Beloved 'Sanford and Son' Star Dies at 79 from Complications Related to Cancer

On the morning of Friday, January 30, longtime actor and one-half of the legendary TV duo Sanford and Son, Grady Demond Wilson, passed away, according to a report from TMZ. The entertainment outlet confirmed with the actor’s son, Demond Wilson Jr., that his father died at his Palm Springs, California home from “complications related to cancer.” While at the time of publication, much is not known about the type of cancer the star suffered from, Wilson Jr. did share with TMZ his admiration for his father, stating, “I loved him. He was a great man.”

Wilson’s Sanford and Son co-star, Red Foxx, preceded him in death on October 12, 1991, after suffering a heart attack on the set of The Royal Family. Ironically, that October day was also a Friday. 

The Acting Legacy of Demond Wilson

Wilson’s roots in the performing arts actually go way back to his youth, when he appeared on Broadway and later danced at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Once he got the Hollywood bug, he appeared in shows such as All in the Family and Mission: Impossible, and movies like The Organization and Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues. However, his big break came portraying Lamont Sanford in the iconic sitcom Sanford and Son. That was quite the role, considering the comedic genius he was starring with.

While Wilson would go on to star in and appear on a number of shows following the end of Sanford and Son, like Baby… I’m Back!, The New Odd Couple, and Girlfriends, to much of the world, he’ll always be Lamont. To hear Wilson speak more about his time in Hollywood, check out this interview he did with HYPE+. 

How to Watch 'Sanford and Son' 

For those feeling a bit nostalgic about the 70s Norman Lear classic, thanks to streaming, you can watch episodes of Sanford and Son on multiple platforms at your leisure. If you have a Peacock subscription, the comedy is currently available on the service to watch. However, you can also watch episodes of the show for free on Pluto TV and Tubi.

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