Redd Foxx

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Birth: Dec. 9, 1922 Saint Louis Missouri, USA

Death: Oct. 11, 1991 Hollywood California, USA

Memorable comedian and television actor, best known for his role as junkman 'Fred G. Sanford' in the popular 1970's comedy "Sanford and Son," notorious for his frank, tell-it-like-it-is style and joking about everything from sex to color barriers, he brought taboo issues in the open. During his career Redd Foxx broke new ground for minorities and comedians alike. He was born John Elroy Sanford into poverty in St. Louis, Missouri in Dec. of 1922. At age thirteen Foxx dropped out of school and ran away to join a street band in Chicago, where he played the washboard. He eventually made his way to New York, to get into show business-and supported himself by washing dishes, while carving himself a place in show business. Foxx soon received his nickname "Redd" because of his hair color and light skin and derived Foxx from admirable Major League Baseball player Jimmie Foxx. He began performing as a comedian/ actor in black theaters and night clubs, often referred to as the "Chitlin Circuit." Foxx soon began to really make a name for himself as a comedian and his audiences grew steadily when he began using the foulest language in his routines on stage. Over the years to come he would record several albums. After his film debut in actor Ossie Davis's film "Cotton Comes To Harlem" in 1972, he really hit the big-time when he was signed by Norman Lear in the American version of the successful British sitcom, "Steptoe and Son", renamed "Sanford and Son in America which ran on NBC from 1972-1977. At one point NBC even ran the popular show twice a week, which he co-starred with Demond Wilson, Lawanda Paige, Whitman Mayo and Slappy White. After a turbulent relationship with NBC, Foxx called it quits in 1977 and the show left the air. It was reportedly because NBC wouldn't give him a dressing room with a window. It more than likely was because of the generous salary offered by ABC. At the same time he moved to Las Vegas, blowing most of his earnings on a expensive lifestyle, which would later catch up with him. In 1977, Foxx launched "The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour," which was canceled a year later. He also successfully performed in Las Vegas and worked on another short lived sitcom "The Redd Foxx Show." In the late 1980's the IRS seized most of what he owned because of back taxes. Desperately looking for work he was cast by actor Eddie Murphy with his long-time friend Della Reese in "Harlem Nights" in 1989. In 1991 Foxx and Reese were offered a series on CBS, which Murphy produced entitled "The Royal Family", which premiered on Sept. 18, 1991. In July of that same year Foxx married his last wife Ka Ha Cho, who was in her 30's. On Fri. Oct 11, 1991, Foxx arrived at the Paramount Studies in Los Angeles for a rehearsal for the show. During the rehearsal, he apparently suffered a massive heart attack on the set, which at first was thought to be a joke, with the cast and crew laughing at him. After discovering the reality of the situation and being rushed to the Emergency Room of Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, Redd Foxx was pronounced dead at 7:45 PM that evening. That day the world lost a comic genius. Since his death, Redd Foxx was inducted by his hometown of St. Louis into the St. Louis Walk of Fame (located at 6331 Delmar Blvd.)on May 17, 1992. (bio by: Curtis Jackson)

Family links:

Parents:

• Freddie Sanford (1897 - 1944)
• Mary Carson (1903 - 1993)

Cause of death: Heart attack

Burial: Palm Memorial Park (Green Valley) Las Vegas Clark County Nevada, USA Plot: Devotion Section, Lawn Space 4091, 311 G. Just inside the main entrance and on the left...towards the middle of the section GPS (lat/lon): 36.0536, -115.1183

Maintained by: Find A Grave Record added: Jan 01, 2001 Find A Grave Memorial# 2704