‘THE JEFFERSONS’ ACTOR & CO-CREATOR OF ‘GOOD TIMES’ MIKE EVANS DIES AT 57

December 22nd, 2006
mevas.jpgActor 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..

  1. 1.
    jscene

    oh no! I loved this lionel! Dammit.

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  2. 2.
    Jefferson Catlyn

    omg dats like my name (real name)
    soooooo strange
    newyz i havent seen much of those shows being british
    but thats so yung

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  3. 3.
    Natural Mystic

    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. :-(

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  4. 4.
    ms_mac1

    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.

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  5. 5.
    Cookie

    I liked this Lionel better than the replacement also RIP!

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  6. 7.

    WTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    RIP

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  7. 8.

    December 14th?

    Damn Angel La………lol

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  8. 9.
    carmelcutie

    Say it ain’t so? What a shame!

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  9. Very talented man indeed – I had no idea he was one of the creators of Good Times… R.I.P.

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  10. 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.

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  11. 12.
    She luvz da 90s

    WHat, this is krazy. Every day we wake up to horrible news. RIP. :(

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  12. 13.
    H-Town Chic*

    So sad that he died so young :( RIP

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  13. 14.
    keisheloca

    RIP. thats really sad

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  14. 15.
    1NubianQueen

    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!

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  15. 16.
    Asentha

    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.

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  16. 17.
    q_tis_diva

    RIP

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  17. 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.

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  18. Mike Evans left the Jeffersons to work on Good Times and once Good Times ended in 1979 he came back to the Jeffersons

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  19. 20.
    TooThru

    Wow, I didn’t know he was the Mike Evans that was behind Good Times. RIP.

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  20. 21.
    Bgash

    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.

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  21. 22.
    ohsoluvlee1

    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.

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  22. 23.
    PRETTY B

    SORRY TO HEAR THIS, RIP.

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  23. 24.

    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…

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  24. 25.
    Frank waters

    You notice how many sitcom actors from the 70′s are gone, especially Black ones? It’s a shame. R.I.P.

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  25. My condolences to his family and friends. R.I.P

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  26. 27.
    mack

    my condolences go out to his family also. its seems like everybody liked his version of “lionel” the best! R.I.P.

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  27. 28.
    Queshia

    condolences to his family.

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  28. 29.
    sharonda

    @ natural yeah i be watching the jeffersons at night and i can’t help but to wonder where they all at .rip brother!!!

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  29. 30.
    Sexysistah

    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

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  30. 31.
    NYC

    He was young, that’s sad.

    I always thought he was so handsome too.

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  31. 32.
    Beautiful

    God Bess his family and friends
    Rest in peace Mike Evans

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  32. 33.
    Jazzy Jayy

    R.I.P. God Bless his family during these hard times.

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  33. 34.
    Kitten

    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!

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  34. 35.
    SassyTeri

    #30 Franklin Cover (Tom Willis) died too.

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  35. 36.
    Kim

    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.

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  36. 37.
    Drama Queen

    Rest in peace brother. Thank
    s for helping create “Good Times” hands down one of the best black family sitcoms EVER!

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  37. 38.
    Nikki

    Sad to see him go. Rest in Peace.

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  38. 40.
    R&B Fan 4 Life

    RIP.

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  39. 41.
    Clearminded

    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.

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  40. Nothing gold can stay…I hope he knew the Lord.

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  41. 43.

    Homie gave us a lot of laughs. RIP. Gone 2 soon.

    kind.

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  42. 44.

    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…

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  43. Awww….R.I.P, you’ll be forever missed & in our hearts.

    Sincerely,

    Miracle

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  44. 46.
    tianni

    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.

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  45. 47.
    qtfromok

    Awwh that’s my favorite Lionel also. May God be with his family.

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  46. 48.
    jscene

    @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!

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  47. This is so sad for his family. GOD bless them.

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  48. 50.
    Regina

    R.I.P. Mike Evans and GOD BLESS.

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  49. 51.
    Al

    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.

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  50. 52.
    Al

    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.

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  51. 53.
    Syn

    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.

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  52. 54.
    reverberates

    R.I.P.

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  53. 55.
    Jackie Smith

    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.

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  54. 56.
    StarLite StarBrite

    Ohh, that brotha was so fine and such a superb actor. I’ll miss him.

    R.I.P. Boo (& Jimmy Brown too)

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  55. God bless him and his family

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  56. 58.
    Lisa

    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

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  57. 60.
    Shalice

    Out of the two Lionels, I liked this one the best. RIP

    Reply /0

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