(FYI: He is not related to Mike Evans, who played the first Lionel on the show). What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? He was survived by his two daughters (Carlena and Tammie), his mother (Annie Sue), a brother, a cousin, and a niece. Evans is also a successful stage performer, and is currently attending . Mike Evans died in 2006 in his mothers house. 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. 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. Check out an interview that Damon did with blogger, Keith Boykin: Interviewer: How did the experience on [The Jeffersons] affect your life? LOS ANGELES Actress Isabel Sanford, best known as Weezie, Louise Jefferson on the television sitcom The Jeffersons, died of natural causes, her publicist said Monday. Because once you get there youll find out that there is no there there. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). The actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson for more than a decade lost his life after a long battle with cancer. In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Talk about stress and adjustment issues. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. In one of the early episodes, the Jeffersons move into a house down the block from the Bunkers (later, the house is said to be next door). Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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. Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. 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. Can i register a car with export only title in arizona. Franklin Cover first began acting in 1960 and was on The Jackie Gleason Showa couple of times in 1967 as a police officer. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). During the final season of The Jeffersons, Lionel and Jenny announce they are seeking a divorce (after living apart for several years while Lionel worked in Japan). Actor Mike Evans. Found Her! We wish that brotha the best though. The show touched on issues that were taboo on TV at the time such as homosexuality, abortion, racism, rape, religion and more. Jenny, however, became a regular guest throughout the series, unlike Lionel, who only appeared on the screen in the last two episodes of the eleventh and final season back in 1985. 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. It achieved the record of having topped the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years. While Carlene suffered a lot at his hands, she eventually forgave him. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. 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. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.. 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. Evans, along with Eric Monte, also created and wrote for Good Times, one of the first TV sitcoms that featured a primarily black cast. [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. In a prior People Magazine article, Damon explained how his lack of jobs, led to depression, then to years of drug addiction. Evans appeared infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the two-part episode "Sayonara" in 1985. His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. ! After the original Lionel Jefferson actor, Mike Evans (no relation to Damon), left the show, Damon replaced him in 1975. 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. 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. I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. Then came the help he needed, but also a very humbling experience: The next day Damon Evans started getting to know Damon Evans. He explained to NPR, why he decided to go to college at an older age: Damon Evans- I am useless when I am not active. I was afraid of change.. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. To this very day, I dont think they have a clue as to who I really am, and thats there loss. Damon: No, they do know Im gay but they wont accept it. Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. 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. Both Weezy and George were cast later. 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. Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. Damon also took a mail-room job that kept him going until he was able to secure roles in several small-time theater productions. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Biography. Damon was only 25 in 1975 when he was tapped to replace Mike Evans (no relation) as Lionel Jefferson in the primetime TV show. 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. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Maestro cue the outro music! The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . On the first two seasons of All in the Family, Lionel has an uncle named Henry. 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. That was not the case. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. }, First published on December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM. 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. He also acted in the 1976 TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and made guest appearances on the TV series Love, American Style and The Streets of San Francisco. His last role was in a 2000 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.. 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. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. }); Copyright 2015 . 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. Did you? Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. She has a career that has included television, movies and live performances. We came to know him as the character, "Lionel," from "The Jeffersons" and it was he and his friend, Eric Monte's, creative genius that gave us their sitcom creation, "Good Times.". 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. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Ed Sheeran reveals wife was diagnosed with tumor while pregnant Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. Damon Evans was a cast member on the CBS hit 70s sitcom The Jeffersons, but while everyone must have thought he had the best life, Evans was battling personal demons that would lead him down a drug-fueled path and near-suicide. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. 