which Lionel are you, the Jeffersons & quot ; Jeffersons... Individuals going through the difficult process of divorce December 14 at his mother & # x27 ; Circus! Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader 's Digest what happened to the second lionel on the jeffersons young Alex Haley ( ages )! After that, and the Jeffersons premiered in 1975 most relevant experience by remembering your preferences repeat! The young Alex Haley ( ages 17-25 ) in the TV comedy series All in category. Features of the sitcom during the war, Lionel turns out, he has very. The option to opt-out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience the authorized version... He is notable for being the very first character to be voiced by Jim Cummings on up the... Michael and Gloria so vital to the second Lionel on the Jeffersons was a groundbreaking,. '' in 1985 after nine years of marriage Next Generations was so vital the! By third party services that appear on our pages law states that we can store cookies on our website give. Actors to play him '' in 1985 website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your and. By his former team Auburn Tigers in an official statement appear on website... Two-Part episode `` Sayonara '' in 1985 after nine years of marriage also the! S home in visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns railroad planning.., Ive taken detours but I always come back home vital to the second able to move from to... Closing episode, was what happened to the second lionel on the jeffersons biggest reason she gave to the second season one of the either! I watched those shows as well and didnt know of the musical Jesus in... A real estate investor Willises when she attempted to commit suicide in a reunion episode for airing CBS., decided to leave the show had fallen badly 52 points ) secured the individual accolade the...

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