Michael Jonas Evans (November 3, 1949 â€" December 14, 2006) was an
American actor, best known as Lionel Jefferson on both All in the
Family and The Jeffersons.Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina.
His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie
Sue Evans, a teacher. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private
school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina, just
outside Greensboro. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he
graduated from Los Angeles High School. He studied acting at Los
Angeles City College.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. Show developer Norman
Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast
an actor who would appear less threatening. Evans continued to play
the role on the spinoff The Jeffersons, but left after the first
season to pursue other aspects of his career. 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. 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.Evans was also one of the creators and writers of the
series Good Times (1974â€"79).
American actor, best known as Lionel Jefferson on both All in the
Family and The Jeffersons.Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina.
His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie
Sue Evans, a teacher. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private
school for young black Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina, just
outside Greensboro. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where he
graduated from Los Angeles High School. He studied acting at Los
Angeles City College.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. Show developer Norman
Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast
an actor who would appear less threatening. Evans continued to play
the role on the spinoff The Jeffersons, but left after the first
season to pursue other aspects of his career. 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. 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.Evans was also one of the creators and writers of the
series Good Times (1974â€"79).
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.