Actor Grady Demond Wilson, who played Lamont Sanford on the NBC sitcom “Sanford and Son,” has died after a battle with cancer. He was 79.
The Georgia native died at his home in Palm Springs, California, on Friday, January 30.
His son, Demond Wilson Jr. confirmed the news to TMZ on Friday, saying, “I love him. He was a great man.”
Wilson Jr. did not reveal the type of cancer his father was diagnosed with.
In 1971, Demond played an armed robber alongside Cleavon Little in an episode of “All in the Family.”
Demond played Lamont Sanford, son of junk dealer Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx), on “Sanford and Son” from 1972 to 1977 before playing Raymond Ellis in “Baby… I’m Back!”
He then portrayed the Black version of Oscar Madison on “The New Odd Couple” (1982–1983).
In 1993, he landed a role in the comedy movie “Me and the Kid.”
In his 2009 autobiography, Demond recalled breaking down racial barriers in Hollywood with Redd Foxx.
“Redd and I were making history back in those days,” Demond wrote. “We were the first Blacks to be on television in that capacity and we opened the door for all those other shows that came after us.”
