Although Berlinda Tolbert is still alive and healthy, she doesn’t participate in the performing world very much. Prior to The Jeffersons, Tolbert appeared as a guest star on a number of well-known TV programmes from the time, including Sanford and Son, That’s My Mother, Mannix, and Fantasy Island.
She maintained her guest acting career after The Jeffersons ended by appearing on episodes including Amen, Jake and the Fatman, 7th Heaven, ER, and Six Feet Under. She appeared in the movies Harlem Nights (1989), which starred Eddie Murphy and Eddie Murphy, and Goodfellas (1990), which starred Samuel Jackson.
In 2013, Berlinda Tolbert also made an appearance in Just Another Man’s Wife. Even at the age of nearly 70, she still looks fantastic!
What Happened to Mike Evans?
At the time he was cast in The Jeffersons, Michael Jonas Evans was an unheard-of performer.
Famous black actor Cleavon Little was the first choice of legendary TV producer Norman Lear for the part, but the director preferred someone who wouldn’t overshadow the two seasoned lead performers. Cleavon Little, who played the role of Lionel, already had a legitimate Hollywood star status.
Mike Evans was one of the writers and creators of Good Times, a little-known fact about him. In truth, Ralph Carter’s portrayal of Michael Evans is closely based on Mike Evans’ actual life. He shares a name with the character, as is rather obvious.
After The Jeffersons
Evans gave up acting after The Jeffersons was no longer on television and started working as a real estate investor. After more than 20 years of marriage, he lost his wife Helena to cancer in 2002.
Mike Evans lost his personal fight with cancer on December 14, 2006. In addition to two daughters, the actor is survived by throngs of admirers who will always refer to him as “The Original & Best Lionel.”
The second and Jenny Theodore Jefferson (Damon Evans)
Damon Evans
Actor Damon Evans temporarily filled in for Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson. There was a dark period on the show when the first Lionel was replaced with a second Lionel, as almost everyone who watched the show will attest to.
No one appreciated this shift of actors, much like the second and first Darren from Bewitched. It’s unfortunate since Damon Evans was probably a good person. Simply put, fans preferred Mike Evans over Damon Evans as Lionel Jefferson because they were accustomed to and adored Mike Evans in that role.
Shared Name, No Relation
It’s important to note that both sets of Lionel Jefferson actors shared a same name, just like the second and original Darren from Bewitched (Dick York and Dick Sargent from Bewitched, and Michael Evans and Damon Evans from The Jeffersons—see, you thought I was crazy, didn’t you?)
Although I haven’t looked into it yet, I’m very sure Dick and Dick weren’t connected either, just like Mike and Damon weren’t related.
The Switch
Well, here is what transpired. After the second season, the original Lionel, Mike Evans, made the decision to depart the programme. In seasons three and four, Damon Evans took over the role and stayed for two years. This was the dark time. Luckily, Mike Evans chose to come back in the middle of season four, and everything was back to normal.
About Damon Evans, he was primarily well-known among theatregoers due to his performances in the Broadway musicals Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Moreover, in the ABC TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations, he portrayed a young Alex Haley.
After The Jeffersons
Damon later made an appearance in the 1985 movie Turk 182 after leaving The Jeffersons in 1978. He also appeared in a few television series as a guest star. Thankfully, Damon Evans is still alive and well as of this writing, but other than a guest appearance as himself on Living in TV Land, he hasn’t been active in acting for the past 18 years.
Catching Up With Ebonie Smith (Jessica Jefferson) From The Jeffersons
Jessica Jefferson on The Jeffersons was portrayed by former child actress Ebonie Smith. Lionel Jefferson and Jenny Willis Jefferson were the parents of Jessica.
Ebonie joined the show when she was only eight years old and stayed for the entire season. Although she really didn’t have much of a role to play, the reason why most of us remember her is because she was as cute as she could be.
After The Jeffersons
She continued to guest star in an astounding number of episodes after the show ended, including Webster, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, and Living Single. She also played Carrie Murtaugh, the daughter of Danny Glover’s character in the Lethal Weapon series starring Glover and Mel Gibson.
Ebonie Smith is indeed still alive and healthy. She no longer performs any acting, but I did locate her through her YouTube account. She is an LGBT rights advocate and a studio producer in New York City. Ebonie, go!
