Actor Demond Wilson of 'Sanford and Son' fame dies at 79

Demond Wilson, who was champion known for playing Lamont Sanford, the lad of Redd Foxx’s quality connected the 1970s TV amusement “Sanford and Son,” died successful his slumber astatine his location successful the Coachella Valley connected Jan. 30. He was 79.

Wilson’s publicist, Mark Goldman, confirmed that helium died from complications related to cancer.

“Demond was surrounded by emotion passim his last days,” Goldman said successful a statement. “A devoted father, actor, author, and minister, Demond lived a beingness rooted successful faith, service, and compassion. Through his enactment connected screen, his writing, and his ministry, helium sought to uplift others and permission a meaningful interaction connected the communities helium served.”

Demond Wilson attends the 2016 Chiller Theater Expo astatine the Parsippany Hilton successful New Jersey connected April 22, 2016.

(Bobby Bank / WireImage)

Grady Demond Wilson was calved successful Valdosta, Ga., connected Oct. 13, 1946, and grew up successful New York City. His mother, Laura, was a dietitian, and his father, Grady Wilson, was a tailor. Wilson learned pat creation and ballet and appeared connected Broadway astatine conscionable 4 years old. After serving successful the Army from 1966 to 1968 successful Vietnam, wherever helium was wounded, helium made his TV debut successful 1971, playing a burglar alongside Cleavon Little successful Norman Lear’s sitcom “All successful the Family.” That relation led to his casting successful “Sanford and Son” successful 1972, which was notable astatine the clip for having a astir all-Black cast.

Redd Foxx, left, broods adjacent to Demond Wilson astir 1 of the 3,000 pieces utilized connected the “pleasantly junky” acceptable of “Sanford and Son.”

(NBC)

Although “Sanford and Son” was his astir celebrated role, Wilson besides appeared successful “Baby, I’m Back,” “The New Odd Couple” and “Girlfriends.” His past TV quality was successful “Eleanor’s Bench” successful 2023.

Despite his success, Wilson near acting, sold his Bel-Air mansion and Rolls-Royce and became an interdenominational preacher successful 1983.

The alteration was not astonishing fixed his background. “I was raised a Catholic, was an altar boy, and astatine 14 I earnestly considered becoming a priest,” Wilson told The Times successful 1986. When helium was 12, his appendix ruptured and helium astir died, starring him to committedness to service God arsenic an adult. “I was ever alert that God was the guiding unit successful my life,” helium said.

Disillusioned with Hollywood, Wilson moved his woman and children to what helium jokingly called a “respectable, Republican, upper-middle-class” vicinity successful Mission Viejo. He wanted his 5 children astatine the clip to person “normal childhoods.” “We’ve near the rat contention and mendacious radical behind,” helium said.

Wilson was besides an author. He published “The New Age Millennium: An Exposé of Symbols, Slogans and Hidden Agendas” successful 1998, and his autobiography, “Second Banana: The Bittersweet Memoirs of the Sanford & Son Years,” successful 2009. He besides wrote 11 children’s books.

Wilson is survived by his wife, Cicely; his six children, Nicole, Melissa, Christopher, Demond Jr., Tabitha and Sarah; and his 2 grandchildren, Madison and Isabella.