Grady Demond Wilson, Beloved Lamont from ‘Sanford & Son,’ Passes Away at 79
Grady Demond Wilson, best known for his role as Lamont Sanford on the iconic sitcom Sanford and Son, has passed away at the age of 79. Wilson died on Friday at his home in Palm Springs due to complications from cancer, as confirmed by his son, Demond Wilson Jr., who did not specify the type of cancer involved.
“I loved him. He was a great man,” Demond Jr. shared with TMZ.
Born on October 13, 1946, in Valdosta, Georgia, Wilson was raised in New York City, where he made his Broadway debut as a child. He later served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he was wounded. After returning from military service, Wilson appeared in various Broadway and off-Broadway productions before transitioning to Hollywood.
His breakout role came in a 1971 episode of CBS’s All in the Family, leading to his portrayal of Lamont Sanford alongside Redd Foxx’s character, Fred G. Sanford, on Sanford and Son. The show, adapted by Norman Lear from the British series Steptoe and Son, enjoyed a successful run on NBC from 1972 to 1977, spanning six seasons.
After Sanford and Son, Wilson starred as Raymond Ellis in the short-lived CBS sitcom Baby… I’m Back! in 1978, as well as Oscar Madison in ABC’s The New Odd Couple from 1982 to 1983.
His extensive television credits also included appearances on Mission: Impossible, Love Boat, and Girlfriends. Additionally, he acted in films such as Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), The Organization (1971), Full Moon High (1981), and Hammerlock (2000).
In addition to his acting career, Wilson was a devout Christian evangelist and ordained minister. He married model Cicely Johnston in 1974, with whom he had six children and several grandchildren.
