Nobody could shut down Fred Sanford like Aunt Esther — and no one could deliver a comeback like LaWanda Page. With her purse in one hand and Bible in the other, she turned her recurring role into one of the most iconic characters in sitcom history.
What many fans don’t know is that Page was a real-life stand-up legend. Known as “The Queen of Comedy,” she performed raunchy, fire-breathing sets long before most women were even allowed near the mic. When Redd Foxx insisted she be cast on the show, NBC hesitated — until she stepped on set and lit up every scene.
LaWanda Page wasn’t just funny — she was fearless. She didn’t just play a strong Black woman — she was one.
