He lost his wife Helena to cancer after more than two decades of marriage in 2002. Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin Damon Evans on how The Jefferson's sitcom negatively affected his life The Jeffersons was an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS. On December 14, 2006, Mike Evans lost his own battle to cancer as well. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A little known fact about Mike Evans is that he was one of the writers and creators of Good Times. Party Name. #TheJeffersons #LionelJefferson #BreakupThe Jeffersons | Lionel and Jenny Are Splitting Up! Benedict left the series at the end of the 1980-81 TV season, which became the seventh year of the sitcom. 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. Evans appeared infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the two-part episode Sayonara in 1985. While in Boston he appeared in productions of Two If by Sea, Hair, and The Corner at the Theatre Company of Boston. iloveoldschoolmusic.com, Damon is referring to this fun fact about the shows beginning cast: From the characters first appearance on. With Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover. 1 comment. I had not even seen one episode of the show before I took over the part, and the producers discouraged me from ever watching any of the episodes in which Mike had appeared. Damon EvansThe JeffersonsJovan AdepoLive in Front of a Studio Audience Damon Evans 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. Isabel Sanford, who portrayed Louise Weezy Jefferson, and Sherman Hemsley, the actor who portrayed the iconic George Jefferson, were definitely good friends off-camera. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Did you? 57 is quite young. Add an answer. 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. What happened to the second Lionel from the Jefferson? The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Who was the original Lionel Jefferson on the Jeffersons? He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. 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. 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. After the show ended, she went on to guest star in an impressive amount of shows like Webster, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, and Living Single. He was 59. Directed byJack Shea. 2011-06-12 14:48:07. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', He was 57 . Biography [ edit] Ebonie was only around eight years old when she appeared on the show, and she was there for the last year. She still looks great! All Rights Reserved. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. 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. Go Ebonie! Thinking that this is the beginning of the \"easy life,\" George is ill-prepared for the unexpected pitfalls his new address will bring him. From the time George Jefferson and son Lionel began appearing on All in the Family until the lights dimmed on The Jeffersons set for the last time in 1985, the characters and stories became part of American culture. Yet he died destitute. What happened to the actor who played Lionel on All in the Family? mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. Be notified when an answer is posted. 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. 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. Can you use OxiClean on leather car seats? At the time of this writing, she is 68 years old. 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. 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. | The Norman Lear Effecthttps://bit.ly/NormanLearEffect This means that when assets are divided during the divorce process, the other spouse is legally entitled to half of the value , Admissibility of Recorded Conversations in California Typically, recorded conversations are inadmissible in court as hearsay. How big is the Australian giant cuttlefish? He was originally portrayed by DUrville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 4 What happened to Lionel and Jenny on The Jeffersons? 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. 4 Is Jenny still alive from The Jeffersons? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Indeed, Ebonie Smith is alive and well. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What was Zara Cully last episode on The Jeffersons? Season 2. What happened to the original Lionel? Dont forsake values. Also, Sherman Hemsley was not the original George Jefferson. Damon Evans played the part of Lionel in Seasons 2-4 of "The Jeffersons". And most of all, you dont have yourself when you get there. Maestro cue the outro music! She also had roles in the films Goodfellas (1990) alongside Samuel Jackson and Harlem Nights (1989) with Eddie Murphy. Being very versatile with his talent, we've seen him take on a variety of roles. What episode did Florence leave The Jeffersons? The main difference is the new Lionel now played by Damon Evans (no relation to Mike Evans who left the series to work on "Good Times"). "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Lionel is the right-hand partner of Dumbo in Disney's 1985-87 television series Dumbo's Circus. He was 57. Request Answer. 2 Why did the original Lionel leave The Jeffersons? What happened to Lionel on The Jeffersons? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Both Weezy and George were cast later. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. 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. Then Damon Evans revealed that his sexual preference became an issue for him on The Jeffersons as well. She is an NYC-based studio producer and a champion of LGBT rights. According to a star on that series, Evans didnt ask to leave The Jeffersons. 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. He was 57. S02:E204 - Harry and Daphne. ? The Jeffersons had one spin-off, titled Checking In. Archie considers himself to be Lionel's good friend and even mentor. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Court Orders. Sometimes, that is still not enough for some people to differentiate us apart. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. 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. Developed by Norman Lear at a time when his comedy shows were breaking new ground on U. S. television, the series also featured a racially mixed married couple as the Jeffersons neighbors. Jessica was the child of Lionel Jefferson and Jenny Willis Jefferson. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. Is a business community property in California divorce? Advocate Name. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Damon Evans: Not really. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Lionel the Playboy: Directed by Jack Shea. He has a knot in his tail. The Jeffersons is one of the longest-running sitcoms, the second-longest-running American series with an African American cast. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? Mike Evans and Damon Evans The role of Lionel Jefferson was so vital to the sitcom it took two actors to play him. After his service, he returned to become a mailman, and it was only later in life that he found his home in acting. All Original Content Copyright by OTB. 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