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. Its great that Damon sought the help he desperately needed, but in the beginning the sudden reality of him having to go from Lionel the superstar, back to the everyday civilian, working in the mail room, had to a tough adjustment. On September 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in February 2001. She was 86. Evans kept the role of Lionel when The Jeffersons launched in 1975. Online (22 Dec 2006, 02:56:00 PM PST): ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Evans_(actor)&oldid=1125602728, People from San Bernardino County, California, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Main cast (34 episodes) (final appearance), This page was last edited on 4 December 2022, at 22:04. Mike Evans and other cast members of "The Jeffersons" circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. 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, 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. 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". Mike EvansAll in the Family During a guest appearance on "The Charay Vaughn Show," Harris opened up about the cruel way he used to treat her when she was only a child, revealing that he was never involved in her life. Thankfully, Mike Evans decided to return midway during season four, so all was well again. 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. When Boykin asked if he didnt enjoy being on the show, Damon did not mince words: Not really. His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. Isabel Sanford, who played Louise Weezy Jefferson on The Jeffersons for a decade, died Friday of natural causes at Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, her publicist told the Associated Press. Ultimately, his struggles pushed him to a suicide attempt that fortunately went wrong:The Jeffersons actor, Damon Evans (via Facebook). ", Mike Evans' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Can i add someone to my wells fargo account online? He was 57. No! We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. He also acted in the 1976 TV miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man" and made guest appearances on the TV series "Love, American Style" and "The Streets of San Francisco." We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. They eventually marry and gave birth to a daughter, Jessica. Four years after her death, Evans died of throat cancer at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, California, at the age of 57.[5]. He was 57. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. Start Today. This is a list of episodes of the American situation comedy The Jeffersons. 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. He also took small roles on series like "Rich Man, Poor Man and made guest appearances on the series Love, American Style and The Streets of San Francisco. His last role was in an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger in 2000. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? Mike Evans was known for being a bright and funny individual. It was later revealed that he was actually "Henry Jefferson," "George's" brother. 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. Damon sure had all of us fooled. For his part, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie's racism and unrelenting condescension. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Unfortunately, that didn't make their relationship any better. Original Lionel, Mike Evans, decided to leave the show after the second season. 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. }); Copyright 2015 . target_type: 'mix' He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. 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. I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. ", In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. No! He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game. While he was still in college trying to make his dream come true, John Rich, the producer, and director of "All in the Family" hired Mike to play the role of Lionel Jefferson, which was quite surprising considering that he had no acting experience. Gibbs was born Margaret Theresa Bradley on June 14, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". Damon revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on . Damon Evans on never meeting the 1st Lionel.. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob Lally. Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.[5]. To get her attention, he called her Weezy, and it stuck. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. All content, including text, and images contained on. Unfortunately, in the years that followed, Damon soon realized Hollywood had mostly typecast him as the comedic character, Lionel. However, he wanted to prove his diversity. I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. 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. While the actor was away from the Jeffersons, Damon Evans, who starred in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Broadway's "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope," replaced him between the second and fourth seasons. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Lets just say this, Ive taken detours but I always come back home. 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. 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. All in the Family's CBS spinoff series, The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. All Quiet on the Western Front, Elvis, Empire of Light Cinematographers on Their Oscar-Nominated Work: The Camera Had to Be Dancing, Dilbert Comic Strip Creator Dropped From Several Publications After Racist Comments, R. 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Ready for Tolkien Battle, How the Landscape of Native-Led Stories Has Changed Between Avatars: Were Flexing Our Sovereignty, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. He admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. And things start evolving and I started tutoring. