If Fred Sanford was the king of sarcasm, then Bubba — played by Don Bexley — was his loyal court jester. As one of Fred’s oldest friends, Bubba was the slow-talking, deep-voiced, and hilariously clueless companion who always showed up with a smile and a laugh.
Bexley’s chemistry with Redd Foxx was effortless. Their back-and-forth banter felt like real friendship, grounded in decades of trust and nonsense. Bubba would nod along to Fred’s schemes, offer bad advice, and somehow always make things worse — and that’s what made him great.
Few fans realize that Bexley was also a seasoned entertainer in the world of Black vaudeville and stand-up before joining the cast. His old-school roots gave Sanford and Son a multi-generational flavor that enriched the show’s unique tone.
Bubba didn’t need the spotlight to shine — he stole scenes by just being Bubba.
