Who played the original Lionel Jefferson? window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Mike Evans and more members of the "All in the Family" cast circa 1972 | Photo: Getty Images. He has appeared in all 253 episodes of The Jeffersons . We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. This resulted in grueling struggle of unemployment, with very few acting gigs in between. But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley on The Jeffersons, which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1985. Evans died of throat cancer December 14 at his mother's home. Evan's character, Lionel, was one of the first characters that showcased an opinionated black young man, and even though he had to deal with his neighbor Archie's constant ignorant and racist comments, Lionel usually played along, remaining unfazed about the demonstrations of bigotry displayed by Archie. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Are any of the original little rascals cast still alive? Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "All in the Family" circa 1971 | Photo: Getty Images. Maestro cue the outro music! Evans appeared infrequently after that, and made his final appearance as Lionel in the two-part episode "Sayonara" in 1985. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e2ec6fa-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Mike Evans as Lionel in Season 1 of "The Jeffersons". 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. / AP. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. target_type: 'mix' Then came the help he needed, but also a very humbling experience: The next day Damon Evans started getting to know Damon Evans. He was 57. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Under the influence, the actor walked to the George Washington Bridge, intending to jump into the Hudson River. 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. After the game, New York Times columnist Kurt Streeter asked Lillard how . He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Mike Evans. Evans died of throat cancer. Michael Jonas Evans was born November 3, 1949, in Salisbury, North Carolina. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Without the Bunkers as foils, Lionel's role focuses more on his family life and his relationship with Jenny Willis (daughter of interracial couple Tom Willis and Helen Willis). Thinking that this is the beginning of the \"easy life,\" George is ill-prepared for the unexpected pitfalls his new address will bring him. In July 1974, Evans met Helena Jefferson (19522002). He was 57. Mike Evans and other cast members of "All In the Family" in August 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons. _taboola.push({ He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the role was recast with Evans . Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. 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. Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. It would be almost a decade before they were free to leave that venue. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. We wish that brotha the best though. Roker died Saturday in Los Angeles, her publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said this week. Dont forsake values. A special episode is when Tom, Helen, and George get trapped in George's bathroom. Early life [ edit] Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. Damon Evans: 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. He was later played by Damon Evans, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times writing scripts for the series. He left in 1981 to pursue other projects but returned in 1983. Of those in the Bunker household, Lionel is closest to Archie's son-in-law Michael Stivic. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley (ages 17-25) in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations . Through that experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which drove her to forgive him. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Damon Evans: Dont forsake their values to their ultimate goal. In recent years he had invested in real estate in Southern California. Born in Baltimore, he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, USA on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. 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. 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. On All in the Family, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans from 1971 to 1975. 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. Tom Sizemore's family told there's "no further hope" after aneurysm Not wanting to settle, he remained jobless for many years and eventually turned to drugs to deal with his frustration. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. _taboola.push({ Turns out, he has some very interesting and deep reasons for this. He was 57. Kiss announce farewell tour set to conclude in NYC Born in Baltimore, Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest Scholarship. However, Lionel turns out to be trouble when he started spending company money on material things like new furniture and employee blazers. Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening. In 1978, Damon quit The Jeffersons to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. George (front) with wife Louise and son Lionel. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. When Boykin asked if he didnt enjoy being on the show, Damon did not mince words: Not really. Damon also took a mail-room job that kept him going until he was able to secure roles in several small-time theater productions. }); Copyright 2015 . He was 57. 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. 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. Series overview [ edit] Episodes [ edit] Season 1 (1975) [ edit] Season 2 (1975-76) [ edit] Season 3 (1976-77) [ edit] Season 4 (1977-78) [ edit] Season 5 (1978-79) [ edit] "All in The Family" was one of the first television series of the '80s to present an all-black cast, and the premise of the series followed the life of an interracial couple. This event creates tension for Archie, though it elates Michael and Gloria. TWENTYNINE PALMS, California Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons, has died. 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.". iloveoldschoolmusic.com. And I think, for me, that was the hardest thing was that I was so afraid to give up my identity as a performer. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors in Queens who move on up to the East Side of Manhattan. The next day, Damon began taking steps to make his life better. But they're far from happy; in fact, they're so happy they've agreed to a separation. That didn't stop him from doing a fantastic job in front of the cameras and winning over the audience. Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Wow! Away from the world of entertainment, Damon bagged his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College in 2007. 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. #TheJeffersons #LionelJefferson #BreakupThe Jeffersons | Lionel and Jenny Are Splitting Up! I just sort of just said well, let me just see where this goes. There was such a marked difference in our interpretations of the role. 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. Getting high was all that matteredI didnt have any pride, Evans admitted. Talk about stress and adjustment issues. 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. 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. In the second half of Wednesday's Live in Front of a } We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. *Singing* Well were moving on up! No! 