Sanford and Son fans are saying goodbye to one of the sitcom’s most familiar faces.
According to TMZ, Grady Demond Wilson, the actor who played Lamont Sanford, has died at 79.
His family told the outlet that Wilson was pronounced dead Friday morning, January 30, at his home in Palm Springs, California. His son, Demond Wilson Jr., confirmed the news and said his father passed away from complications related to cancer.
“I loved him,” his son said. “He was a great man.”
For many viewers, Wilson will always be remembered as Lamont — the quick-witted, levelheaded son constantly sparring with junk dealer Fred Sanford, played by Redd Foxx.
The NBC comedy ran from 1972 to 1977 and became a staple of ‘70s television, mixing sharp punchlines with working-class family chaos. When Foxx briefly stepped away during a contract dispute, Wilson carried the show’s storylines, stepping into a larger on-screen role.
Before Hollywood, Wilson’s résumé already read like a grind. Born in Valdosta, Georgia, and raised in New York City, he trained in dance as a kid and performed on Broadway at just four years old.
By 12, he was tapping at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. After serving in the U.S. Army, including time in Vietnam where he was wounded, he returned stateside and built his acting career through stage work and guest TV spots.
Post–Sanford and Son, Wilson stayed busy. He headlined the CBS comedy Baby… I’m Back! and later played Oscar Madison in The New Odd Couple, a reimagining of the classic buddy sitcom.
On the film side, he appeared in projects such as Me and the Kid and in other roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His final screen credit came in the 2023 drama Eleanor’s Bench after a long hiatus.
Off-camera, Wilson leaned into faith-based work. He became an ordained minister and authored several Christian books, as well as a memoir reflecting on his television years and his partnership with Foxx.