Demond Wilson, 'Sanford and Son' Star, Dies at 79
Wilson died Jan. 30, 2026, at his home in Palm Springs from complications of cancer, his publicist confirmed.
Overview
Grady Demond Wilson died Jan. 30, 2026, at his home in Palm Springs, California, at age 79 following complications from cancer, Mark Goldman, Wilson’s publicist, confirmed to the Associated Press.
Wilson rose to fame as Lamont Sanford on NBC’s Sanford and Son, which ran six seasons from 1972 to 1977 and was NBC’s highest-rated series in Season 2, records show.
Mark Goldman said in an emailed statement that Wilson was "a devoted father, actor, author, and minister" and that the family asked for privacy as they grieve, according to the publicist.
Wilson served 13 months with the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division from 1966 to 1968 and was wounded in Vietnam before returning to New York to act on stage, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Funeral arrangements were not announced, and the family declined to provide additional information, Mark Goldman said, with no further details available at this time.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this obituary neutrally: they prioritize factual biography, career milestones, and family notices, treating publicist quotations as source content rather than editorial judgment. Coverage lists military service, ‘Sanford and Son’ prominence, later ministry and personal struggles without loaded language or selective omission — resulting in minimal editorial framing.
Sources (12)
FAQ
Demond Wilson played Lamont Sanford, the son of Fred Sanford (played by Redd Foxx), on the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son from 1972 to 1977.
Demond Wilson died on January 30, 2026, at his home in Palm Springs, California, from complications of cancer, at the age of 79.
Wilson served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, appeared in shows like The New Odd Couple, Mission: Impossible, and All in the Family, wrote Christian books, and became an ordained minister.
Demond Wilson is survived by his wife, former model Cicely Johnston, and their six children.
Sanford and Son ended after six seasons in 1977 when Redd Foxx left due to a salary dispute, though he briefly returned the following year.
History
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