Demond Wilson, who found fame in the 1970s playing Lamont on 鈥淪anford and Son鈥� and went on to become a minister, has died. He was 79.
Mark Goldman, a publicist for Wilson, confirmed to The Associated Press that he died following complications from cancer on Friday.
鈥淎 devoted father, actor, author, and minister, Demond lived a life rooted in faith, service, and compassion. Through his work on screen, his writing, and his ministry, he sought to uplift others and leave a meaningful impact on the communities he served,鈥� Goldman said in an emailed statement.
Wilson was best known as the son of Redd Foxx’s comically cantankerous Fred Sanford character in a sitcom that was among the first to feature a mostly Black cast when it began airing in 1972.
The thoughtful Lamont had to put up with his junkyard owner father’s schemes, bigotry and insults 鈥� most famously, and repeatedly, 鈥淵ou big dummy!鈥�
The show was a hit for its six seasons on NBC but ended when ABC offered Foxx a variety show.
Wilson was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and grew up in the Harlem section of Manhattan, according to the biography on his website.
He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was wounded there, and he returned to New York and acted on stage before heading to Hollywood.
A guest appearance on 鈥淎ll in the Family鈥� in 1971 led to his best-known role. Norman Lear produced both shows.
Wilson told AP in 2022 that he got the role over comedian Richard Pryor.
鈥淚 said, 鈥楥鈥檓on, you can鈥檛 put a comedian with a comedian. You鈥檝e got to have a straight man,鈥欌�� he said he told the producers.
After 鈥淪anford and Son鈥� ended, Wilson starred in the shorter-lived comedies 鈥淏aby I’m Back鈥� and 鈥淭he New Odd Couple.鈥� He later appeared in four episodes of the show 鈥淕irlfriends鈥� in the 2000s, along with a handful of movie roles.
Though he returned to the screen at times, he told the Los Angeles Times in 1986 that the acting life was not for him: 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 challenging. And it was emotionally exhausting because I had to make it appear that I was excited about what I was doing.鈥�
Wilson became a minister in the 1980s.
He is survived by his wife, Cicely Wilson, and their six children.
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