LaWanda Page’s Iconic Role as Aunt Esther Lives On Decades Later
You couldn’t miss her. Purse clutched, Bible ready, eyes blazing—Aunt Esther was the ultimate scene-stealer on Sanford and Son. Played by the unforgettable LaWanda Page, Esther wasn’t just Fred Sanford’s greatest enemy—she was TV gold.
With every “Watch it, sucker!” and every righteous insult hurled Fred’s way, LaWanda Page brought a fire and confidence rarely seen in sitcoms of the 1970s. And she was hilarious doing it.
Off-screen, Page was a stand-up comic who knew how to work a room. She and Redd Foxx were friends in real life, which made their on-screen clashes even sharper—and even more loving underneath.
“Aunt Esther didn’t just slap Fred with her purse,” one fan wrote. “She slapped racism, sexism, and expectations right across the face.”
To this day, LaWanda Page remains one of the most unforgettable supporting stars in sitcom history.
