Grady Demond Wilson, best known for his role as Lamont Sanford on the iconic 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son, has died at the age of 79. His son, Christopher Wilson, confirmed that his father passed away from prostate cancer at his California home.
Wilson’s portrayal of Lamont provided the emotional core of the series, balancing Redd Foxx’s fiery performance as Fred Sanford. Lamont’s exasperated responses, including the show’s famous lines like “You’ll have to excuse my father” and “Hey, Pop! I’m home,” helped anchor the chaotic world of the Sanford household and made the show a cultural phenomenon.
Premiering on NBC in January 1972, Sanford and Son ran for six seasons, frequently ranking among Nielsen’s top 10 shows. Wilson’s performance was praised early on, with Ebony magazine calling him “excellent” and noting his ability to ground the series’ comedy with genuine emotional weight.
Born on October 13, 1946, in Valdosta, Georgia, Wilson grew up in Harlem, the son of a tailor and a school dietitian. He studied dance and theater from a young age and appeared on Broadway before making his screen debut in 1971. That year, he appeared in All in the Family, alongside Cleavon Little, in a memorable episode addressing poverty, policing, and race. He also appeared in films such as Sidney Poitier’s The Organization and the counterculture film Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues.
After Sanford and Son, Wilson continued acting with roles in shows like Baby … I’m Back! and The New Odd Couple, and later appeared in films such as Me and the Kid and Hammerlock. His final performance was in 2023’s Eleanor’s Bench.
Outside of acting, Wilson was ordained as a minister in the Church of God in Christ during the 1980s and became a published author, writing his memoir Second Banana: The Bittersweet Memoirs of the Sanford & Son Years, several children’s books, and the exposé The New Age Millennium: An Exposé of Symbols, Slogans and Hidden Agendas.
Wilson survived a ruptured appendix at age 12, a formative experience that deepened his faith. He often spoke candidly about Hollywood, describing it as emotionally exhausting and a place where he never truly felt at home.
Wilson married model Cicely Johnston in 1974. He is survived by Johnston, their six children — Christopher, Nicole, Melissa, Sarah, Tabatha, and Demond Jr. — and two grandchildren.
His role as Lamont Sanford remains an enduring part of television history, remembered for its humor, heart, and cultural impact.
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