Who Is Still Alive From Sanford And Son? (Updated 2023)
Sanford and Son is a 1970s sitcom that is often described as the grandfather of African American sitcoms such as Family Matters.
With the recent passing of one of its cast members, Sanford and Son has been brought back to the attention of the public.
This show and its cast changed the way that family-oriented sitcoms presented family life.
Who Is Still Alive From Sanford And Son?
There are four recurring cast members from Sanford and Son that are still alive, including Demond Wilson, Lynn Hamilton, Hal Williams, and Howard Platt.
Since the show’s release in the 1970s, the majority of the cast members have since passed away and those remaining are only getting older.
Demond Wilson, who played Lamont Sanford, was born on October 13th in 1946, and is currently 75 years old.
Before his time on the 1970s sitcom, Wilson served in the United States Army from 1966 until 1968 as a member of the 4th Infantry.
After his time on Sanford and Son, Wilson devoted his life to ministering to former inmates and became a minister by 1984.
He later went on to start the Restoration House of American, which helps give former inmates vocational training and spiritual guidance.
Lynn Hamilton played Fred Sanford’s girlfriend Donna Harris and was born on April 25th of 1930.
Although she is no longer acting at 91 years old, Hamilton kept acting until 2009.
Her last role was Mary Chisolm in Cold Case.
Appearing in the recurring role of Officer Smith or “Smitty” on the show, Hal Williams has been alive since December 14th of 1938 and is now 83 years old.
Williams is still an extremely active actor and has even expanded his career into voice acting for video games such as Disintegration.
Hal Williams was in Denzel Washington’s movie Flight and has been all over television, appearing in shows such as Parks and Recreation, The Sinbad Show, and even Tales from the Crypt.
Despite having such a busy work schedule, Hal still makes time to host the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation’s charitable events.
Smitty’s stereotypically Caucasian partner, Officer Hopkins (“Hoppy”) was played by Howard Platt, who is the last member of the cast that is still around, at the same age as Hal Williams.
Before starring on the show, Platt served in the United States Army for many years until 1963.
What Happened To Redd Foxx?
Redd Foxx played the namesake character Fred Sanford in the show Sanford and Son and often took the spotlight whenever his boisterous character was onscreen.
From the way that Foxx was born, nobody would have ever guessed that he’d later become one of the most monumental comedians ever.
Redd Foxx’s birth name was John Elroy Sanford.
He was born into poverty in 1922.
His stage name of “Redd Foxx” came from a nickname that his ruddy complexion had earned him.
Foxx left home when he was only 13 years old to travel around the country playing the washboard for a band.
The band didn’t last long, and Foxx was off to New York City by the time he was 16 years old.
During his time in New York City, Foxx began working on his comedy and performing at every black theater and nightclub he could get into.
While in New York, he happened to meet many famous people including Malcolm X.
In 1951, Redd Foxx teamed up with Slappy White for live comedy shows until 1955.
White and Foxx would become lifelong friends who would share the stage again on Sanford and Son and The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour.
Foxx later traveled to Los Angeles to record some of his standup comedy.
For his first record, the legendary comedian would get paid only $25.
By 1972, Redd Foxx would be signed on by Norman Lear to create Sanford and Son, which was inspired by the BBC comedy, Steptoe and Son.
Redd left the show in 1977, after which, he would reprise the role of Fred G. Sanford in a short-lived revival known simply as Sanford.
After Foxx’s time as Fred Sanford ended, he started The Redd Foxx Show.
The last project that Redd Foxx worked on was The Royal Family, where Foxx played Alfonso Royal.
However, the show would immediately end after Foxx had a massive heart attack on set on October 11th of 1991.