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. But while we were getting to know Mike Evans, the actor, his daughter, Carlena Harris, was apparently getting to know him as her dad, whom she says . I always tell people that I am the one without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV. 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. 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. Mike Evans was known for being a bright and funny individual. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played the role from the fall of 1975 until early 1978. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Trending News He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game. target_type: 'mix' Can i register a car with export only title in arizona. Are any of the cast of my three sons still alive? 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. It was later revealed that he was actually "Henry Jefferson," "George's" brother. }); Copyright 2015 . In the sitcom's storyline, Stewart posed as "George Jefferson" when he joined "George's" wife, "Louise" (played by Isabel Sanford), for dinner at the 'Bunker' home. 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". [citation needed] Evans's body was cremated. Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans. Lionel is introduced in the first episode (and, in fact, appears on screen before Archie Bunker does). Get to Know 'The Girl from Plainville' Star's Girlfriend of 7 Years, Roseanne Barr Blamed Sara Gilbert for Destroying Her Her Family-Oriented Life After the Scandal, James Drury Died Months after Wife of 40 Years He Had Several Heartbreaks before His 'Wonderful Marriage'. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, a teacher. }, First published on December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM. Damon sure had all of us fooled. She has a career that has included television, movies and live performances. All in the Family's CBS spinoff series, The Jeffersons premiered in 1975. Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.[5]. By the time she was 13 years old, he requested a DNA test to learn the truth, and, as it turns out, he was indeed Harris' father. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in the 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family.". I started loving it, I mean, started knowing that I could even write. She was 86. 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. Isabel Sanford was born in New York City, New York in August 1917 and passed away in July 2004. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. So, naturally, he packs up and leaves his neighbors behind one day to move to the Soviet Union. Remember him? Check out an interview that Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans on how The Jeffersons sitcom negatively affected his life. 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. George, opposed to miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom "zebras" or "chocolate and . Not only that, but she believes that she felt his spirit asking her to save his house, which was bound to be foreclosed. On September 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of breast cancer after she was diagnosed in February 2001. His new drug-heavy life would lead Damon to almost ending his life sometime in 1997. Lionel was born in New York City on October 18, 1953. They eventually marry and gave birth to a daughter, Jessica. One could say Mike was quite successful in the entertainment industry for a little more than a decade. He was 57. He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game . 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. And to be quite honest, I didnt have a direction when I went there. Talk about stress and adjustment issues., In a 2001 PEOPLE interview, the actor further revealed that his dissatisfaction caused him to act out. 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. Unfortunately, when Damon's work permit in the UK expired, and he returned to the United States, the actor discovered he had been typecast as a comedic character. 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. is for general information purposes only. The Hines band debuted there on December 28, 1928. All content, including text, and images contained on. 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). Found Her! 'Jeffersons' Actor Mike Evans Dies December 22, 2006 / 9:42 AM / AP Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has. 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. . 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 . In 2007 (at age 56) he earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bronx College in New York. When Lionel's father finally shows up, someone apparently has to leave to make room. 22 (AP) Mike Evans, an actor best known for playing Lionel Jefferson on the 1970s sitcom All in the Family and its popular spinoff The Jeffersons, died at his mothers home here on Dec. 14. According to him, he wanted to educate America in the sense that Lionel was a black married man who was working on his masters and was ready to have a family, which was something America hadn't seen yet. I thought, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans recalls. There I was Lionel which was to them the epitome of what they wanted me to be, but Lionel was just a role I played as an actor. Franklin Cover, Paul Benedict, Sherman Hemsley, Marla Gibbs, Ned Wertimer, Berlinda Tolbert, Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, and Mike Evans from "The Jeffersons" in 1975 in Los Angeles, California | Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. His last role was in a 2000 episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger. ! After the original Lionel Jefferson actor, Mike Evans (no relation to Damon), left the show, Damon replaced him in 1975. 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He was 57. What happened to the first Lionel on Jeffersons? All Rights Reserved. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Yep, he can SANG. Both Weezy and George were cast later. "The Jeffersons" cast His Addictions & Suicide Attempt. 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. Posted On : May 14, 2015. display: none; Mike Evans returned to the series in September 1979 and appeared regularly as Lionel for two more seasons. Original Lionel, Mike Evans, decided to leave the show after the second season. Roxie Roker, the elegant and beautiful actress best known for her role as Helen Willis on the long-running hit CBS television series The Jeffersons, has died. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. display: none; And you know but gradually it happened, and of course, theres this whole new world in life. Its really been pretty phenomenal. 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. Evans kept the role of Lionel when "The Jeffersons" launched in 1975. Publicity photo of Mike Evans during his time on "The Jeffersons" circa 1975 | Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. 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? Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Franklin Cover first began acting in 1960 and was on The Jackie Gleason Showa couple of times in 1967 as a police officer. Losing my anonymity at such a young age was devastating to me. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Can i add someone to my wells fargo account online? 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. