Should you’re a fan of The Jeffersons, you understand that it was a derivative of All within the Household. In actual fact, Mike Evans, who performed Lionel Jefferson, was the primary member of the Jefferson household to indicate up on that iconic present. Mike had not, nonetheless, been producer Norman Lear‘s first decide for the character. As a substitute, Norman wished Cleavon Little, maybe finest identified for the basic Mel Brooks movie Blazing Saddles, to play Lionel. However the casting director for All within the Household was uneasy about Cleavon within the function; he wished an actor who would problem Archie Bunker’s pondering, however do it in a non-threatening means. And for no matter purpose, he felt that Cleavon was simply too darn edgy.
