Michael Jonas Evans (November 3, 1949 – December 14, 2006) was an American actor and television writer, best known as Lionel Jefferson on both All in the Family and The Jeffersons. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (1974–79). He was also a guest celebrity panelist on the TV game show Match Game.
Evans was born in Salisbury, North Carolina, on November 3, 1949. His father, Theodore Evans Sr., was a dentist, and his mother, Annie Sue Evans, was a 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.
A college student majoring in drama but with no acting experience, Evans caught his big break when All in the Family producer and director John Rich hired him to play Lionel Jefferson, the son of the Bunkers' new Black neighbors. Show developer Norman Lear preferred Cleavon Little for the role, but Rich lobbied to cast an actor who would appear less "threatening."
Evans continued to play the role on the spinoff The Jeffersons, but left after the first season to pursue other aspects of his career. According to Jimmie Walker, Evans had threatened to leave if he was not given more screen time, and Norman Lear let him out of his contract. Actor and opera singer Damon Evans (no relation to Michael) then took the role of Lionel, but Mike Evans returned to the role for the sixth, seventh, eighth and eleventh seasons. Evans was a creator/writer of the series Good Times (1974–79).
Evans played Lenny in the cast of the 1976–77 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice during its second and final season.
Evans was also a real estate investor and owned properties in California's Inland Empire.
Evans died of throat cancer at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, California, at the age of 57. Evans never married.
Associated Press (December 22, 2006). "Mike Evans, 57; Lionel in 'Jeffersons' created 'Good Times'". Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 14, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2006.
E! Online (22 Dec 2006, 02:56:00 PM PST): "Jeffersons Star Dead", by Joal Ryan
Buffalo News, December 23, 2006.
Charay Vaughn Show "Mike Evans Daughter, Carlena Harris Evans, discusses father on The Charay Vaughn Show, Episode 21". March 28, 2012.
https://newsone.com/4396607/carlena-evans-good-times-interview/, August 26, 2022