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Jeffersons actor says costar Sherman Hemsley was also gay

Created by Norman Lear, The Jeffersons wasn’t just a ratings juggernaut. It was a cultural phenomenon. The show aired at a time when most depictions of Black life on television were steeped in struggle, i.e. Good Times and Sanford and Son. Yet here were the Jeffersons, who were rich, opinionated, flawed, funny, and, for once, unapologetically at the center of their own story.

And yet, as The Jeffersons turns 50, some of its key players and their stories remain on the margins. One of them is Damon Evans, who portrayed Lionel Jefferson, the Jeffersons’ son, for three seasons. Evans replaced original actor Mike Evans (no relation), who left the show after one season and would later return.

Today, Damon Evans is ready to talk, not just about his own complicated journey as an out gay Black actor on one of America’s biggest shows, but also about the man who held it all together: Sherman Hemsley.

“There wouldn’t have been a Jeffersons without Sherman,” Evans said during a recent interview. “And yet, even after 11 seasons, he was only nominated once for an Emmy.”

Evans, who went on to a successful career in classical music and theater, said he was also at the Stonewall Riots of 1969. “There were more Black and brown people there than people realize,” he said. “The Village didn’t always welcome us. But something shifted. A friend turned to me and said, ‘Damon, this was our Rosa Parks moment.”

The actor said he’s speaking now to illuminate what others wouldn’t or couldn’t during the show’s original run about Hemsley. Evans said the actor didn’t get the accolades or recognition that he so deserved.

“I think the last time I saw Sherman was when I went to the National Black Theater Festival to collect an award in his honor. I gave it to him,” he recalled. “That was in the early 2000s. And I did see Isabel [Sanford], Roxie [Roker], Franklin Cover, some of the original cast for a People magazine story once. But Sherman? He was always a little separate.”

And by “separate,” Evans said he meant that Hemsley was not one to seek the spotlight. “He was a very humble guy, unlike George in the show.”

Evans also described Hemsley as a consummate professional. “He was a man of fearlessness who could plow through any script and always end up with a flawless performance.”

Still, the work didn’t always come easy. “Remember, we had an all-white, heterosexual writing staff,” Evans said. “Sherman wasn’t bothered by anything that may’ve appeared derogatory, whereas I was. I remember one episode with a cheap gay joke. I felt so uncomfortable. But Sherman, he just rolled with the punches.”

Rumors around Hemsley’s sexuality have swirled for decades, even after his death at 74 in 2021. Evans claims that Hemsley was gay. Hemsley never came out publicly during his lifetime. A 2007 VH1 story that listed three favorite allegedly gay black actors from the past put Hemsley in the top spot.

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by Anonymousreply 75August 1, 2025 1:15 AM

“We cruised the same places, went to the same parties. The same bars. But it wasn’t something we talked about,” Evans said. He said he was “sure” Hemsley knew he was gay. “You have to remember, it was a different time, so you just didn’t talk about those things at work.”

However, Evans says that Hemsley, who lived a relatively guarded life, didn’t hide a partner during filming.

“He was dating a Puerto Rican guy. They lived together. His boyfriend came to our tapings. They even did a lounge act in Vegas during hiatus,” Evans said. “That was Sherman, he was just who he was, and he marched to the beat of his own drum.”

Still, none of this was ever public. “I just didn’t understand why it needed to be hidden for so long, but Sherman really didn’t like being in the spotlight.”

Evans said that Sherman’s gay contemporaries in the business were predominantly based in New York City. “I’m sure that’s because they felt safer,” Evans recalled. “They were also mostly serious actors. SNL’s Garrett Morris, who is straight, is the only other contemporary of Sherm’s who had such success in television comedy. In that restricted and limited area, Sherman was the king!”

“Sherman wasn’t some stuck-up star,” Evans said.

by Anonymousreply 1July 31, 2025 2:48 AM

Tell this uppity negro. That no matter how many West Village restaurants wine and dine him, he WON’T be able to catch a cab after.

by Anonymousreply 2July 31, 2025 2:55 AM

George Jefferson

Gomer Pyle

Perry Mason

Dr. Kildare

All big 'mos

by Anonymousreply 3July 31, 2025 2:57 AM

Yeah we know. Duh

by Anonymousreply 4July 31, 2025 2:58 AM

We been knew.

by Anonymousreply 5July 31, 2025 3:04 AM

Everything I've ever read about Helmsley makes me like him more. I love the Jeffersons and Amen

by Anonymousreply 6July 31, 2025 3:06 AM

Mike Brady was a big ol' mo.

by Anonymousreply 7July 31, 2025 3:07 AM

This was no secret.

by Anonymousreply 8July 31, 2025 3:08 AM

r5 OP replies to herself a lot.

by Anonymousreply 9July 31, 2025 3:09 AM

Let's don't start with the teafakeness writing, r5/OP/Teafake

by Anonymousreply 10July 31, 2025 3:12 AM

This has been known for 30 years at least.

I'll add to R3's list of 70's gays:

Grandma AND Grandpa Walton

by Anonymousreply 11July 31, 2025 3:16 AM

That was a great interview. Yes, everyone already knew, but Evans really gave Hemsley his due. I hope he's interviewed in greater depth by a future Hemsley biographer (or for a book about "The Jeffersons").

by Anonymousreply 12July 31, 2025 3:17 AM

This was well known.

by Anonymousreply 13July 31, 2025 3:29 AM

R1- Yes- Garrett Morris was a PUSSYHOUND

by Anonymousreply 14July 31, 2025 3:33 AM

Damon Evans hated doing the show. I always preferred Mikes portrayal of Lionel to Damon’s. Damon was more fidgety and less mature, whereas Mike could do comedy and drama equally well and resonated more, probably because he stretched back to All In The Family episodes. Damon I believe quit the show, paving the way for Mike to come back in the 1979-80 season.

by Anonymousreply 15July 31, 2025 3:38 AM

It seemed odd to me at the time that when they recast Lionel they changed the character from straight to closeted gay. That was a big change.

by Anonymousreply 16July 31, 2025 3:39 AM

Sherman Hemsley's George Jefferson was one of the most brilliant TV characters of the late 1970s. He played off the other actors so well. He was so audacious. I've always admired him.

by Anonymousreply 17July 31, 2025 3:40 AM

Helmsley said that he was upset that the writers allowed Archie Bunker to grow but not George. He was especially upset that he was always written to call Tom "honky" when he was his friend.

by Anonymousreply 18July 31, 2025 3:43 AM

This falls into the category of distasteful outing.

Hemsley never came out during life. None of his family have seemingly confirmed his being gay.

This seems more self-serving than historical.

by Anonymousreply 19July 31, 2025 3:43 AM

Hemsley was gay. Who cares if he never publicly came out —everyone seemed to know and he didn’t seem to hide it

by Anonymousreply 20July 31, 2025 3:53 AM

[Quote] This falls into the category of distasteful outing.

Give me some examples of both tasteful and distasteful outings

by Anonymousreply 21July 31, 2025 3:54 AM

Hemsley’s one-time coke dealer temporarily lived in my ex’s parents’ basement at their house in the Overbrook Farms section of West Philadelphia for a few months in the early 2000s. I don’t know anything about the guy, why he stayed there, or why my ex even mentioned it to me.

by Anonymousreply 22July 31, 2025 3:59 AM

Norman Lear cast him after seeing him in 'Purlie', so I believe Lear always knew he was gay. I always found him quite attractive.

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by Anonymousreply 23July 31, 2025 4:01 AM

To add to the 70s and 80s list:

Gimme a Break's Nell Carter was a lesbian

by Anonymousreply 24July 31, 2025 4:02 AM

r19 Go back to TikTok you dumb fuck.

by Anonymousreply 25July 31, 2025 4:02 AM

I loved the show, never minded the criticisms. It was an upbeat story about hope and success through hard work. George's virtues were greater than his flaws, I think.

by Anonymousreply 26July 31, 2025 4:04 AM

Agreed R25 - what's your damage R19? He's long dead. It is widely known already. You can't 'out' a dead person.

It's the truth.

You're weird R19.

by Anonymousreply 27July 31, 2025 4:08 AM

“Me! Me! Look at me! Quote me!”

by Anonymousreply 28July 31, 2025 4:09 AM

r28 You ok? You tried.

by Anonymousreply 29July 31, 2025 4:12 AM

I remember more than 10 years ago, someone online mentioning going to a Jeffersons taping, where their friend, who was a crew member, pointed out Hemsley's partner in the studio audience.

