Actor Grady Demond Wilson, ‘Sanford and Son’ star, dies at 79

With yet another icon now in nothingness, the idea of life becomes more precious. Grady Demond Wilson has passed away at 79. Best known for his role as Lamont Sanford, Wilson played Redd Foxx’s straightman on Sanford and Son.

He continued on this journey for five years on the Emmy-nominated sitcom. Even the song had a feature in Malcolm and Eddy where Eddy comes up with a song using the name Grady.

Although his career had mostly stalled over the decades, Wilson still found work and residuals from his time on the series.

While it would be easy to write him off as another actor who burned out (or maybe faded away?) He was also an US Army infantry soldier before he found fame. He starred in Baby…I’m Back and penned at least one memoir called Second Banana referring to his time in Sanford.

As a man of faith, he also wrote books related to his choice of devotion. He even became an ordained minister with the Church of God in Christ.

While he had found work in shows like Girlfriends later on in his life, the acting slowed up and options became few.

He experienced an encounter with Redd Foxx at a tennis club and further explained his fractured relationship with the late great comedian. He felt pain from Foxx because he didn’t notify him that he would be quitting the show.

Though he had not become the superstar he had been poised to be, he lived on his own terms and respected other people’s philosophies.

Even if he will be renowned for one show specifically. He would have achieved something a small fraction of the world would ever experience.

His life as Lamont marks a wonder of whether he had girlfriends on the show. Comics have made light of this even though he was tied to Marlene Clark.

So, it’s possible that Wilson had the chance to become an exceptional actor. Hechad every opportunity to become his own boss and not an afterthought. What could have been a tragic life, Wilson turned into triumph because he picked his own lane.

He in a sense did grab hold of his own reins of his life and advanced into the pantheon of actors who didn’t have to become an award-winner or a major breadwinner.

Instead, Wilson became a forerunner for his own legacy and supported his family. As a black man in America worth millions of dollars, he must’ve reaped the benefits of this entertainment machine.

With cancer ravaging his body, his spirit tangled with his existence and finally stripped him of his privilege to breathe. Wilson had taken on his own journey and made his life just as important as if he had earned even more money and recognition from the world of show.

If he was able to be independent and ready to be an actor ready for the big time again, he might have already played out his cards. Sure, he could’ve been a megastar but his fame is what had been able to carry him aloft for the rest of his life.

After his death, there should be enough money for his six children. For his work done six decades ago, there ought to be a bundle of money to split amongst all of them. Money is obviously important but it’s important to tie virtue to cash. That is because it takes morality to make money.

The reality of the dollars will make the loss feel like less of a blow. Wilson’s offspring may wish to see their inheritances as enduring investments into their futures. And to think, it all stemmed from a sitcom.