Redd Foxx (December 9, 1922 - October 11, 1991)

"Oh, this is the big one! You hear that Elizabeth! I'm comin' to join ya honey! With a glass of ripple in my hand!"

Redd Foxx (born John Elroy Sanford) spent many years as a stand up comedian before his legendary break as Fred Sanford began in 1972. It was his work as Uncle Bud, the junkman, in the 1970 film "Cotton Comes to Harlem" that caught the attention of television producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin. At the time they were attempting to create an American version of the British sitcom "Steptoe and Son." Foxx convinced them to name his character Fred Sanford in honor of his late brother. And so in January of 1972 the show went on the air and was destined to become one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history. Fred's arguments with his son Lamont (Demond Wilson), sister-in-law Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page), and best buddy Grady (Whitman Mayo) were what audiences waited for. Redd Foxx had an incredible ability to deliver lines with great comic timing. He was also excellent at funny and serious expressions. Fred's fake heart condition and other attempts to get sympathy would have been ruined in anyone else's hands but the great Redd Foxx always rose to the occasion. In 1975 Redd Foxx carried over his character of Fred Sanford to an episode of "Grady" as a favor to his former co-star whose program was fading fast. In 1977 Foxx left "Sanford and Son" to appear in his own variety show. "Redd Foxx" debuted in the fall of 1977 and lasted a very short time. In 1980 Foxx revived Fred Sanford, this time for the show "Sanford." Instead of having "son" to quarrel with he now had an obese white southerner named Cal Petty (Dennis Burkley). Characters like Aunt Esther, Grady, Smitty (Hal Williams) and Hoppy (Howard T. Platt) made a few appearances but unfortunately this just weren't the same and "Sanford" ended after only twenty-six episodes. In 1986 he returned as Al Hughes on "The Redd Foxx Show" but that also disappeared after a few months. On the variety/talk show circuit he appeared on "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Flip Wilson Show", "The Dean Martin Show", "The Joey Bishop Show", "The Merv Griffin Show", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and "Dinah!" to name a few. By the time the late 1980's rolled around Foxx was broke. As a way to get out of his troubles he was given the role of Bennie Wilson in the 1989 film "Harlem Nights" opposite Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Della Reese. In 1991, Foxx returned to television as Alfonso Royal in the sitcom "The Royal Family." Della Reese played his wife Victoria. Foxx's return to television was well met and things seemed to be going well for the gentlemen who by now had become an elder statesmen of a by gone era. Unfortunately on October 11, 1991 during rehearsal the 68-year-old actor clutched his chest and cried out. At first everyone thought he was doing it for laughs as he had done many times on "Sanford and Son." Unfortunately there was no joke here and the comedy lost a legend in the biggest case of irony I have ever seen. Redd Foxx will always be on the top ten list of the funniest people ever born. Anyone who thinks otherwise...well....let me just say YOU BIG DUMMY!