He lived with his partner and brought him to tapings. He was at least open with his family and co-workers. You can't expect a man born in the 1930s, especially a black man, to talk about being gay, especially when he played such a macho Type A character on a popular show.

by Anonymousreply 30July 31, 2025 4:18 AM

The other Lionel was better looking

by Anonymousreply 31July 31, 2025 4:25 AM

Didn’t everyone know that already? He did drag with Howard Stern and let Howard hump him on a sofa. He was all into it.

by Anonymousreply 32July 31, 2025 4:26 AM

I feel bad for him because he was born in the wrong time. He would be an out and proud gay man now.

by Anonymousreply 33July 31, 2025 5:01 AM

Weesie forced George into the closet! She was just too much woman for him to handle.

by Anonymousreply 34July 31, 2025 5:08 AM

R22 that reminds me of the time my cousins college roommates sisters brothers best friends college professors Aunt was a cashier at Winn Dixie and knew someone who met Elvis.

by Anonymousreply 35July 31, 2025 5:11 AM

[quote]college professor's Aunt was a cashier at Winn Dixie

Was she that tremendously fat woman with a wooden leg and a totally hairless cat named Cincinnati Jake?

by Anonymousreply 36July 31, 2025 7:02 AM

R15 Mike was also hotter

I’ve read nothing but good things about Sherman. After he died, Stern did a little obit and talked about how Hemsley did the show years ago and was a great guest. Stern also said he thought it was “pretty obvious” that Hemsley was gay and that he was surprised it was known.

I also read on Reddit about Hemsley being on the Steve Harvey Morning Show, and how Harvey was so put off by Hemsley’s “character” that he would turn his back to him during the commercial break and not even speak.

by Anonymousreply 37July 31, 2025 10:27 AM

^^wasn't^^

by Anonymousreply 38July 31, 2025 10:28 AM

He died in 2012.

by Anonymousreply 39July 31, 2025 11:30 AM

Judging from his appearance on Stern, he was a good sport. And game for anything.

He was really into obscure prog rock. Which is unusual for an African-American gentleman.

Damon Evans was a terrible Lionel. A better opera singer. When Mike Evans returned, was he even in the opening credits? I think in the later years, Lionel and Jenny appeared less and less.

By the mid-80s, The Jeffersons had become terribly bland. It was like the zombie '70s Norman Lear show that wouldn't die. I think it lasted a year beyond Archie Bunker's Place

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by Anonymousreply 40July 31, 2025 11:45 AM

Another - Kaye Ballard of The Mothers in Law

by Anonymousreply 41July 31, 2025 11:58 AM

I didn't know either were gay. I think it's pretty cool.

by Anonymousreply 42July 31, 2025 12:00 PM

What about Mr. Bentley?

by Anonymousreply 43July 31, 2025 12:50 PM

I thought 'The Mothers in Law' was so weird because Richard Deacon and Roger C. Carmel and Kaye Ballard were so obviously gay. I could tell that even as a kid in the 1960s in rural Kentucky.

by Anonymousreply 44July 31, 2025 1:33 PM

Earl Holliman of Police Woman as well.

by Anonymousreply 45July 31, 2025 2:15 PM

Welcome Back Kotter - Ron Palillo (Horshack), Kotter (Gabe Kaplan), Travolta (Vinny Barbarino), any more?

by Anonymousreply 46July 31, 2025 3:31 PM

It’s weird for me to think at Mr Jefferson liked sucking cock

by Anonymousreply 47July 31, 2025 3:53 PM

What about that guy Benson from the other series. Was he gay?

by Anonymousreply 48July 31, 2025 4:55 PM

Sorry I meant Clayton Endicott from Benson. He wasn't gay according to Wikipedia.

by Anonymousreply 49July 31, 2025 4:56 PM

R48 speaking of Benson, and Robert Guillaume, was Rene Auberjonois (Clayton) gay? I know he was married and had a son but if there ever was a cookie sniffer look...

by Anonymousreply 50July 31, 2025 5:00 PM

Gabe Kaplan? Never heard that before.

by Anonymousreply 51July 31, 2025 5:05 PM

Hayden Rorke from I Dream of Jeannie was gay and didn't really hide it

His longtime partner was tv director Justus Addiss

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by Anonymousreply 52July 31, 2025 5:07 PM

Raymond Burr, of course.

by Anonymousreply 53July 31, 2025 5:11 PM

Don’t know if it was ever confirmed but I believe Ron Glass was assumed to be gay.

by Anonymousreply 54July 31, 2025 5:16 PM

Ron Glass was briefly the partner of Anthony Geary from GENERAL HOSPITAL.

by Anonymousreply 55July 31, 2025 5:22 PM

George Maharis, Route 66

by Anonymousreply 56July 31, 2025 5:25 PM

Character actors Richard Deacon and Roger Carmel

by Anonymousreply 57July 31, 2025 5:59 PM

I've heard rumors about Daniel J Travanti as well.

by Anonymousreply 58July 31, 2025 6:03 PM

Witchiepoo was a lesbian

by Anonymousreply 59July 31, 2025 6:05 PM

I think The Jeffersons falls into one of those categories of shows that were huge for its time but fell into obscurity. For years, it was always in syndication.

