Jenny and Second Lionel Jefferson (Tolbert & Evans). S02:E202 - George's First Vacation. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? 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. 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). S02:E204 - Harry and Daphne. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. 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. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Because once you get there youll find out that there is no there there. Interesting. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In addition to Evans and other noted performers, this British production of Gershwin's 'American folk opera' featured the Glyndebourne Chorus and the London Philharmonic, both conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. Directed byJack Shea. In the first episode, the Jeffersons throw an unforgettable birthday party for their neighbor, Mr. Bentley. Remember him? Lionel, played by Mike Evans, first appeared in Meet the Bunkers, the premiere episode of All in the Family. It sounds like you didnt enjoy doing the show. Iconic TV producer Norman Lear initially wanted famed black actor Cleavon Little to play the role, but the director wanted to go with an actor who wouldn't steal so much of the spotlight from the two veteran lead actors. Why did the original Lionel leave The Jeffersons? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So, here's what happened. Lionel #2 from The Jeffersons. He was 57. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mothers home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Order Date. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Last edited on 30 September 2022, at 05:24, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons, "Mike Evans, 57, 'Jeffersons' Actor and a Creator of 'Good Times,' Dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lionel_Jefferson&oldid=1113177462, This page was last edited on 30 September 2022, at 05:24. Yet he died destitute. He succumbed to cancer in July 2012 in his hometown, El Paso, Texas. His Off-Broadway credits include performances in A Day in the Life of Just About Everyone, Bury the Dead (for the Urban Arts Corp), and Love Me, Love My Children. Florence Did It Different: Part One was the 161st overall episode of The Jeffersons TV series, also the sixth episode of Season 8, the first part of a two-episode story. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home in. 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. S02:E203 - Louise's Daughter. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect He also toured as Judas and Jesus Christ in the authorized concert version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. The show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous African-American couple who have been able to move from Queens to Manhattan owing . Mike Evans returned to the series in September 1979 and appeared regularly as Lionel for two more seasons. There I was a total unknown one day, and the next appearing on network television in one of the top 10 TV shows on the air. He lost his wife Helena to cancer after more than two decades of marriage in 2002. Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. Go Ebonie! Lionel the Playboy: Directed by Jack Shea. 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. 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. Damon EvansThe JeffersonsJovan AdepoLive in Front of a Studio Audience Tolbert is best known for her role as Jenny Willis Jefferson, the daughter of Tom and Helen Willis on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons, which originally aired from 1975 until 1985. Despite being a decent Christian (as Gibbs is in real-life) woman, Florence never kept a long relationship with men. Read More, In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Evans appeared infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the two-part episode Sayonara in 1985. 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. *Singing* Well were moving on up! He was later played by Damon Evans (no relation), though Mike Evans eventually returned to the role before the end of the series. Mike Evans originated the character both on All in yhe Family in 1971 and The Jeffersons in 1975. When Lionel gets laid off from his job, George hires him to work in his office. On what advice he would tell others who want to follow in his footsteps and pursue an acting career. In one scene, Louise attacks George for calling her Weezie because shes sensitive about her asthma. He also founded the University of Virginia. 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 . Is Lionel still alive from The Jeffersons? On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. To the east si-i-ide!. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. According to a star on that series, Evans didnt ask to leave The Jeffersons. BOSTON (AP) Paul Benedict, the actor who played the British neighbor Harry Bentley on the sitcom The Jeffersons, was found dead Monday on Marthas Vineyard. Four years after her death, Evans died of throat cancer at his mothers home in Twentynine Palms, California, at the age of 57. If that were to happen today, it would carry a hefty price tag. Who was George Jeffersons wife in real life? 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. 2 Who played the first Lionel on The Jeffersons? