Grady Demond Wilson, the actor celebrated for bringing the role of Lamont Sanford to life on the classic NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, has passed away at the age of 79 following a battle with cancer.
Wilson starred alongside Redd Foxx from 1972 to 1977, anchoring the series as the steady, hardworking son to Foxx’s famously irascible Fred Sanford. Adapted from the British comedy Steptoe and Son, the show followed a father-and-son duo running a junk business in Los Angeles and quickly became one of the most successful sitcoms of the 1970s.
As Lamont, Wilson portrayed a grounded, relatable character often torn between personal ambition and devotion to his father. His performance gave the show emotional balance and helped make Lamont a defining figure throughout the series’ five-season run.
A New York City native, Wilson was trained in theater before making his mark on television. Beyond Sanford and Son, his career included stage work and various film and TV appearances over several decades. In his later years, he also devoted himself to ministry as an ordained pastor.
Sanford and Son remains a cornerstone of television history, widely praised for its humor and cultural impact, as well as its role in advancing Black representation in primetime. Through decades of syndication, Wilson’s work continues to resonate with audiences, securing his legacy as an integral part of one of television’s most iconic sitcoms.