Does anyone know why they had two different people playing the character for Lionel Jefferson?

Does anyone know why they had two different people playing the character for Lionel Jefferson?


because the actor who played the first lionel left the show after it's first season because he felt his role on the show became too small

Thanks for your quick response.

then Norman Lear talked him into coming back.

then Norman Lear talked him into coming back.


Wrong, Sherman Hemsley talked Mike Evans into coming back and then he talked to Norman Lear about bringing him back before 1979 season

The first one left to do Good Times.

I was never a frequent Jeffersons watcher but the joke of there being 2 Lionel's has always been a punchline in other sitcoms that reference it.

And speaking of that, who was the better actor to portray Lionel anyway?

The first one left to do Good Times.

Not true and stop posting inaccurate information

From Wiki...

Mike Evans is best known for his recurring role as Lionel Jefferson on All in the Family and was the first and 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 1985. Actor and opera singer Damon Evans (no relation to Michael) played the role from September 1975 to January 1978 on The Jeffersons, as Mike Evans was busy with the production of Good Times. He returned after Good Times ended in 1979.

Don't like that one? Howbout from IMDB?

Mike and writing partner Eric Monte had also co-created and was writing for another Lear sitcom Good Times (1974), which was a spin-off of Lear's comedy hit Maude (1972), which, in turn, was a spin-off of sitcom daddy All in the Family (1971).

The major responsibilities and hardships of writing for "Good Times", which became one of the first TV sitcoms to feature a primarily African-American cast in quite some time, took its toll and Mike began making fewer appearances as Lionel. In fact he left the role completely in the fall of 1975 after only eight months to focus on his writing, and was replaced by actor Damon Evans (no relation to Mike), who inhabited the part for four seasons. Mike eventually reclaimed the part in 1979 after the cancellation of "Good Times". His character of Lionel, however, had dwindled so significantly in importance that he left the show again in 1981, this time for good. The family show ended its long run in 1985 after a decade.

So, yes, the reason there were two Lionel Jeffersons is because Mike Evans left to do Good Times. Once it was over, he returned to The Jeffersons.

From Wiki...

Mike Evans is best known for his recurring role as Lionel Jefferson on All in the Family and was the first and 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 1985. Actor and opera singer Damon Evans (no relation to Michael) played the role from September 1975 to January 1978 on The Jeffersons, as Mike Evans was busy with the production of Good Times. He returned after Good Times ended in 1979.

Don't like that one? Howbout from IMDB?

Mike and writing partner Eric Monte had also co-created and was writing for another Lear sitcom Good Times (1974), which was a spin-off of Lear's comedy hit Maude (1972), which, in turn, was a spin-off of sitcom daddy All in the Family (1971).

The major responsibilities and hardships of writing for "Good Times", which became one of the first TV sitcoms to feature a primarily African-American cast in quite some time, took its toll and Mike began making fewer appearances as Lionel. In fact he left the role completely in the fall of 1975 after only eight months to focus on his writing, and was replaced by actor Damon Evans (no relation to Mike), who inhabited the part for four seasons. Mike eventually reclaimed the part in 1979 after the cancellation of "Good Times". His character of Lionel, however, had dwindled so significantly in importance that he left the show again in 1981, this time for good. The family show ended its long run in 1985 after a decade.

So, yes, the reason there were two Lionel Jeffersons is because Mike Evans left to do Good Times. Once it was over, he returned to The Jeffersons.


You do know that Wikipedia is not accurate right? He left because he was unhappy with his role which was in the

January of 1976 edition of Ebony Magazine

yes, Sol's right, I remember reading that when it happened.

yes, Sol's right, I remember reading that when it happened.


And the article can be read online in the Ebony Magazine with George, weezy, and Mother Jefferson on the front.

The first one left to do Good Times.
That is so wrong and that is just an excuse, because the real reason Mike Evans left is because he wasn't happy with his role.

That is so wrong and that is just an excuse, because the real reason Mike Evans left is because he wasn't happy with his role.


Plus he guest starred on Richard Pryor's show in 1977, lol

He wasn't doing anything with Good Times. He helped CREATE GOOD TIMES in 1971 but never worked on the set:lol: :lol:

You do know that Wikipedia is not accurate right? He left because he was unhappy with his role which was in the

January of 1976 edition of Ebony Magazine

Thank you. Just give me a decent source, and I'll believe you. That's all I needed. :lol:

Not true and stop posting inaccurate information
Don't tell me what to do, and you didn't hear this right from the person's mouth so you could be wrong!!!!!

Don't tell me what to do, and you didn't hear this right from the person's mouth so you could be wrong!!!!!

It's in the January 1976 ebony magazine. The article about the Jeffersons

Mike Evans was involved with Good Times? I never knew that. To answer the threads question, there were two Lionel's. Wasnt the second guy named Damon Evans? I will say that I didnt like Damon Evans. He was too loud.

I preferred the original Mike Evans but Damon was good too. Depended on the ep. If it called for a more mellow Lionel than Mike was good. If it called for Lionel to be more aggressive personality , than Damon was better. Like I said before Mike had Louisa's disposition more and Damon was more like George.

And I personally thought Mike was better looking than Damon. I wonder who Berlinda Tolbert ( Jenny) preferred? Which one would she rather be hugging and kissing?

Mike Evans was involved with Good Times? I never knew that. To answer the threads question, there were two Lionel's. Wasnt the second guy named Damon Evans? I will say that I didnt like Damon Evans. He was too loud.


he helped create Good Times in 1971 with Eric Monte. That's not the reason he left the Jeffersons after season 1

Mike Evans left The Jeffersons the first time to concentrate on Good Times where he was a producer of the show. The second time he left was because he felt they weren't using Lionel enough….thats why we only got the Jenny appearances…with Lionel in Japan..

Mike Evans left The Jeffersons the first time to concentrate on Good Times where he was a producer of the show. The second time he left was because he felt they weren't using Lionel enough….thats why we only got the Jenny appearances…with Lionel in Japan..

According to Jimmie Walker, the real reason why Mike Evans left The Jeffersons the first time was because he was released from his contract after he was threatening to quit unless he was given more money and/or screentime. The fact that he returned to The Jeffersons shortly after Good Times ended was a mere coincidence.

Lionel's character was overshadowed by Mother Jefferson in season 1