Redd Foxx was a master of deadpan comedy and fake heart attacks—but during Season 5 of Sanford and Son, he had a real medical emergency on set, and no one believed him.
Foxx clutched his chest during a live rehearsal and fell to the floor. The cast laughed, assuming it was his signature “Elizabeth! I’m comin’!” bit.
“He lay there for nearly 20 seconds before someone realized he wasn’t breathing normally,” said a camera operator.
It turned out to be a mild heart attack, and Foxx was rushed to the hospital.
The scene was never aired, and NBC issued a vague press statement blaming “fatigue.” But backstage, the incident sparked a debate about whether the show’s grueling schedule was pushing its aging star too far.
“It scared everyone,” said co-star Demond Wilson. “It made us realize Redd wasn’t invincible.”
Ironically, years later, Foxx would die of a heart attack on the set of another show—and again, people thought he was acting.
