Demond Wilson, best known for his role as Lamont Sanford on NBC’s groundbreaking sitcom Sanford and Son, has died. He was 79.
Wilson passed away Friday morning at his home in Palm Springs, California, due to complications related to cancer, his son Demond Wilson Jr. confirmed to TMZ. The family did not disclose the specific type of cancer. “I loved him. He was a great man,” his son shared.
Wilson starred alongside Redd Foxx for six seasons on Sanford and Son from 1972 to 1977, portraying Lamont, the level-headed son to Foxx’s cantankerous Fred Sanford. The series, developed by Bud Yorkin and based on the British comedy Steptoe and Son, quickly became one of television’s most successful sitcoms of the 1970s, consistently ranking among the top-rated shows of its era.
Wilson’s casting followed a standout dramatic performance on All in the Family, where he appeared in the 1971 episode “Edith Writes a Song.” Though initially unsure about committing to Sanford and Son, Wilson later reflected on taking a chance that would define his career and leave a lasting imprint on television history.
When Foxx temporarily exited the series in 1974 due to a contract dispute, Wilson helped anchor the show, carrying the narrative until Foxx’s return. After Sanford and Son ended, Wilson declined the opportunity to continue the franchise alone and instead signed a major deal to star in CBS’ Baby… I’m Back!, which ran for one season. He later headlined The New Odd Couple, starring opposite Ron Glass, though that series also lasted just a single season.
Beyond television, Wilson appeared in films including The Organization (1971) and Me and the Kid (1993). After stepping away from acting for nearly two decades, he returned to the screen with a role in the 2023 drama Eleanor’s Bench.
Off-screen, Wilson experienced significant personal transformation. In the 1980s, he openly discussed overcoming substance abuse, later becoming an ordained interdenominational minister. Faith became central to his life, and he frequently spoke about finding fulfillment beyond fame.
Born Grady Demond Wilson on October 13, 1946, in Valdosta, Georgia, he was raised in Harlem and began performing at an early age. He appeared on Broadway as a child, danced at the Apollo Theater, studied acting at Hunter College, and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he was wounded in combat.
Wilson later chronicled his experiences in his 2009 memoir Second Banana: The Bitter Sweet Memories of the Sanford & Son Years. He is survived by his wife, Cicely Johnston, whom he married in 1974, and their six children.
For generations of viewers, Demond Wilson remains a defining figure of classic television—part of a show that reshaped sitcom storytelling and centered Black family life in a way that still resonates today.