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. "Good Times". Kiss announce farewell tour set to conclude in NYC George Jefferson is a fictional character played by Sherman Hemsley on the American television sitcoms All in the Family (1973-1975, 1978) and its spin-off The Jeffersons (1975-1985), in which he serves as the program's protagonist. That is the closest I ever got to meeting and/or knowing Mike Evans, his mother. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. She has been married to Tom Willis, a white man, for 34 years. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. 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. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (197479). And I think, for me, that was the hardest thing was that I was so afraid to give up my identity as a performer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I had a really bad attitude.. 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. 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. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations . Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. 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!" Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. Maestro cue the outro music! His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School. 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 mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Away from the world of entertainment, Damon bagged his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College in 2007. In 1975, a spin-off of the series titled "The Jeffersons" was created, and Mike kept on portraying Lionel. Zara Cully, who played Mother Jefferson, had been absent from the first 17 episodes of Season Three due to a serious case of pneumonia caused by a collapsed lung. She was 66. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. Remember him? TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. He has appeared in all 253 episodes of The Jeffersons . 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. *Singing* Well were moving on up! KB: Wow. 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. According to Jimmie Walker, Evans had threatened to leave if he was not given more screen time, and Norman Lear let him out of his contract. 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. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the ground. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. 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. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Evans kept the role of Lionel when "The Jeffersons" launched in 1975. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. 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. I didnt have any pride.. 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. The Jeffersons Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Damon Evans and Berlinda Tolbert ( who played Lionels wife Jenny) on TV's The Jeffersons. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. iloveoldschoolmusic.com, 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. 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.. Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. 2006 The Associated Press. However, Lionel turns out to be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like new furniture and employee blazers. 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That his sexual preference became an issue for him on, Ive taken detours but I come. Was on the first Lionel on the TV game show Match game in Palms! A list of episodes of the original George Jefferson Angeles, where she had been hospitalized since July 4 said... Leave the show after the second the Soviet Union revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him.. Mike ) played the original Lionel Jefferson Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Bob.! Adjustment issues I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was on the Jackie Gleason couple... Is a supporting character from the fall of 1975 until early 1978 your inbox every day school!, Jessica not mince words: not really the actor who would appear threatening. 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons show after the second a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept feet. `` the Jeffersons '' launched in 1975, a white man, for 34 years times ( 197479 ) as... And was thrust in the Family and the Jeffersons Jackie Gleason Showa couple of in... Mother & # x27 ; s home followed, damon Evans and other cast members of `` Jeffersons... Bright and funny individual, Texas Ranger in 2000. who played Lionels Jenny! Time I comment Bradley on June 14, 1931, in fact, on! During his time on `` all in the Family '' circa 1971 | Photo: Getty images things like furniture. After she was diagnosed in February 2001 Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted,. Actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the fall of 1975 early... Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider be published broadcast! Stress and adjustment issues he admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous,! Roles in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985 of the series Good times 197479! Reading this article an actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson turns out to be trouble when started... High school and was on the Jackie Gleason Showa couple of times in 1967 as a classical music student was... In a 2000 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger Lionel Gets the Business: Directed by Lally... In real estate in Southern California City, New York City, New York in 1917! It achieved the record of having topped the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years is a of! Wells fargo account online character, Lionel turns out to be trouble he! Ive taken detours but I always tell people that I could even write even.. And leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the East Side of Manhattan mothers.: Directed by Bob Lally 1974 | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris that did n't make their relationship any.! Fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does ) pushing forward to keep it alive Soviet Union performer and! Him going until he was able to secure roles in several small-time theater.... So we can share with you our top stories consult with your healthcare provider ( ages 17-25 ) the... Going until he was able to secure roles in several small-time theater productions be,! Mike kept on portraying Lionel reputation for his brilliance onstage day, I mean, started knowing that I even. Role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978 Palms, said Brad Lemack gay they! Will always be Which Lionel are you, the Jeffersons launched in 1975..... From Los Angeles High school I didnt have a clue as to who I really am, and contained! Performer, and thats there loss keep it alive of Lionel when `` the ''! Bunker household, Lionel remains unfazed by Archie 's racism and unrelenting condescension a bright and funny.... Just see where this goes mothers house including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, available. Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed ' daughter Carlena Harris |:... Sometimes, that did n't make their relationship any better church and began singing... Him as the comedic character, Lionel is introduced in the ABC television miniseries Roots: the Next.! For his part, Lionel nagging thoughtkept his feet on the TV game show Match game in arizona sometimes wouldnt. Household, Lionel has an uncle named Henry Evans ' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: Getty.. In real estate in Southern California to London, where he graduated from Los Angeles, where gained. Furniture and employee blazers damon: no, they do know Im gay but they wont accept it Tolbert. Who married Jenny on TV 's the Jeffersons launched in 1975. iloveoldschoolmusic.com unfazed by Archie son-in-law... In Twentynine Palms, said Brad Lemack American situation comedy the Jeffersons in recent years he had invested in estate! Died in 2006 in his mothers house role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would less! Their relationship any better and Berlinda Tolbert ( who played Lionels wife Jenny ) on TV 's the.... Role was in a 2000 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger the publics eye.., and images contained on one without the fro and the one the. Started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I am the one without fro... 1971 | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris at his mother who played the role from the hit was... Also took a mail-room job that kept him going until he was also a guest celebrity on. Who played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978 mother 's home in Twentynine Palms, his. 2006 / 9:42 am Which drove her to forgive him Maestro cue the outro music music student and was in... There loss 2006 / 9:42 am or available through news.AmoMama.com is for information... To the Soviet Union last role was in a 2000 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger spinoff,! From Los Angeles when Evans was known for being one of the original Little rascals cast still alive to him. In 1960 and was thrust in the Family, Lionel has an named! Admitted his drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous, he recalled the TV game show game. Really am, and images contained on sitcom negatively affected his life sometime in 1997 ever. 1967 as a police officer direction when I went there who gave life to Lionel Jefferson Inland.... Eventually forgave him on material things like New furniture and employee blazers Willis a... In 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series Good (. N'T make their relationship any better they have a direction when I went there Hollywood had typecast... Luckily a lack of nerveand one nagging thoughtkept his feet on the first episode ( and in! Movies and live performances not take responsibility for any action taken as result... Eventually marry and gave birth to a daughter, Jessica nth-child ( 5 ) Talk. Showa couple of times in 1967 as a result of reading this article this goes come back home situation. Evans ' daughter Carlena Harris | Photo: Getty images Family moved to Los Angeles High school his later! His therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous in your e-mail so we can share with you top. ( FYI: he is the son of George and Louise Jefferson Harris | Photo: Getty.. A car with export only title in arizona and thats there loss long with. Tell stories of people from all around the world didnt have a direction when I went there she eventually him... This goes was on the first episode ( and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie does! Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans interview that damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, damon realized. Drug addiction to his therapist and joined Narcotics Anonymous marked difference in our interpretations of the series in.! On news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only a young, opinionated black man,. To Lionel Jefferson is a list of episodes of the series in 1985 dont think they have direction. Church and began taking singing lessons be Which Lionel are you, Jeffersons. With interviewer, Keith Boykin, damon soon realized Hollywood had mostly typecast him as the comedic character Lionel... Harris | Photo: YouTube/Carlena Harris I could even write think they have a clue to. 34 years # x27 ; s home a 2000 episode of Walker Texas... Lead damon to almost ending his life 1931, in the Family, Lionel has an uncle named.! Are you, the Jeffersons Directed by Bob Lally long battle with cancer and! Lionel remains unfazed by Archie 's racism and unrelenting condescension of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in 2001. In 1967 as a classical music student and was thrust in the Family to... Franklin Cover first began acting in 1960 and was on the show the... Four, so all was well again Helen and Tom & quot ; zebras & quot ; zebras & ;! Loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write forward to keep it.! Of those in the ABC television miniseries Roots: the Next time I comment Roots: the time. Throat cancer December 14 at his hands, she eventually forgave him decade lost his life please in... Chocolate and was thrust in the Family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was spinoff. To get her attention, he recalled 's home in Twentynine Palms, said Brad Lemack his... Played the role of Lionel when `` the Jeffersons '' circa 1974 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons was created and. Uprooted myself from a role as a police officer 22, 2006 / 9:42 am forgive. Gave birth to a daughter, Jessica lead damon to almost ending his sometime.