Mike Evans (actor)
Encyclopedia
Michael Jonas Evans (usually credited as Mike Evans), was an American
actor
and, with Eric Monte
, was co-creator of the show Good Times
. Ralph Carter
's character Michael Evans
was named after him.
Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina
. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist
, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher
. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute
, a private school for young African Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina
. His family later moved to Los Angeles
, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School
. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College
.
Evans is most famous for creating the recurring role of Lionel Jefferson
on All in the Family
and was the first (and eventually final) actor to play Lionel on the spin-off The Jeffersons
. He played Lionel on The Jeffersons for much of its 11-year run, with the majority of his appearances occurring from 1979 to 1983. Actor and opera singer Damon Evans
(no relation to Michael) played the role for a few years of The Jeffersons, as Mike Evans was occupied in the production of Good Times
. He returned after Good Times ended in 1979.
His last TV role was in 2000, on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger
.
Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire
.
As the original Lionel, his absence was noticed at a Sherman Hemsley
TV Land
special that aired on April 26, 2006. The other living cast members of The Jeffersons were present (with the exception of Paul Benedict
), as well as Sally Struthers
and the cast of Hemsley's other series Amen
and Goode Behavior
.
Evans was the father of two daughters, Carlena Harris and Tammy Evans.
Evans died of throat cancer
at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, California
at the age of 57. The announcement of his death was released a week later.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and, with Eric Monte
Eric Monte
Eric Monte is an American screenwriter who has written for and created notable shows depicting 1970s African American culture.-Early life and career:...
, was co-creator of the show Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
. Ralph Carter
Ralph Carter
Ralph Carter is an American actor, and singerCarter is best known for his work as a child and teenager, both in the Broadway musical Raisin and as the character Michael Evans, the youngest member of the Evans family, on the 1970s sitcom Good Times...
's character Michael Evans
Michael Evans (Good Times)
Michael Evans is an American supporting character from the 1970s American sitcom Good Times. The character was apparently named after Good Times co-creator Michael Evans. He was portrayed by Ralph Carter....
was named after him.
Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a school teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. He attended Palmer Memorial Institute
Palmer Memorial Institute
The Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute, better known as Palmer Memorial Institute, was a school for upper class African Americans. was founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown at Sedalia, North Carolina near Greensboro. Palmer Memorial Institute was named after Alice Freeman Palmer,...
, a private school for young African Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina
Sedalia, North Carolina
Sedalia is a town in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 618 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sedalia is located at ....
. His family later moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he graduated from Los Angeles High School
Los Angeles High School
Los Angeles High School is the oldest public high school in the Southern California Region and in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Its colors are blue and white and the teams are called the Romans....
. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
.
Evans is most famous for creating the recurring role of Lionel Jefferson
Lionel Jefferson
Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons. He is the son of George and Louise Jefferson. He was originally portrayed by D'Urville Martin for two unaired episodes of All in the Family before the role was recast with Mike Evans taking over...
on All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
and was the first (and eventually final) actor to play Lionel on the spin-off The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
. He played Lionel on The Jeffersons for much of its 11-year run, with the majority of his appearances occurring from 1979 to 1983. Actor and opera singer Damon Evans
Damon Evans (actor)
Damon Evans is an American actor, best known as the second of two actors who portrayed Lionel Jefferson on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. He also portrayed the young Alex Haley in the ABC television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.Evans attended the Interlochen Academy on a Reader's Digest...
(no relation to Michael) played the role for a few years of The Jeffersons, as Mike Evans was occupied in the production of Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
. He returned after Good Times ended in 1979.
His last TV role was in 2000, on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger is an American television action crime drama series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis, and starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full...
.
Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)
The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
.
As the original Lionel, his absence was noticed at a Sherman Hemsley
Sherman Hemsley
Sherman Alexander Hemsley is an American actor, most famous for his role as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, and as Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen. He also played Earl Sinclair's horrifying boss, a Triceratops named B.P...
TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
special that aired on April 26, 2006. The other living cast members of The Jeffersons were present (with the exception of Paul Benedict
Paul Benedict
Paul Benedict was an American actor who made numerous appearances in television and movies beginning in the 1960s...
), as well as Sally Struthers
Sally Struthers
Sally Ann Struthers is an American actress and spokeswoman, best-known for her roles as Gloria Stivic on All in the Family, for which she won two Emmy awards, and as Babette on Gilmore Girls.-Personal life:...
and the cast of Hemsley's other series Amen
Amen (TV series)
Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen starred Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s...
and Goode Behavior
Goode Behavior
Goode Behavior is an American sitcom that premiered August 26, 1996 on UPN. The series was cancelled after its first season, airing its last episode on May 19, 1997, for a total of 23 episodes.-Synopsis:...
.
Evans was the father of two daughters, Carlena Harris and Tammy Evans.
Evans died of throat cancer
Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers that start in the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity , nasal cavity , paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas , originating from the mucosal lining...
at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, California
Twentynine Palms, California
Twentynine Palms is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It was previously called Twenty-Nine Palms...
at the age of 57. The announcement of his death was released a week later.
Further reading
- E! Online (22 Dec 2006, 02:56:00 PM PST): "Jeffersons Star Dead", by Joal Ryan
- Buffalo News, December 23, 2006.
- VarietyVariety (magazine)Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, January 8, 2007.