Fred Sanford and Grady were an iconic comedic duo. But offscreen, Redd Foxx and Whitman Mayo’s relationship turned icy—and never recovered.
The tension began in Season 5, when Foxx took a sudden break from filming due to contract disputes. Producers brought in Mayo’s Grady to replace him temporarily as the lead. Ratings stayed strong. Some even said Grady brought a gentler humor the show had been missing.
When Foxx returned, he was furious—not just at the studio, but at Mayo. “He thought Whitman tried to steal the spotlight,” a crew member recalled.
The two actors barely spoke afterward. On set, they stood on opposite sides of the stage. In group scenes, directors had to block them apart. Even their scripted banter began to feel forced.
Foxx never forgave what he saw as a betrayal. “We used to laugh together,” Mayo later said. “But after that… he looked right through me.”
The feud was never addressed publicly, but it changed the energy of the show forever. Sometimes, the best comedy hides the deepest resentments.
