Sanford and Son Trivia: Norma Miller who portrayed Dollie was a professional dancer

Dolly arrives on the scene

In episode 4 of Season 4 of Sanford and Son "Grady and His Lady" Grady Wilson (Whitman Mayo) introduces his girlfriend Dollie Simpson ( Norma Miller) to Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and Lamont Sanford (Demond Wilson).

Grady shares that the duo met inside of a JC Penny store, and the Sanford men are startled. Viewers can tell by their reaction and comments that they don't consider Dollie attractive. Fred goes out of his way to try to break up the couple but he is unsuccessful.

Miller made two additional appearances on Sanford and Son as different characters. As Dolly she appears later as Grady's fiancee in Sanford Arms and eventually married him becoming Dolly Wilson in Grady.

Things are not always as they appear

In todays culture the jokes on Sanford and Son at the expense of weight, race, perceived attractiveness, sexual orientaltion and ethnicity would be considered innapropriate. During the 1070s audiences laughed out loud, no matter how they were feeling inside.

Looks, however can be deceiving because Miller, like LaWanda Page who portrayed Aunt Esther was in character on the hit NBC sitcom. Off camera away from thire Sanford and Son roles they both were beautiful woman with well toned bodies.

In addition to acting, Page did stand up comedy and burlesque dancing. Miller was a dancer, singer, author, actress choreographer, sonwriter and creative director.

Norma Miller's career

Miller was born on December 2, 1919, in Harlem, New York City, to Norman, a shipyard worker, and Alma, a charwoman. Both of her parents were originally from Bridgetown, Barbados. She had an older sister named Dot. Norma was named after her father, who passed away from pneumonia just a month before her birth.

From a very young age, Norma knew she wanted to dance and was enrolled in dance classes. By the age of five, she was performing at amateur nights in theaters. She once said the following.

Black girls didn't have many outlets. You had laundry. You had hairdresser. Or teacher. Now, I didn't qualify for none of those. I could dance, I just could just do it naturally.

Redd Foxx's influence

Miller danced in venues around the world and took her comedy routine to areas around Vietnam. She said Redd Foxx once told her that her knees were knocing and she should use her mouth because she would not be able to dance much longer.

She appeared on Broadway and in many documentaries. Her last was Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things in 2019. She was also in the following films.

1937 A Day at the Races Dancer

1939 Keep Punchin Dancer

1941 Hellzapoppin' Dancer (Cook)

1976 Sparkle Doreen

1977 The Richard Pryor Special Bar Patron

1992 Malcolm X Roseland Dancer

1995 Captiva Island Clara

Her television appearances included:

1940 Toast of the Town (later The Ed Sullivan Show) Dancer

1973–1974 Sanford and Son Dolly / Roxie / Jackie 3 episodes

1976 Grady Episode: "Grady Takes a Wife"

1977 Sanford Arms Dolly Wilson Episode: "Bye, Fred, Hi, Phil"

1979 Vega$ Maid Episode: "Red Handed"

1984 Eye on Dance Herself Episode: "Talley Beatty & Norma Miller"

1992 Stompin' at the Savoy Choreographer, Dancer

Miller was active until her death

The entertainer never married but was in a relationship from 1941 to 1947 with performer Roy Glenn, who died in 1971. They met while filming Hellzapoppin' and put off marriage plans many times. In 1947, the couple decided to separate.

On October 21, 2018, Miller performed her final concert at the Teatro S. Cecilia in Palermo just before her 99th birthday. On May 5, 2019, Norma Miller died at the age of 99 from congestive heart failure.

She had just produced new music before her death. Sanford and Son fans will fondly recall the actress as Dolly who married Grady. You can catch episodes of the NBC series on a number of streaming services. How blessed Miller was to continue working until nearly 100 years of age.