US Edition'Sanford and Son' Star Grady Demond Wilson Dies at 79, According to Reports
Demond Wilson, known for his role as Lamont Sanford, died from cancer complications at 79, leaving behind a legacy as a groundbreaking Black sitcom star and ordained minister.
- In California, Demond Wilson, the actor, died on January 30, 2026, at age 79, his son confirmed.
- Family reported Demond Wilson had been diagnosed with cancer before his death, but the timing and type were not disclosed, his son Demond Wilson Jr. confirmed.
- The sitcom Sanford and Son, a 1970s hit, expanded Black representation on primetime TV, with Demond Wilson starring as Lamont Sanford alongside Redd Foxx.
- He is survived by wife Cicely Johnston and their five other children, and was ordained as a minister in the Church of God in Christ, serving as an evangelist.
- His last credited role was in the 2023 drama Eleanor's Bench, and he published the biography Second Banana in 2009 while Sanford and Son remains in syndication.
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181 Articles
FOX45: Demond Wilson, who played Lamont on ‘Sanford and Son,’ dead at 79
Demond Wilson, best known for playing Lamont on the 1970s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” died Friday, Jan. 30, at 79-years-old. Born Grady Demond Wilson, he played the son of Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) on the NBC series from 1972 to 1977. He went on to play Oscar Madison on “The New Odd Couple,” for one season on ABC with Ron Glass as Felix Unger. Wilson was born in Valdosta, Georgia, but grew up in New York City, where he caught the acting bug as he s…
Demond Wilson, Sanford and Son star, dies at 79
Actor Demond Wilson in the TV series “Sanford and Son.” (1972-1977) (Bettmann Archive via Getty Images FILE) Demond Wilson, the actor best known for his starring role as Lamont Sanford on the beloved NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, has died. He was 79. News of Wilson’s death was confirmed to ABC News in a statement from his longtime publicist, Mark Goldman of Goldman McCormick PR. “The family of Demond Wilson is deeply saddened by his passing,” the …
‘Sanford and Son’ star Demond Wilson dies at 79, reports say
(Gray News) – Actor Demond Wilson, who starred on the popular sitcom “Sanford and Son,” died Friday, according to several reports. He was 79. The New York Times said Wilson’s son confirmed his father died Friday at his home in California of complications from cancer. Wilson was well known for his role as Lamont Sanford in “Sanford and Son.” He starred in the show alongside Redd Foxx for six seasons, from 1972 to 1977. It was NBC’s highest-rankin…
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