Though Sanford and Son ended in 1977, the impact of its star, Redd Foxx, endured long after the final curtain. The show catapulted Foxx into superstardom, making him one of the most recognizable comedians in America.
But Foxx’s life off-screen was as dramatic as his on-screen persona. Despite earning millions during his career, he struggled with financial mismanagement and was notoriously generous, often giving money away to friends and family. By the 1980s, the IRS seized many of his assets, leaving him nearly broke.
Still, Foxx remained a pioneer. His influence stretched to a new generation of comedians, from Richard Pryor to Eddie Murphy, who admired his fearless approach to taboo subjects. When Murphy cast him in Harlem Nights (1989), it was a symbolic passing of the torch from one comedy legend to another.
Tragically, Redd Foxx died in 1991 while rehearsing for The Royal Family. In a twist of fate, his fatal heart attack initially prompted cast members to laugh, believing it was one of his trademark “big one” gags.
Foxx’s legacy is bittersweet but undeniable: he paved the way for African American comedians to take center stage in television and film. His work in Sanford and Son continues to echo through modern sitcoms that embrace flawed, funny, and unforgettable characters.
