Demond Wilson, Lamont on ‘Sanford and Son,’ Dies at 79

Demond Wilson, who co-starred with Redd Foxx on popular 1970s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” died Friday in Palm Springs. He was 79.

His publicist, Mark Goldman, said in a statement, “The family of Demond Wilson is deeply saddened by his passing. At this time, they ask for privacy as they grieve. No further details are available, and the family has no additional information to share. Personally, I had the privilege of working with Demond for 15 years, and his loss is profoundly felt. He was an unbelievable man, and his impact will never be forgotten. The family appreciates the support and understanding of the community during this difficult time.”

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His son told TMZ he died of complications related to cancer.

Wilson, who was born Grady Demond Wilson, played Lamont Sanford, the son of Foxx’s Fred Sanford, on the the NBC series that ran from 1972 to 1977.

He went on to play Oscar Madison on “The New Odd Couple,” which ran for one season on ABC with Ron Glass in the Felix Unger role.

Born in Valdosta, Georgia, Wilson grew up in New York City, where he started performing at Harlem’s Apollo Theater at age 12. After serving in the Army in Vietnam, he performed onstage in New York before moving to Los Angeles.

Before breaking through in “Sanford and Son,” Wilson guested on series including “Mission: Impossible” and in the movie “Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost Bag Blues.”

A guest spot on “All in the Family” led to his casting in “Sanford and Son,” which spun off the groundbreaking sitcom. After Foxx walked off the series due to a salary dispute in 1974, Wilson became the star of the series, though Foxx returned the following year.

Among his other roles were the sitcom “Baby…I’m Back!” and the films “Full Moon High,” “Hammerlock” and “Me and the Kid.” More recently, he appeared in four episodes of the series “Girlfriends.”

He went on to write Christian books and became a minister in the Church of God in Christ.

Wilson had six children with his wife, model Cicely Johnston.