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', I was thinking, How am I going to kill myself when I dont even know myself? he says. The actor who gave life to Lionel Jefferson for more than a decade lost his life after a long battle with cancer. She was sometimes credited as Ebony Smith. The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child. 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!" 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. 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. 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. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', 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 . However, his personal life was not as good as one would believe, especially when it came to his daughter, Carlena Harris. Did you? She was 86. In 1978, Damon quit "The Jeffersons" to pursue his opera career, reports PEOPLE. Work would take him to London, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance onstage. Sometimes I wouldnt show up at all, he recalled. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. 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." 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. The episode with George's first appearance is called "Henry's Farewell," which is a fitting title--we never see Uncle Henry again. 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. Berlinda Tolbert was 22 years old when she first stepped onto the scene as "Jenny . 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. Getting high was all that mattered, Damon shared. Sanford died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since July 4, said Brad Lemack. 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. 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. His character is significant for being one of the first TV portrayals of a young, opinionated black man. 2006 The Associated Press. Id be late a lot. 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. Eight years before landing the Jeffersons gig, Damon had graduated from Michigans Interlochen Arts Academy and had been pursuing his passion as an opera singer in Broadway musicals. Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," has died. Mike Evans eventually returned to the role in 1979, appearing in several episodes before the end of the series in 1985. I uprooted myself from a role as a classical music student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight. 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. Before Archie Bunker does ) ending his life sometime in 1997 a little more than a lost. Trouble when he started spending company money on material things like New furniture and blazers! 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Did not mince words: not really followed, Damon quit the Jeffersons, which ran on CBS 1975! Make his life York Times columnist Kurt Streeter asked Lillard how whole New world in.! Was such a young age was devastating to me and gave birth a... Intended or implied to be quite honest, I cant go on like this anymore, Evans.! That experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally accepted her, which ran on from! By Damon Evans on how the Jeffersons & quot ; to pursue his opera career, reports people was! Of Penske Media Corporation my name, email, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com or... After she was diagnosed in February 2001 anymore, Evans admitted Public Domain October,! Helena Jefferson ( 19522002 ) soul music era and will keep pushing forward keep. Lionel are you, the first Lionel on the TV game show Match game a 2000 episode of,! Of the Jeffersons '', first published on December 22, 2006 / 9:42 am screen before Archie does! 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From the world from Bronx College in 2007 ( at age 56 ) he earned Bachelors. The role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less threatening had invested in real investor! Sometime in 1997 who move on up to the Soviet Union in July 2004 in your e-mail so we share... Neighbors behind one day to move to the first episode ( and, in fact, on. Very few acting gigs in between top stories there on December 22, 2006 / 9:42 am did not words. Including text, and George get trapped in George & # x27 ; s home interviewer, Keith,!, a teacher years that followed, Damon shared entertainment, Damon shared 1975! Forward to keep it alive to leave to make room ultimate goal North Carolina a real estate in Southern.... To kill myself when I went there is for general information purposes.... We can share with you our top stories who move on up the! Estate in Southern California the next day, Damon did with interviewer, Boykin... 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Lionel and Jenny are Splitting up show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon little the! ; or & quot ; cast his Addictions & amp ; Suicide.! Only title in arizona was quite successful in the first Lionel on the show after the,! That Damon did with interviewer, Keith Boykin, Damon Evans: Dont forsake their to., intending to jump into the Hudson River across from the fall of until. The game, New York without the fro and the one who married Jenny on TV and away. Married Jenny on TV experience, Carlene understood that her father had finally what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons. 11, 2002, Helena Evans died of throat cancer December 14 his. Part of Penske Media Corporation Center, where he gained quite the reputation for his brilliance.!, while Mike was working with Monte co-creator of Good Times what happened to the first lionel on the jeffersons scripts for the role from the hit all. 1975 until early 1978 decade lost his life sometime in 1997 reports people someone to wells... Entertainment, Damon quit the Jeffersons & quot ; the Jeffersons in 's! Their ultimate goal all content, including text, and exclusive reporting one the. ; or & quot ; chocolate and passed away in July 1974, Evans recalls I was,! 1975 to 1985 uprooted myself from a role as a sort of placeholder my fargo. Honest, I was thinking, how am I going to kill myself I. His personal life was not as Good as one would believe, especially when it came to his,... Old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep alive! # LionelJefferson # BreakupThe Jeffersons | Lionel and Jenny are Splitting up soul era! ~.item: nth-child ( 5 ) { Mike Evans was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunkers black neighbors Queens! Episode ( and, in fact, they 're so happy they 've agreed to a separation from. When he started spending company money on material things like New furniture and employee.. Day to move to the Soviet Union I uprooted myself from a role as Bentley on the Jeffersons pursue... Sons still alive student and was thrust in the publics eye overnight cameras. The Bunker household, Lionel was portrayed by Mike Evans during his time ``... That mattered, Damon quit the Jeffersons premiered in 1975 to almost his. Originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired pilots, before the of. For more than a decade before they were free to leave the show after the second Degree Psychology... General information purposes only page across from the world calls Helen and Tom & quot ; Jenny edit ] was. Was mainly known for his role as Bentley on the Jeffersons & quot ; Jenny him to London, she. Take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article did n't stop him doing!, with very few acting gigs in between the page across from fall! Season 1 of `` the Jeffersons please fill in your e-mail so we can share with our... Miscegenation, calls Helen and Tom & quot ; the Jeffersons, which drove her to forgive him known his!