Demond Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Demond Wilson
Wilson as Lamont Sanford in 1972
Born	Grady Demond Wilson (1946-10-13)October 13, 1946 Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
Died	January 30, 2026(2026-01-30) (aged 79) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, author
Years active	1968–2023
Spouse(s)	Cicely Johnston ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	6
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1966–1968
Unit	4th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Purple Heart

Grady Demond Wilson (born October 13, 1946 – died January 30, 2026) was a well-known American actor and author. He is most famous for playing Lamont Sanford. Lamont was the son of Fred Sanford (played by Redd Foxx) in the popular TV show Sanford and Son. This show aired on NBC from 1972 to 1977. Demond Wilson also starred as Oscar Madison in The New Odd Couple (1982–1983). He appeared in the movie Me and the Kid (1993) too.

Early Life and Acting Beginnings

Demond Wilson was born in Valdosta, Georgia, on October 13, 1946. He grew up in New York City. As a child, he learned tap dance and ballet. He first performed on Broadway when he was just four years old. By age 12, he was dancing at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.

He was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy. He spent summers with his grandmother, who was Pentecostal. For a short time, he thought about becoming a Catholic priest. When he was 13, he had a serious health scare. This experience made him promise to serve God later in life.

Demond Wilson joined the United States Army from 1966 to 1968. He served with the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. During his service, he was injured. After returning home in the late 1960s, he acted in many stage plays. He then moved to Hollywood. There, he had guest roles on TV shows like Mission: Impossible and All in the Family. He also appeared in movies such as The Organization (1971).

Starring in Sanford and Son

In 1971, Demond Wilson got a big role. He was cast as Lamont Sanford in the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son. Another actor, Johnny Brown, was also considered. However, Demond Wilson got the part.

He played Lamont throughout the show's run. At one point, his co-star Redd Foxx left the show. This was due to a disagreement about his pay. Demond Wilson became the main star for a while. Redd Foxx returned the next year. They worked together until the show ended in 1977. Later, Redd Foxx tried to bring the show back. Demond Wilson chose not to join the new series.

Years later, Demond Wilson talked about his relationship with Redd Foxx. He said he saw Redd Foxx only once before Redd passed away in 1991. Demond Wilson explained that he had no hard feelings when Redd left the show. He had a new acting opportunity with CBS. He did feel a bit sad that he learned about Redd's departure from a news reporter. Despite this, he always loved Redd Foxx. He believed their bond showed on screen.

Demond Wilson also acted in several movies. These included Full Moon High (1981) and Me and the Kid (1993). He also appeared in Hammerlock (2000).

Other TV Roles

After Sanford and Son, Demond Wilson continued acting. He starred as Raymond Ellis in the CBS comedy series Baby... I'm Back!. He also played Oscar Madison in the ABC sitcom The New Odd Couple. In this show, he acted alongside Ron Glass, who played Felix Ungar. The New Odd Couple was a new version of an older popular show. It was based on a play from 1965.

Author and Writer

Demond Wilson was also a writer. He wrote several Christian books. These books shared his thoughts on spiritual topics. One of his books, New Age Millennium, came out in 1998. He also wrote books for children.

In 2009, he released his memoir called Second Banana: The Bittersweet Memoirs of the Sanford & Son Years. A memoir is a book about a person's own life experiences. In this book, he shared true stories from his time on Sanford and Son. He mentioned that he and Redd Foxx made history. They were among the first Black actors to star in a TV show like that. Their work helped open doors for many other shows.

Later Work and Ministry

Demond Wilson often appeared on the TV program Praise the Lord. This show airs on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He was also a friend of actor Clifton Davis. He guest-starred on the sitcom Girlfriends. In this show, he played Lynn's biological father.

In 2011, Demond Wilson toured with a play called The Measure of a Man. He acted alongside Nina Nicole. This play was about faith and set in a small town. He also worked on a family film called Faith Ties. He helped produce and act in this movie. He described it as a story about hope and overcoming challenges.

Family Life and Passing

Demond Wilson married Cicely Johnston on May 3, 1974. They had six children together. In 1984, he became a minister. He was a dedicated Christian evangelist for many years.

Demond Wilson passed away on January 30, 2026. He was 79 years old. He died at his home in Palm Springs, California, due to health complications.

Filmography

Film

Television