It’s been two decades since the tragic death of actor Mike Evans, best known as the original Lionel Jefferson in TV’s groundbreaking sitcoms, All in the Family (CBS, 1971-) and The Jeffersons (CBS, 1975-). He died of throat cancer at only 57 years old. This is his story.
A Closer Look
Mike Evans was born Michael Jonas Evans on November 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 Evans family relocated to Los Angeles when young Michael was just a child. He studied acting at Los Angeles City College. During this time, he made appearances on TV shows such as Love, American Style, and The Streets of San Francisco. In the latter, he co-starred with Belinda Tolbert, who would later play his girlfriend/wife on The Jeffersons.
His Big Break
All in the Family producer/director John Rich required a vibrant young actor to play the role of Lionel Jefferson on the series, which featured veteran actor Carroll O’Connor as bigot Archie Bunker.