The Real Reason Mike Evans Left The Jeffersons—And It Was Personal
Mike Evans was the first actor to ever play Lionel Jefferson, long before The Jeffersons was even a thing.
He debuted the character on All in the Family, but ironically, he wasn't even producer Norman Lear's first pick. Lear originally wanted Cleavon Little—yes, Blazing Saddles Cleavon Little—but the casting director thought he was too edgy for the role. They needed someone who could push Archie Bunker's buttons without actually pissing off audiences.
Enter Mike Evans—who wasn't even an actor. He landed the role after hitchhiking to the audition on a tip from his driver. Zero experience, but the right vibe.
Evans stuck with The Jeffersons when the spinoff launched in 1975, but after one season, he walked away. When season two started, the role of Lionel had been quietly recast with Damon Evans (no relation), leaving fans wondering why the original actor bailed on one of the hottest shows on TV.
Mike later explained the first reason: he wasn't getting enough screen time. In 1975, he told journalist Dan Lewis:
"When the show started, Lionel had no last name. Now, he not only has a last name, but the family name is the title of the new series."
George and Louise Jefferson were dominating the spotlight, and Evans felt sidelined.
But the bigger reason? He was busy. Along with Eric Monte, Evans co-created Good Times, the spinoff of Maude. So while The Jeffersons was taking off, Evans was already making his mark behind the scenes with another Norman Lear hit.
That didn't mean he stopped acting altogether. He took a role in the popular miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, and joined the short-lived Danny Thomas sitcom The Practice in its second season.
Eventually, though, the itch to play Lionel came back. In 1979, Mike Evans returned to The Jeffersons, picking up the role he'd made famous and sticking with it until the series wrapped in 1985.
After that, acting wasn't really his priority anymore. He shifted his focus to commercial real estate, occasionally picking up roles here and there, but staying mostly out of the spotlight.
Sadly, Mike Evans passed away on December 14, 2006, after a battle with throat cancer. He was just 57 years old—far too young for someone who helped shape two of the most iconic Black sitcoms of all time.