Two actors played the character Lionel Jefferson on the iconic television series The Jeffersons.
Portrayal of Lionel Jefferson
The role of Lionel Jefferson, the son of George and Louise Jefferson, was notably portrayed by two different actors during the original run of The Jeffersons. While several actors depicted the character across various productions and pilots, only two were featured in the long-running series that aired from 1975 to 1985.
The following table details the actors who played Lionel and their respective tenures, specifically highlighting their involvement with The Jeffersons:
| Actor | Tenure on The Jeffersons | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Evans | 1975, 1979–1981, 1985 | Mike Evans originated the role of Lionel Jefferson on All in the Family before the spin-off series began. He continued as Lionel during the early episodes of The Jeffersons in 1975 and later returned to the role for several seasons and the series finale. |
| Damon Evans | 1975–1978 | Damon Evans took over the role of Lionel Jefferson from Mike Evans during the latter's absence. He portrayed the character for a significant period in the mid-to-late 1970s before Mike Evans returned. |
It's important to note that while other actors like D'Urville Martin and Jovan Adepo also portrayed Lionel Jefferson, their appearances were not part of the original The Jeffersons series run. D'Urville Martin appeared in unaired pilots, and Jovan Adepo played the character in a special live television event in 2019, long after the series concluded. Therefore, for the original run of The Jeffersons, the role of Lionel was consistently handled by either Mike Evans or Damon Evans.
Lionel Jefferson's character was integral to the show's narrative, especially in its earlier seasons, as he navigated life, college, and later, marriage within the context of his upwardly mobile family.
