Nathaniel Taylor, Rollo Lawson in ‘Sanford and Son,’ dies at 80

Nathaniel Taylor, the actor who played Rollo Lawson on the 1970s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” died Feb. 27 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He is 80 years old.

As part of the recurring cast on “Sanford and Son”, Taylor appeared in 32 episodes from 1972 to 1977. Taylor’s character, Rollo Lawson, is Lamont Sanford’s best friend and is often the target of his anger. by Fred Sanford, who believed that Rollo was a criminal ever since. he had been in prison. Taylor continued her role as part of the main cast in season one of the short-lived “Sanford and Son” spin-off “Sanford”, which aired from March 1980 to June 1981.

Taylor also appeared in “Sanford and Son” star Redd Foxx’s sitcom of the same name, “The Redd Foxx Show”, which was the first version of Jim-Jam. The series was canceled after 12 episodes due to low ratings.

In addition to her work in the “Sanford” universe, Taylor has had many other television and film roles, including appearing in two episodes of “What’s Happening!!!” of ABC. as the brother-in-law of Fred Berry’s character Rerun. He had a role in the blaxploitation film “Willie Dynamite”; “Trouble Man”, featuring musical score by Marvin Gaye, as one of Big’s (Julius Harris) henchmen; and 1980’s The Hunter, starring Steve McQueen in his final role before his death.

Taylor also appeared in supporting roles in many ’70s series such as “Harry O”, “The Bill Cosby Show” and “Adam-12”. He is survived by his wife, Loretta; daughters Laronda, Natalie, Donna and Cheryl; sons Nate Jr., Kaedi and Jamaal; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Eugene; and two sisters, Mary and Betty.