Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV comedy series “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” has died. He was 57.
Evans died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother’s home in Twentynine Palms, said his niece, Chrystal Evans.
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.
Evans kept the role of Lionel when “The Jeffersons” launched in 1975. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunker’s black neighbours in Queens who “move on up to the East Side” of Manhattan.
Evans was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) for four years, then he returned to the series from 1979 to 1981.
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That’s the only picture I could find of him. It was taken back in 1972 on the set of “All in the Family.”
Rest in Peace..
oh no! I loved this lionel! Dammit.
omg dats like my name (real name)
soooooo strange
newyz i havent seen much of those shows being british
but thats so yung
OMG–Just last week I watched an episode of the Jeffersons and wondered whatever happened to him. He was really handsome and a great actor on that show. I always wondered why he was replaced by that other guy. RIP.
I liked this LIONEL so much better than his replacement. I didn’t even know he co-created Good Times! Wow. Talented brother. I wish him peace.
I liked this Lionel better than the replacement also RIP!
R.I.P
WTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIP
December 14th?
Damn Angel La………lol
Say it ain’t so? What a shame!
Very talented man indeed – I had no idea he was one of the creators of Good Times… R.I.P.
Very talented man indeed – I had no idea he was one of the creators of Good Times… And he died too young… R.I.P.
WHat, this is krazy. Every day we wake up to horrible news. RIP.
So sad that he died so young
RIP
RIP. thats really sad
ALL DAMN HERE WE GO AGAIN! I like this Lionel much better than his replacement. As much as I watch and love good times on dvd, I never knew this was the Mike Evans who co-wrote Good Times. WOW! May God Bless his family and may he R.I.P!
Very sad. RIP.
I liked him as Lionel much better than his replacement. Man, most of the original cast members of “The Jefferson’s” have passed on. Sad.
RIP
I was just watching All in the Family today and he was on there. And I have the Jeffersons on DVD. I liked him as Lionel the best. God bless his family.
Mike Evans left the Jeffersons to work on Good Times and once Good Times ended in 1979 he came back to the Jeffersons
Wow, I didn’t know he was the Mike Evans that was behind Good Times. RIP.
I’m sorry to hear about his death. He has been on the low for a while, but he did some great work while he was around. The Jefferons and Good Times are two of my favorite shows.
But I’m wondering what ever happened to Berlinda Tolbert, the woman who played his girlfried/wife (Jenny) on the show. She was looking good back in the day.
This just goes to show that you never know what is going on behind the scenes of some of these shows… Like a lot of others I had no Idea that he was involved in the creation of Good Times. I loved his character too and I am very sad to hear of his passing. My condolences go out to his family.
SORRY TO HEAR THIS, RIP.
jscene said:
oh no! I loved this lionel! Dammit.
LMAOOOO JSCENE U ARE TOO FUNNY, I WAS THINKING THAT TOO CUS THAT OTHER LIONEL WAS A HOT POOKIE/EDDIE CANE(FIVE HEARTBEATS)MESS!!
#2 THAT’S SCARY
HE WASN’T BROKE THOUGH, HE MADE ALL THESE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT DEALS SO HE WAS STR8 AND HE WAS ON AN EPISODE OF WALKER TEXAS RANGER BACK IN 2000…
You notice how many sitcom actors from the 70′s are gone, especially Black ones? It’s a shame. R.I.P.
My condolences to his family and friends. R.I.P
my condolences go out to his family also. its seems like everybody liked his version of “lionel” the best! R.I.P.
condolences to his family.
@ natural yeah i be watching the jeffersons at night and i can’t help but to wonder where they all at .rip brother!!!
He really was the better lionel…his replacement looked too “how u doin?” lol!!!
every time i watched good times and would see the name mike evans i always wondered if it was him..
i don’t there are many characters left except sherman hemsley and marla gibbs..
isabell sanford(louise)
roxie roker(helen)
ralph the doorman
zara cully(mother jefferson)
i’m not sure about tom willis and mr bentley..but the ones i mentioned have all passed away
much love and prayers to the evans family
He was young, that’s sad.
I always thought he was so handsome too.
God Bess his family and friends
Rest in peace Mike Evans
R.I.P. God Bless his family during these hard times.
awww my man Lionel nahhhhhh he was my favorite besides George and Weezy he was my favorite Lionel on the show R.I.P brother!
#30 Franklin Cover (Tom Willis) died too.
This was the Lionel that I liked. I hated the guy that replaced him and I was so happy when he came back. This is sad. RIP.
BTW…I didn’t know he co-created Good Times.
Rest in peace brother. Thank
s for helping create “Good Times” hands down one of the best black family sitcoms EVER!
Sad to see him go. Rest in Peace.
damn……..RIP.
RIP.
I watch Jeffersons reruns at least a few times a week — my favorite sitcom of all time. And he was my favorite Lionel, by far. 57 is young to die. RIP.
Nothing gold can stay…I hope he knew the Lord.
Homie gave us a lot of laughs. RIP. Gone 2 soon.
kind.
May he rest in peace.
I wanna say this man desrves his damn props for helping 2 create one of the BEST Black shows EVER Good Times, and also for starring in another one of the BEST Black shows “The Jeffersons”.
Both are my personal faves…
Awww….R.I.P, you’ll be forever missed & in our hearts.
Sincerely,
Miracle
AWWWWWWW. This is so sad. My condolences and deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of this ACTOR.
I loved him as LIONEL on the JEFFERSONS & ALL IN THE FAMILY.
I always thought he was the better actor as the role of LIONEL. I dont like the episodes with the FAKE LIONEL.
LOL.
Awwh that’s my favorite Lionel also. May God be with his family.
@24 bashyboo
Yep, i didn’t mean to say it like that, but i like this lionel so much better. He was so cool and laid back. The other lionel seemed like he had ADD but back then there was no for it. He was all over the damn place, and never seemed to quite fit in. I use to say, that’s not George’s boy! But when the original lionel came back, i was like “now that’s George’s boy!
This is so sad for his family. GOD bless them.
R.I.P. Mike Evans and GOD BLESS.
I really didi like him better than the opther Lionel. He was an impressive actor.
PS: To # 21: I believe Berlinda Tolbert still acts. I’ve seen her in a low budget movie or two in the 90′s and SHe guest starred in an episode of E/R last seqason or the season before. She’s older, but she still looks good.
I really didi like him better than the opther Lionel. He was an impressive actor. I used to love when he argued with Archie Bunker.
PS: To # 21: I believe Berlinda Tolbert still acts. I’ve seen her in a low budget movie or two in the 90′s and SHe guest starred in an episode of E/R last seqason or the season before. She’s older, but she still looks good.
Helloooooo……This is not the original Lionel, I luv this site but at least keep the pics and info accurate…if we dont who will.
R.I.P.
I liked him much better than his replacement. I hate to see him go at such a young age. He was very handsome. I’m praying for his family. I can’t locate a recent picture of him.
Ohh, that brotha was so fine and such a superb actor. I’ll miss him.
R.I.P. Boo (& Jimmy Brown too)
God bless him and his family
I liked both Lionels, but the dark skinned Lionel was my favorite. I actually thought the dark skinned Lionel was the original one. At any rate, I thought both of the brothers were good actors.
I pray he knew the Lord. In that case, he is in a better place.
RIP
RIP
Out of the two Lionels, I liked this one the best. RIP