[1] He attended Palmer Memorial Institute, a private school for young African Americans in Sedalia, North Carolina.

[3] 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.

"[4] Evans continued to play the role on the spinoff The Jeffersons, but left after the first season to pursue other aspects of his career.

[2][1] Evans played Lenny in the cast of the 1976–77 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice during its second and final season.