D'Urville Martin was an American actor in both film and television. He appeared in numerous 1970s movies in the blaxploitation genre. He also appeared in two unaired pilots of what would become All in the Family as Lionel Jefferson. Born in New York City, Martin began his career in the mid-1960s and soon appeared in prominent films such as Black Like Me, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and Rosemary's Baby. Martin also directed films in his career, including Dolemite, starring Rudy Ray Moore.
Martin in 1974
All in the Family is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS for nine seasons, from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. It was later produced as Archie Bunker's Place, a continuation series, which picked up where All in the Family ended and ran for four seasons through 1983.
The Bunkers and the Stivics: standing, Gloria (Sally Struthers) and Michael (Rob Reiner). Seated, Archie (Carroll O'Connor) and Edith (Jean Stapleton) with baby Joey
When Archie visits a local blood bank to make a donation, he meets his neighbor, Lionel Jefferson, who is there for the same purpose.
The house featured in the opening credits sequence, as it appeared in late 2013
Vincent Gardenia, before becoming a regular cast member as Frank Lorenzo, and Rue McClanahan played a "wife-swapping" couple who meet the unsuspecting Bunkers in a 1972 episode. L-R: McClanahan, Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, and Gardenia.