Posted on 12/22/2006 12:33:35 AM PST by lunarbicep
Mike Evans, 57, an actor best known for his role as Lionel Jefferson in the TV sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons," died of throat cancer Dec. 14 at his mother's home in Twentynine Palms, his niece Dr. Chrystal Evans said.
With writing partner Eric Monte, Evans went on to create and write for "Good Times," one of the first TV sitcoms that featured a primarily African American cast.
Michael Jonas Evans was born Nov. 3, 1949, in Salisbury, N.C., to a dentist father, Theodore Evans Sr., and his schoolteacher wife, Annie Sue Evans.
The family moved to Los Angeles when Mike was a child. He graduated from Los Angeles High School and studied acting at Los Angeles City College before landing the role of Lionel Jefferson in Norman Lear's iconic 1970s situation comedy "All in the Family."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Yep. Damon Evans played Lionel, too. He seemed a little light in the loafers, though. I don't remember if he took over when the Jeffersons spun off or later.
Ja'net DuBois sang "Movin' On Up", the theme song for this show
"I'm wanna be a 'lectrical engineer!"
He was an immensely likable character. I enjoyed his work. May he Rest in Peace.
You can also get it by being human and having a throat.
Good grief, has it been that long? I was just watching "Wall Street" the other day and realized that the actor married to the black lady was also deceased.
Lol! You sing it much better than I do! :)
I remember her! Funny gal with a great voice! I wonder if she's still alive.
| The Jeffersons was a spinoff of All in the Family in which the Bunkers' black next-door neighbors moved to a "deluxe apartment in the sky." This gospel-tinged song described their progression "on up." |
| Although it features a gospel choir, this is often covered by garage bands. |
| Ja'net Dubois: "I know about black folks movin' up. I've been there." |
| DuBois played the role of Willona Woods on another black sitcom, Good Times. Good Times was a spinoff of Maude, which like The Jeffersons, was a spinoff of All in the Family. |
| The Jeffersons featured TV's first mixed-married couple, a white husband and a black wife. It had its own short-lived spinoff, Checking In. |
| This is commonly played at sporting events when a team which has previously been doing poorly makes a startling comeback and hence moves back "up" to its previous status. |
| Nelly sampled this for his song "Batter Up" (the title was inspired by the line in this song, "Now it's our turn at bat"). "Batter Up" was a spoof of the media's enthusiasm for sports and also featured St. Lunatics and Murphey Lee. |
| When the first season of The Jeffersons was released on DVD, it was called "Movin' On Up." |
| Legendary songwriter Jeff Barry, who helped compose this, sang backup vocals. Barry and his wife, Ellie Greenwich, composed several popular songs such as "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts?," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me," "Baby I Love You", "Be My Baby," "The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget," "I Can Hear Music," and "River Deep, Mountain High." |
| The choir consisted of 35 black churchgoers. (thanks, Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above) |
| In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, rapper Ludacris said, "That's every black person's favorite TV theme, because we movin' on up!" |
Franklin Cover who played Tom Willis died Feb. 5, 2006
Roxie Roker who played his wife Helen died Dec. 2, 1995
Roxie Roker's son is Lenny Kravitz who has a white father (Roker's Husband)...just like it was on the TV show...I know.
"Movin' On Up"
Jeff Barry / Ja'net DuBois
The Jefferson's Theme Song
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
http://www.answeringbell.com/Answering%20Bell/Songs/movin_on_up.htm
About a 99 percent probability.
Lol! Catchy tune! Thanks....now that song is gonna be stuck in my head for DAYS! :P
The tall white neighbor with the British accent - he was a hoot.
That photo posted earlier is the only one on the Internet. I've looked and haven't found a photo of you or Mr. Evans. I remember the show and both of you. I just can't believe that no photos are posted anywhere.
That'll learn him.
Welcome.
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