Grady Demond Wilson: Sitcom star dies following cancer diagnosis - which TV shows was he in?
Grady Demond Wilson has died at the age of 79, his son has confirmed.
The actor, best known for his role as Lamont Sanford on the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, died at his home in Palm Springs, California, on Friday. His son, Demond Wilson Jr, told TMZ that his father had been diagnosed with cancer.
In his tribute, Wilson Jr said: “I love him. He was a great man.”
The family has not disclosed what type of cancer Wilson had or when he was diagnosed.
Wilson starred on Sanford and Son from 1972 to 1977 alongside Redd Foxx. He later appeared as Raymond Ellis on the sitcom Baby… I’m Back!, which ran for one season, before joining ABC’s The New Odd Couple in 1982.
In 1993, he made a rare big-screen appearance in the comedy film Me and the Kid.
In his 2009 autobiography, Wilson reflected on his work with Foxx, and the impact they had on TV opportunities for minorities.
He wrote: “Redd and I were making history back in those days. 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.”
After stepping away from acting for nearly 20 years, Wilson returned for his final role in the 2023 drama Eleanor’s Bench.
He is survived by his wife, former model Cicely Johnston, and their six children. The couple married in 1974 and later devoted much of their lives to their Christian faith.
In addition to his acting career, Wilson was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the US Army. He became an ordained minister in the 1980s and founded the Restoration House of America, an organisation focused on helping former inmates reenter society.
Wilson also authored a memoir and several Christian books.