Damond Wilson, who co-starred with Redd Foxx on the hit 1970s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” died Friday in Palm Springs. His son told TMZ that he died of complications from cancer. He was 79 years old.
Wilson, whose real name is Grady Daymond Wilson, played Lamont Sanford, the son of Fox’s Fred Sanford, on the NBC series that aired from 1972 to 1977.
He went on to play Oscar Madison in The New Odd Couple, which starred Ron Glass as Felix Unger and aired for one season on ABC.
Born in Valdosta, Georgia, Wilson grew up in New York City and began performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem at age 12. After serving in the Army in Vietnam, he performed on stages in New York before moving to Los Angeles.
Before his breakout role in “Sanford and Son,” Wilson guest-starred in series such as “Mission: Impossible,” and in the film “Dealing: Lost Bag Blues.”
A guest appearance on “All in the Family” led to a role in “Sanford and Son,” an offshoot of the groundbreaking sitcom. Wilson became the series’ star when Fox left the series in 1974 due to salary issues, but Fox returned the following year.
His other roles included the sitcom “Baby…I’m Back!” Movies such as “Full Moon High,” “Hammerlock,” and “Me and the Kid.” Most recently, she appeared in four episodes of the series “Girlfriends.”
He continued to write Christian books and became a pastor in the Church of God in Christ.
Wilson had six children with his wife, model Cicely Johnston.