Now, is it on anywhere? Sanford and Son and Good Times still seem to be often mentioned, but I hardly ever see mentions of The Jeffersons.

by Anonymousreply 60July 31, 2025 6:19 PM

McMillan & Not the Wife

by Anonymousreply 61July 31, 2025 6:19 PM

Mother Jefferson was great.

by Anonymousreply 62July 31, 2025 6:22 PM

R60, it’s still around. It’s been playing on Antenna TV for a while now and I saw a commercial just the other day announcing that it’s going to start airing soon on FETV.

by Anonymousreply 63July 31, 2025 6:59 PM

R46 - I need at least one shred of gossip/supporting evidence that Gabe Kaplan is gay.

by Anonymousreply 64July 31, 2025 7:13 PM

Mother Jefferson was a lezzie. The character, not the actress

by Anonymousreply 65July 31, 2025 7:15 PM

Ed Asner

by Anonymousreply 66July 31, 2025 7:23 PM

Rene Enriquez from HILL STREET BLUES

by Anonymousreply 67July 31, 2025 10:38 PM

Dick Sargent

by Anonymousreply 68July 31, 2025 11:59 PM

How about Dawn Wells of Gilligans Island? One short 1960s marriage, there’s been gossip about her from day one.

by Anonymousreply 69August 1, 2025 12:13 AM

There was also Raymond St. Jacques - tv's first black cowboy! - who appeared with Clint Eastwood on Rawhide. His "adopted son" was male model Sterling St. Jacques

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by Anonymousreply 70August 1, 2025 12:30 AM

R10 You obsessed lunatic. I didn’t start this thread nor am r5. Get a fucking life already.

by Anonymousreply 71August 1, 2025 12:35 AM

R50;

[quote] Auberjonois was married to his wife Judith Helen Mihalyi from 1963 until his death in 2019. They had two children, a daughter, Tessa,[23] and a son, Rèmy-Luc,[24] both of whom also became actors.

[quote] In an interview with Compassion & Choices Magazine, Judith Auberjonois revealed that René Auberjonois underwent chemotherapy for lung cancer in 2018. It was discovered in 2019 that the cancer had spread to his brain. Due to the potential for serious cognitive side effects, Auberjonois chose not to pursue the whole-brain radiation treatment suggested by his doctors.[25]

[quote] As a resident of California, Auberjonois decided to seek medical aid in dying under the California End of Life Option Act.[25][26] On December 6, 2019, he spent his final hours with his family at his home in Los Angeles reminiscing over photos and listening to music.[26] He then took the medication prescribed for assisted suicide and died two days later at the age of 79. The California End of Life Option Act stipulates that death certificates should list the underlying terminal illness as the cause of death, rather than the use of life-ending medications.[27] His cause of death was given as metastatic lung cancer

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by Anonymousreply 72August 1, 2025 12:37 AM

R71. Its funny you find EVERY thread that has a mention of you, no matter how buried it is. Hmmmm...and speaking of short black gay men, Sherman used to frequent Weho's Vaseline Alley a LOT in his "showy" car. I dont think he cared who knew.

by Anonymousreply 73August 1, 2025 12:45 AM

[quote]Damon I believe quit the show, paving the way for Mike to come back in the 1979-80 season.

I always had heard that Evans had run into Hemsley one weekend, and had conversation with him about his career not taking off they way he thought it would when he left the show. Hemsley promised him if he ever decided to come back to the show, to let him know and Helmsley would make sure it happened. A few weeks later, Evans called him and said he wanted back in, and Helmsley let Norman Lear know. Before the new season started, Damon Evans was let go and Mike Evans returned. It never sounded like Damons had any say.

by Anonymousreply 74August 1, 2025 12:55 AM

I recall that Damon stopped appearing as Lionel and the original guy returned to the role when/after the latter’s directing duties of another sitcom in the late ‘70s ended.

by Anonymousreply 75August 1, 2025 1:15 AM
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