Demond Wilson passes
Demond Wilson (born Grady Demond Wilson), 79, passed due to complications from cancer. The specific cancer was not disclosed.
Where do you know him from? He was the son, Lamont, on the Redd Foxx television show “Sanford and Son.” Prior to this, Redd Foxx was considered a “blue” comedian, one who cursed and got off-color a lot. Having a 1972-1977 TV show (on which they made him more of a crusty likeable old guy, less of a comedian who would make jokes with punch-lines about sex) made Redd a big general star. The show was a top-rated phenomenon, and Demond Wilson played Redd’s beknighted son Lamont who always had to scramble to put out the fires and clean up the messes Redd created. It became NBC’s highest rated comedy and the second most-watched show on television. Why do we care 50 years later? He was one of us.
He served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 and was in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was wounded. Wiki
Wilson returned to Hollywood periodically, but his later life was more faith-based.
Wilson married model Cicely Johnston on May 3, 1974. They had six children. In 1984 he was ordained as a minister in the Church of God in Christ and was an active Christian evangelist for much of his adult life.
Category: We Remember
Man, I watched every episode (more than once) as a kid.
He’ll be missed.
I hope everyone takes this in the spirit in which it is given…Rest In Peace, ya big dummy.
Seriously, all kidding aside. From what I’ve heard about him, he was a stand up guy and I did remember reading that he had been wounded in Vietnam. Rest easy, Soldier.
Lamont was an island of stability in the ocean of chaos created by Fred and Aunt Esther.
My favorite:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5eSIDwqtVUI&si=1hmwSY4uC4D-ZJdF
The funniest one is when Fred calls him up on the phone just to call him a dummy. 🤣
One of the greatest shows of my yute. I had no idea he was vet. Godspeed, Mr. Wilson.
I could see him as DI.
Yeah, it was cancer, not a heart attack, and Lamont, not Fred, but do you suppose, just once before he passed, he called out “Cicely, I’m coming to join you!” Classic show. I love it, but my daughters sort of balk at some of the humor. I tell them you have to be able to laugh at yourself. Thanks for nothing, society….
So, they probably won’t like blazing saddles, all in the family, the Jeffersons, Maude, Barney Miller etc.
We watched airplane with our teen kids (more than) a few years back, and they were surprised, maybe shocked even at what a PG rating “used” to be.
God Bless, and thanks for all of the laughs you gave us!
I named my dog after him. Lamont loves to hear his name. He turned five last December, weighs 160 lbs and is too big for me.
Lamont, you big dummy!
I remember watching that show in my misbegotten youth. Maybe that was one of my bad influences that gave me the humor I had then and have today.
I’m thinking the same could be said of many of us dillweeds and weedettes. Ya big dummies!
Benny Hill, Monty Python, 3 Stooges also contributed.