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 (age 78) Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, author
Years active	1968–present
Spouse(s)	Cicely Johnston ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	6

Grady Demond Wilson (born October 13, 1946) is an American actor and author. He is most famous for playing Lamont Sanford on the popular NBC TV show Sanford and Son (1972–1977). On the show, he played the son of Fred Sanford, who was played by Redd Foxx. Wilson also starred as Oscar Madison in The New Odd Couple (1982–1983).

Early Life and Acting Start

Demond Wilson was born in Valdosta, Georgia, in 1946. He grew up in New York City, where he learned to tap dance and ballet. He first performed on Broadway when he was just four years old. By age twelve, he was dancing at Harlem's famous Apollo Theater.

Wilson was raised in the Catholic Church and served as an altar boy. He even thought about becoming a Catholic priest for a short time. When he was thirteen, he became very ill, but he promised to serve God as an adult.

Wilson joined the United States Army in 1966 and served until 1968. He was part of the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was injured. After returning home, he was honored for his service. In the late 1960s, Wilson acted in several plays in New York. He then moved to Hollywood. There, he had guest roles on TV shows like Mission: Impossible and All in the Family. He also acted in movies such as The Organization (1971).

Starring in Sanford and Son (1972–1977)

In 1971, Demond Wilson got the role of Lamont Sanford in the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son. This show became very popular. Wilson played Lamont throughout the entire series.

In 1974, Redd Foxx, who played Fred Sanford, left the show for a while due to a disagreement about his salary. Wilson became the main star during that time. Foxx returned the next year, and they worked together until the show ended in 1977.

Years later, in 2014, Wilson was asked if he still talked to anyone from Sanford & Son. He said he saw Redd Foxx only once after the show ended. Wilson explained that he was hurt when Foxx left the show without telling him directly. However, he said he forgave Foxx and that their love for each other was always there.

Wilson also appeared in other films. These included Full Moon High (1981) and Me and the Kid (1993).

Other TV Roles: Baby... I'm Back! and The New Odd Couple

After Sanford and Son, Wilson starred in the CBS comedy series Baby... I'm Back! as Raymond Ellis.

Later, he played Oscar Madison in the ABC sitcom The New Odd Couple. In this show, he acted alongside Ron Glass, who played Felix Ungar. This version of The Odd Couple was a new, Black cast version of the original 1970s series.

Demond Wilson as an Author

Besides acting, Demond Wilson has written several books. He has written Christian books that talk about certain spiritual movements. His book New Age Millennium came out in 1998. Wilson has also written books for children.

In 2009, Wilson released his memoir called Second Banana: The Bittersweet Memoirs of the Sanford & Son Years. In this book, he shared true stories from behind the scenes of Sanford & Son. He mentioned that he and Redd Foxx made history as the first Black actors to be on television in that way. He believes they helped open doors for many other shows that came after them.

Later Appearances and Projects

Demond Wilson has made many guest appearances on the Praise the Lord TV show. This program is shown on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He is also good friends with actor Clifton Davis. Wilson also appeared as a guest star on the UPN sitcom Girlfriends. On that show, he played Lynn's biological father.

In 2011, Wilson began touring with actress Nina Nicole in a play called The Measure of a Man. This play is based on faith and is set in a small town in Georgia. In 2010, Wilson also started working on a family film called Faith Ties.

Personal Life

Demond Wilson married Cicely Johnston, a former model, on May 3, 1974. They have six children together. In 1984, he became a minister in the Church of God in Christ. He has been an active Christian evangelist for most of his adult life.

Wilson was also childhood friends with famous Basketball Hall of Fame player Charlie Scott.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles