'Jeffersons' sitcom son 'Lionel' dies

[CatWoman]

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Actor Mike Evans, best known as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "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 sitcoms that featured a primarily black cast.

Michael Jonas Evans was born Nov. 3, 1949, in Salisbury, N.C. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist while his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher.

The family moved to Los Angeles when Evans was a child.

He studied acting at Los Angeles City College before getting the role of Lionel Jefferson in 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family."

Evans kept the role of Lionel when "The Jeffersons" launched in 1975. The hit show was a spinoff featuring bigoted Archie Bunker's black neighbors in Queens who "move on up to the East Side" of Manhattan.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/12/22/1222jefferson.html?imw=Y

[MountainLaurel]

1. Poor guy, throat cancer

I didn't know that he was involved with "Good Times."

[JI7]

2. i liked his scenes on "All in the Family" also

and his messing with Archie . this is very sad, he was far too young.

[qnr]

3. Farewell Mr. Evans n/t

[libnnc]

4. I had no idea he was from NC

I saw him on an episode of The Jeffersons just today.

[Nicole]

5. I loved Lionel's character

His pulling of Archie's leg was classic. He left us with some wonderful memories.


RIP Michael Evans

[UTUSN]

6. Oh nooo! n/t

[judaspriestess]

7. RIP

my condolences to his family

[Kat45]

8. I'm sorry to hear that. He was great in All in the Family.

A paraphrased scene:

Archie sees Mike heading out with Lionel early in the morning. When he asks where they're going, they tell him that Lionel has started running and Mike is going with him.

Archie (to Lionel): What do you need Mike to go with you for? Can't you go alone?

Lionel: Well, if you saw a black man. In this neighborhood. Alone. Running. What would you think?

Archie: Well I see what you mean there, Lionel.

Lionel: Yeah, I thought that you would.

:rofl:


RIP, Mike Evans.