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Who was the original Lionel Jefferson on the Jeffersons? It was an emotional night on American Idol for 15-year-old Kaylin Hedges from Pound Ridge, N.Y. Although she doesn't really act any longer, I did find her through her YouTube channel. He was 57. Cause Lists. The actor was immensely talented, and Norman Lear first came across him when he cast him in his 1971 movie Cold Turkey. When Lionel Jefferson actor Mike Evans left The Jeffersons shortly after the All in the Family spin-off debuted on CBS in 1975, it was explained that he had left to devote more time to the show he had helped to create, Good Times. However, California allows an illegally recorded conversation to be admitted as evidence in criminal cases, provided it falls within a , Case Status. 2011-06-12 14:48:07. 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. 1 What happened to the 1st Lionel on The Jeffersons? She also had roles in the films Goodfellas (1990) alongside Samuel Jackson and Harlem Nights (1989) with Eddie Murphy. He was survived by his two daughters (Carlena and Tammie), his mother (Annie Sue), a brother, a cousin, and a niece.. Evanss body was cremated. (FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). In fact, the character Michael Evans, played by actor Ralph Carter, is loosely based off of Mike Evans' real life. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. To this very day, I dont think they have a clue as to who I really am, and thats there loss. But they're far from happy; in fact, they're so happy they've agreed to a separation. The Jeffersons was a tv show that ran for 11 seasons, and after all of those years, the cast came to have very close relationships. Be notified when an answer is posted. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', In a 1995 episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (season 5, episode 17, Will Is From Mars, original airdate 2/20/95), Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley reprise their roles as Louise and George, respectively. This story tells why??? For all other types of cookies we need your permission. Other Broadway credits include Via Galactica and Lost in the Stars. Court Number. Lionel and Jenny experienced marital issues, and separated by the spring of 1985, and later divorced, presumably, in the winter of 1985, after the The Jeffersons series had already been cancelled, which was on July 24, 1985. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? The Jeffersons 430-unit, 36-story building, built in 1967, was modern, with a terrace, a doorman, and easy access to the subway and Central Park. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Season 2. Ebonie was only around eight years old when she appeared on the show, and she was there for the last year. Dont forsake values. 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. Louise plots with the neighbors to get George's mind off his work. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Messi, 35, has followed up his victory in 2019 by scooping the award again after . What happened to the second Lionel Jefferson? _taboola.push({ We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Messi became the first player, male or female, to win seven FIFA best player awards, breaking a tie with six-time best women's player Marta of Brazil. Louise becomes suspicious of Buzzs true nature, and tells George hes not normal and was shocked when Florence and Buzz decided to get married. Cowen was born in 1877, just before . Lionel (top) with parents, George and Louise Jefferson. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. On the show, Bentleys disappearance is explained away like this: Bentley works as a Russian interpreter for the United Nations. Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for Good Times, one of the first TV sitcoms that featured a primarily black cast. It does not store any personal data. Karim Benzema clearly isn't happy that Lionel Messi won FIFA's The Best award instead of him this week. Who was the second Lionel on The Jeffersons? The Claymore Hotel burns down and leaves Florence unemployed, so she returns to ask for her old job back without realizing that Carmen has been hired to replace her. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Court Orders. Norman Lear created the character of George Jefferson specifically for Hemsley. He was 70. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. He was 59. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Want this question answered? After graduation, he attended the Boston Conservatory of Music. Michael Jonas Evans was an unknown actor at the time he was cast on The Jeffersons. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. He also toured as Judas Iscariot and Jesus Christ in the authorized concert version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. 2 Why did the original Lionel leave The Jeffersons? In the late 1980s, Evans appeared in Trevor Nunn's Glyndebourne Festival production of the George Gershwin opera, Porgy and Bess, and again in the 1993 television adaptation of that production. The character of Bentley was written out, saying he went to live in the Soviet Union for two years. He was 74. What happened to Lionel and Jenny on The Jeffersons? All in the Familys spinoff The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. For the second time in recent months, Sony has screwed up on the episode guide and listed episodes as being on the wrong disc. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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